October 23

Events

4004 BC

James Ussher's purported creation date of the world according to the Bible.

James Ussher calculates that the world was created on October 23, 4004 BC, based on his interpretation of biblical chronology.
In the mid-17th century, Irish Archbishop James Ussher published his Annals of the Old Testament, using biblical genealogies to date the creation of the world. He famously pinpointed this event to October 23, 4004 BC at nightfall. Ussher’s chronology became widely accepted in Protestant circles and was included in many Bibles for centuries. Though modern science has disproven his dating, his work reflects early attempts to reconcile sacred texts with history. His methodology influenced subsequent scholars and sparked debates on the relationship between science and religion.
4004 BC James Ussher's
42 BC

Liberators' civil war: Mark Antony and Octavian decisively defeat an army under Brutus in the second part of the Battle of Philippi, with Brutus committing suicide and ending the civil war.

Mark Antony and Octavian defeat Brutus’s forces at Philippi, leading to Brutus’s suicide and the end of the Liberators’ civil war.
After Julius Caesar’s assassination, the Liberators’ civil war continued as the Second Triumvirate pursued the conspirators. On October 23, 42 BC, Mark Antony and Octavian engaged Brutus’s army in the second showdown at Philippi in Macedonia. The triumviral forces trapped and overwhelmed the attackers, forcing Brutus to withdraw. Facing defeat, Brutus chose suicide over capture. This victory secured Antony and Octavian’s grip on Roman power and paved the way for the transformation from Republic to Empire.
42 BC Liberators' civil war Mark Antony Octavian Brutus Battle of Philippi
425day.year

Valentinian III is elevated as Roman emperor at the age of six.

Six-year-old Valentinian III is proclaimed Western Roman Emperor, beginning a reign dominated by regents and court intrigue.
Valentinian III, born in 419, ascended to the Western Roman imperial throne on October 23, 425 at just six years old. His uncle, the powerful general Bonifacius, and his mother, Galla Placidia, held significant influence over the young emperor. During his minority, the Western Empire faced growing threats from the Vandals and internal power struggles among military commanders. Valentinian’s reign witnessed the further erosion of imperial authority and the rise of barbarian kingdoms within former Roman territories. Despite his long titular rule, effective power often rested with regents and generals.
425 Valentinian III
502day.year

The Synodus Palmaris, called by Gothic king Theoderic, absolves Pope Symmachus of all charges, thus ending the schism of Antipope Laurentius.

The Synodus Palmaris, convened by King Theoderic, clears Pope Symmachus of all charges and ends the schism with Antipope Laurentius.
In 502, Gothic King Theoderic the Great called the Synodus Palmaris to resolve a bitter dispute within the Western Church. Pope Symmachus faced accusations and was contested by Laurentius, who claimed the papacy with backing from certain Roman factions. The synod convened in Rome listened to both sides and ultimately absolved Symmachus, affirming his legitimacy. The decision dissolved the schism that had divided the clergy and laity since 498. This resolution bolstered Theoderic’s reputation as a mediator between Arian Goths and Catholic Romans and restored unity to the Church.
502 Theoderic Pope Symmachus Antipope Laurentius
1086day.year

Spanish Reconquista: At the Battle of Sagrajas, the Almoravids defeats the Castilians, but are unable to take advantage of their victory.

Almoravid forces defeat the Castilian army at the Battle of Sagrajas, stalling the Christian Reconquista in Iberia.
On October 23, 1086, the Almoravid dynasty from North Africa clashed with Alfonso VI of Castile’s forces at Sagrajas (also called Zalaca) near Badajoz. The Berber cavalry’s superior tactics routed the Castilian knights, inflicting heavy casualties and capturing banners. Despite this victory, logistical challenges and shifting Muslim alliances prevented the Almoravids from exploiting their success to recapture Toledo. The battle demonstrated the continuing strength of Islamic states in Iberia and forced Christian kingdoms to seek new alliances. It marked a temporary check on the Reconquista, which would resume over the following centuries.
1086 Spanish Reconquista Battle of Sagrajas Almoravids Castilians
1157day.year

The Battle of Grathe Heath ends the Danish Civil War.

Royalist forces defeat the supporters of rival claimants at the Battle of Grathe Heath, ending Denmark’s civil war.
The Battle of Grathe Heath on October 23, 1157, was the decisive engagement in the Danish Civil War between factions backing King Sweyn III, Duke Canute V, and Prince Valdemar. Forces loyal to Valdemar I confronted Sweyn’s army on the heath near Aarhus. Sweyn was killed during or after the battle, and Canute had earlier withdrawn, leaving Valdemar as sole ruler. His victory ended years of dynastic strife and began a period of consolidation and reform known as the Valdemar era. Grathe Heath’s outcome shaped medieval Denmark’s centralized monarchy and law codes.
1157 Battle of Grathe Heath Danish Civil War
1295day.year

The first treaty forming the Auld Alliance between Scotland and France against England is signed in Paris.

