38day.year
Drusilla, Caligula's sister who died in June, with whom the emperor is said to have an incestuous relationship, is deified.
Emperor Caligula posthumously deifies his sister Drusilla, elevating her to divine status amid scandalous rumors.
On September 23, 38 AD, Roman Emperor Caligula officially declared his deceased sister Drusilla a goddess.
Drusilla had died in June of that year, and Caligula's deep affection for her fueled persistent rumors of an incestuous bond.
By granting her divine status, he sought to elevate her memory and legitimize his own controversial rule.
The deification was celebrated with public ceremonies and a newly erected temple in her honor.
This act reflected the emperor's increasing autocratic style and helped shape the imperial cult.
Historians view this as a clear example of Caligula's manipulation of religious traditions for political ends.
38
Drusilla
Caligula
1122day.year
Pope Callixtus II and Holy Roman Emperor Henry V agree to the Concordat of Worms to put an end to the Investiture Controversy.
Pope Callixtus II and Emperor Henry V sign the Concordat of Worms, ending the Investiture Controversy.
After decades of conflict over bishop appointments, the Concordat of Worms brought a lasting compromise.
On September 23, 1122, Pope Callixtus II and Holy Roman Emperor Henry V negotiated terms that delineated ecclesiastical and imperial powers.
Bishops would be elected by church authorities with the emperor present at ceremonies, while secular investiture remained under imperial influence.
The agreement ended violent clashes between popes and princes, restoring relative harmony across Christendom.
It set a precedent for Church-State relations in medieval Europe and influenced canon law development.
The settlement underscored the growing power of the papacy and shaped interactions between religious and secular rulers for centuries.
1122
Pope Callixtus II
Henry V
Concordat of Worms
Investiture Controversy
1561day.year
King Philip II of Spain issues cedula, ordering a halt to colonizing efforts in Florida.
King Philip II of Spain issues a royal cedula halting new colonization efforts in Florida.
On September 23, 1561, King Philip II of Spain issued a royal cedula ordering a halt to further colonizing expeditions in Florida.
The decree responded to harsh conditions, resistance from Indigenous communities, and the high costs of remote settlements.
Spanish officials redirected resources toward more profitable colonies in the Caribbean and South America.
The order froze significant European expansion in North America for decades, shaping the region's development.
It illuminated the challenges of sustaining distant outposts in unfamiliar and hostile environments.
Florida remained sparsely settled by Europeans until renewed colonization efforts in the 18th century.
1561
Philip II of Spain
cedula
1905day.year
Norway and Sweden sign the Karlstad Treaty, peacefully dissolving the Union between the two countries.
Norway and Sweden peacefully dissolved their union with the signing of the Karlstad Treaty in 1905.
On September 23, 1905, representatives of Norway and Sweden signed the Karlstad Treaty, formally ending their 91-year union.
The agreement followed a Norwegian referendum in June, where most voters favored independence.
Key terms included demilitarization of border fortifications and provisions for peaceful relations.
The treaty set a modern example of resolving national separation through diplomacy rather than war.
Norway's peaceful emergence as an independent kingdom marked a milestone in Scandinavian history.
1905
dissolving
1932day.year
Saudi National Day: Crown Prince (later king) Faisal of Saudi Arabia, on behalf of Ibn Saud, proclaims the unification of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the current iteration of the Third Saudi State.
Saudi National Day commemorates the 1932 proclamation unifying the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
On September 23, 1932, Crown Prince Faisal, representing King Ibn Saud, formally proclaimed the unification of Nejd and Hejaz.
This declaration established the modern Kingdom of Saudi Arabia under the third Saudi state.
Saudi National Day marks the culmination of years of political consolidation by Ibn Saud.
The annual celebration reflects national pride, cultural heritage, and the origins of the Saudi kingdom.
Today, the day is observed with ceremonies, public events, and a sense of unity across the country.
1932
Saudi National Day
Faisal of Saudi Arabia
Ibn Saud
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Third Saudi State
1951day.year
George VI, king of the United Kingdom, has his left lung removed in an operation after a malignant tumour was found.
King George VI underwent surgery to remove his left lung after the discovery of a malignant tumour, sparking widespread concern over his health.
On September 23, 1951, King George VI underwent a pneumonectomy to remove a malignant tumour discovered in his left lung. The delicate operation, conducted under general anesthesia, lasted several hours and was closely guarded as a royal secret. News of the monarch’s condition prompted anxiety across the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth. Palace officials reassured the public of the king’s progress, but details remained scarce. The surgery highlighted advances in thoracic medicine and surgical techniques of the era. This major health crisis foreshadowed the king’s eventual decline and contributed to growing public awareness of lung cancer risks.
1951
George VI
left lung removed
1952day.year
After being accused of financial improprieties, Senator Richard Nixon delivers his "Checkers speech" nationwide on television and radio, defending his actions and successfully salvaging his nomination as the Republican candidate for Vice President.
Senator Richard Nixon delivered his famous "Checkers speech," addressing campaign financing allegations and preserving his spot on the Republican ticket.