Scotland and France sign the first Auld Alliance in Paris to unite against English aggression.
On October 23, 1295, King John Balliol of Scotland and King Philip IV of France formalized the Auld Alliance through a treaty in Paris. This diplomatic pact pledged mutual military support against England, which threatened both kingdoms’ sovereignty. The alliance offered Scotland a powerful continental partner and provided France a northern front against Edward I. Over centuries, the Auld Alliance influenced Franco-Scottish relations and shaped the course of the Wars of Scottish Independence. It remained a symbol of cross-channel solidarity well into the early modern era.
1295 Auld Alliance Scotland France England Paris
1641day.year

Irish Catholic gentry from Ulster attempt to seize control of Dublin Castle, the seat of English rule in Ireland, so as to force concessions.

Ulster’s Irish Catholic gentry attempt to seize Dublin Castle in a bold bid to force English concessions.
On October 23, 1641, a group of Ulster’s Catholic gentry plotted to capture Dublin Castle, the administrative heart of English rule in Ireland. They aimed to secure key military and political leverage to negotiate relief from anti-Catholic legislation. Although they gained initial access to some city gates, loyal forces inside Dublin thwarted the coup. The failed attempt escalated tensions and heralded the wider Irish Rebellion of 1641. It set the stage for the Confederate Wars that would engulf Ireland for the next decade.
1641 Irish Catholic Ulster seize control Dublin Castle English rule in Ireland
1642day.year

The Battle of Edgehill is the first major battle of the English Civil War.

Royalist and Parliamentarian armies meet at Edgehill in the first major battle of the English Civil War.
The Battle of Edgehill on October 23, 1642, marked the opening large-scale conflict between King Charles I and Parliament’s forces. Located in Warwickshire, the encounter saw roughly equal numbers on both sides engage in inconclusive fighting. Cavalry charges, infantry volleys, and the inexperienced pikemen tested the mettle of both armies. Although the Royalists claimed a slight tactical advantage, neither side secured a decisive victory. Edgehill demonstrated the war’s brutal new style and foreshadowed years of civil strife across Britain.
1642 Battle of Edgehill English Civil War
1666day.year

The most intense tornado on record in English history, an F4 storm on the Fujita scale or T8 on the TORRO scale, strikes the county of Lincolnshire, with winds of more than 213 miles per hour (343 km/h).

A powerful F4 tornado strikes Lincolnshire, recording the strongest wind speeds in English history.
On October 23, 1666, an intense tornado classified as F4 on the Fujita scale tore through Lincolnshire with winds exceeding 213 mph (343 km/h). It remains the most severe tornado officially recorded in England, leaving a narrow path of destruction. Contemporary accounts describe uprooted trees, damaged buildings, and terrified villagers seeking shelter. The event was documented in early weather chronicles, contributing to the study of extreme weather phenomena. Though rare in the British Isles, this tornado highlighted the vulnerability of even temperate regions to violent storms.
1666 Fujita scale TORRO scale Lincolnshire
1707day.year

The First Parliament of the Kingdom of Great Britain convenes.

The newly formed Parliament of Great Britain assembles for the first time under the 1707 Acts of Union.
Following the Acts of Union in May 1707, the separate English and Scottish parliaments were merged into a single assembly. On October 23, 1707, the first Parliament of Great Britain convened at the Palace of Westminster. The new body consisted of members drawn from both former kingdoms, including 533 MPs from England and 45 from Scotland. This historic session marked the political unification of the two nations under one legislature. Debates focused on integrating legal and economic systems, setting a precedent for future governance of Great Britain. The establishment of this parliament laid the groundwork for modern British parliamentary democracy.
1707 First Parliament Kingdom of Great Britain
1798day.year

The forces of Ali Pasha of Janina defeat the French and capture the town of Preveza in the Battle of Nicopolis.

Ali Pasha's troops rout French forces and seize Preveza during the Battle of Nicopolis.
Amid the turbulence of the French Revolutionary Wars, Ali Pasha of Janina engaged remaining French garrisons in northwestern Greece. On October 23, 1798, his forces confronted a French detachment at Nicopolis near the town of Preveza. Utilizing superior knowledge of the local terrain, Ali Pasha secured a decisive victory, overrunning French defenses and capturing Preveza. The triumph effectively ended French ambitions in the region and reinforced Ali Pasha's authority over Epirus. This engagement further solidified his status as a dominant regional power under the Ottoman Empire. The Battle of Nicopolis demonstrated the interplay of local and European powers during the late 18th century.
1798 Ali Pasha of Janina French Preveza Battle of Nicopolis