On September 23, 1952, Richard Nixon delivered a groundbreaking live television and radio address to defend himself against accusations of misusing campaign funds. In the speech, he detailed his personal finances and emotionally referenced a family dog named Checkers, which he declared they would keep. His candid and relatable appeal resonated with millions of Americans, who tuned in to the broadcast. Public support surged as viewers wrote letters and telegrams urging party leaders not to drop him from the ticket. Ultimately, Republican officials retained Nixon as Dwight D. Eisenhower’s running mate. The address marked a turning point in political communications and demonstrated the power of television in shaping public opinion.
1952
Richard Nixon
Checkers speech
Vice President
1955day.year
An all-white jury in Mississippi finds Roy Bryant and J. W. Milam not guilty in the torture-murder of 14-year-old African American boy Emmett Till.
An all-white Mississippi jury acquitted Roy Bryant and J. W. Milam in the brutal murder of 14-year-old Emmett Till, igniting national outrage.
On September 23, 1955, after just 67 minutes of deliberation, an all-white jury in Mississippi found Roy Bryant and J. W. Milam not guilty of murdering Emmett Till. The 14-year-old African American boy had been brutally beaten and lynched following accusations of offending a white woman. Despite compelling testimony and disturbing photographs of Till’s mutilated body, the defense’s arguments prevailed in a deeply segregated judicial system. The verdict shocked the nation and became a rallying point for civil rights activists. Jet magazine’s dramatic publication of Till’s funeral images intensified public condemnation. The miscarriage of justice galvanized leaders and laid groundwork for the broader civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s.
1955
Mississippi
Emmett Till
1957day.year
Little Rock schools integration crisis: President Dwight D. Eisenhower sends the 101st Airborne Division to Little Rock, Arkansas, and federalizes the Arkansas National Guard, ordering both to support the integration of Little Rock Central High School.
President Eisenhower federalized the Arkansas National Guard and deployed the 101st Airborne to enforce integration at Little Rock Central High School.
On September 23, 1957, amid escalating violence over school desegregation, President Dwight D. Eisenhower took unprecedented federal action in Little Rock, Arkansas. He federalized the Arkansas National Guard and ordered the 101st Airborne Division to protect nine African American students attempting to enter Central High School. This marked the first use of federal troops to uphold a Supreme Court desegregation ruling since Reconstruction. The presence of U.S. forces ensured the safely escorted entry of the “Little Rock Nine” and enforced the rule of law. The crisis drew international attention to America’s racial divisions and energized the civil rights movement. Eisenhower’s intervention set a powerful precedent for federal enforcement of civil rights legislation.
1957
Little Rock schools integration crisis
Dwight D. Eisenhower
101st Airborne Division
Little Rock, Arkansas
federalizes
Arkansas National Guard
integration
Little Rock Central High School
1961day.year
U.S. President John F. Kennedy nominates African American civil rights lawyer Thurgood Marshall to the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, although pro-segregation Southern senators manage to delay his confirmation until September 11, 1962.
President Kennedy nominated civil rights attorney Thurgood Marshall to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, marking a historic first.
On September 23, 1961, President John F. Kennedy announced the nomination of Thurgood Marshall, a renowned civil rights lawyer, to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Marshall, who had argued the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case before the Supreme Court, became the first African American ever nominated to such a high federal judiciary position. His nomination faced fierce opposition from segregationist Southern senators, delaying his confirmation until September 11, 1962. The appointment represented a significant step toward greater diversity and equality within the federal courts. Marshall’s eventual confirmation paved the way for his later historic appointment as the first African American Supreme Court Justice in 1967. The nomination highlighted the Kennedy administration’s growing commitment to civil rights reform and judicial representation.
1961
John F. Kennedy
Thurgood Marshall
Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
segregation
1973day.year
Argentine general election: Juan Perón returns to power in Argentina.
After 18 years in exile, Juan Perón triumphantly returned to power as President of Argentina following the 1973 general election.
The Argentine general election held on September 23, 1973, marked the political comeback of Juan Domingo Perón, who had been deposed in a 1955 coup. Garnering overwhelming popular support, Perón secured the presidency with promises to restore social justice and national sovereignty. His movement, the Justicialist Party, dominated the polls amid widespread public enthusiasm. Perón’s return ended an 18-year period of military and civilian governments that struggled with economic turmoil and social unrest. His inauguration later that year ushered in significant labor reforms and fostered a strong alliance with trade unions. The election reshaped Argentina’s political landscape and reinforced Perón’s legacy in Latin American politics.
1973
Argentine general election
Juan Perón
2010day.year
Teresa Lewis becomes the first woman to be executed by the U.S. state of Virginia since 1912, and the first woman in the state to be executed by lethal injection.
Teresa Lewis was executed in Virginia, marking the state’s first female execution since 1912 and its first lethal injection of a woman.
Convicted of conspiring to murder her husband and stepson in 2002, Teresa Lewis faced intense legal scrutiny and appeals on grounds of intellectual disability. On September 23, 2010, the U.S. state of Virginia carried out her execution by lethal injection, making her the first woman executed in the state in nearly a century. The case drew national attention and reignited debates over the death penalty, especially concerning defendants with mental impairments. Civil rights groups urged for clemency, arguing that Lewis’s low IQ and coercion by partners warranted mercy. Despite last-minute appeals to the U.S. Supreme Court, the execution proceeded as scheduled. The event influenced subsequent legal discussions on capital punishment standards and the assessment of mental competency in death penalty cases.
2010
Teresa Lewis
Virginia
lethal injection