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
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
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
1812day.year
General Claude François de Malet begins a conspiracy to overthrow Napoleon, claiming that the Emperor died in the Russian campaign.
General Claude François de Malet initiates an attempted coup against Napoleon, falsely claiming the Emperor's death in Russia.
On October 23, 1812, French General Claude François de Malet capitalized on rumors of Napoleon’s demise in Russia to launch a bold coup attempt in Paris. He forged official bulletins announcing the Emperor's death and proclaimed a provisional government. The plotters detained key officials and military governors, sowing confusion within the capital. However, the conspiracy unraveled when Malet’s forged documents were exposed and loyal troops regained control. Malet was swiftly arrested and later executed for treason. Though short-lived, the incident exposed vulnerabilities in Napoleon’s command and the extent of dissent within the French military.
1812
Claude François de Malet
begins a conspiracy
Napoleon
Russian campaign
1868day.year
Meiji Restoration: Having taken the shogunate's seat of power at Edo and declared it his new capital as Tokyo, Mutsuhito proclaims the start of the new Meiji era.
Emperor Mutsuhito proclaims the start of the Meiji era, designating Edo as the new capital Tokyo and marking the Meiji Restoration.
On October 23, 1868, Emperor Mutsuhito formally took up residence in Edo, renamed Tokyo, and declared the beginning of the Meiji era. This proclamation symbolized the effective end of the Tokugawa shogunate and the restoration of direct imperial rule in Japan. The new government embarked on sweeping political and social reforms to modernize the nation along Western lines. Feudal domains were gradually replaced by a centralized prefectural system, and a conscripted national army was established. Efforts were made to update infrastructure, education, and industry to strengthen Japan against foreign powers. The Meiji Restoration set Japan on a path of rapid transformation from a feudal society to a modern world power. Its legacy shaped Japanese society, politics, and economy for decades to come.
1868
Meiji Restoration
shogunate's
Edo
Tokyo
Mutsuhito
Meiji era
1940day.year
Adolf Hitler and Francisco Franco meet at Hendaye to discuss the possibility of Spain entering the Second World War.
In October 1940, Adolf Hitler met Francisco Franco at Hendaye to discuss Spain joining the Axis in World War II.
In October 1940, German Chancellor Adolf Hitler and Spanish Caudillo Francisco Franco convened in the border town of Hendaye. Hitler aimed to secure Spain as a formal Axis ally to strengthen his southern flank and gain access to the Mediterranean. Franco, mindful of Spain's weakened post-civil war economy, demanded substantial military and economic aid in exchange for any alliance. He also sought territorial concessions, including Gibraltar, which was held by Britain. The lengthy negotiations yielded no firm agreement, as Germany could not meet all Spanish demands amid its own wartime commitments. Spain maintained a stance of non-belligerent support, offering material assistance without officially entering the war. The meeting exposed strategic tensions between Axis powers and potential allies. Plans like Germany's Operation Felix to seize Gibraltar were abandoned, shaping the strategic landscape of World War II.
1940
Adolf Hitler
Francisco Franco
meet at Hendaye
Spain entering the Second World War
1941day.year
The Holocaust: Nazi Germany prohibits Jews from emigrating, including in its occupied territories.
On October 23, 1941, Nazi Germany issued a decree banning Jewish emigration from both the Reich and its occupied territories, marking a grim escalation in the Holocaust.
On October 23, 1941, the Nazi government decreed a complete ban on Jewish emigration from Germany and its occupied regions. Previously, some Jews had been allowed to leave, despite heavy restrictions and asset seizures. The new order closed this last legal exit route, consigning hundreds of thousands to life under Nazi rule. It marked a shift from forced expulsion to deliberate containment, laying groundwork for the Final Solution. Emigration bans were enforced by the Gestapo and SS, with harsh penalties for those assisting escapes. The decree heightened fear among Jewish communities and stripped them of hope for survival abroad. It set the stage for mass deportations to ghettos and, ultimately, extermination camps. Historians view this ban as a critical turning point in the Holocaust's implementation.
1941
The Holocaust
Nazi Germany
Jews
occupied territories
1955day.year
Prime Minister Ngô Đình Diệm defeats former emperor Bảo Đại in a referendum and founds the Republic of Vietnam.
On October 23, 1955, Prime Minister Ngô Đình Diệm defeated former Emperor Bảo Đại in a contested referendum, proclaiming the Republic of Vietnam and ending the monarchy.
In the aftermath of the Geneva Accords, South Vietnam held a referendum on October 23, 1955, to choose its head of state. Prime Minister Ngô Đình Diệm campaigned on a platform of strong leadership and anti-communism, criticizing Emperor Bảo Đại's stewardship. The referendum was marred by reports of fraud, including vote tallies exceeding registered voters in some regions. Diệm declared a landslide victory and immediately proclaimed the Republic of Vietnam, installing himself as president. He abolished the imperial system and initiated land reforms and administrative restructuring. The establishment of the republic solidified a Western-aligned government in South Vietnam, prompting increased U.S. support. However, Diệm's authoritarian methods and suppression of dissent sowed seeds of internal unrest. His regime's challenges would later escalate, drawing South Vietnam deeper into the conflict that became the Vietnam War.
1955
Ngô Đình Diệm
Bảo Đại
referendum
Republic of Vietnam
1955day.year
The people of the Saar region vote in a referendum to unite with West Germany instead of France.
In 1955, citizens of the Saar region held a referendum to choose unification with West Germany over remaining under French administration.
After World War II, the Saar region was administered by France as a protectorate. On October 23, 1955, a United Nations-supervised referendum asked Saarlanders to choose between continued French governance or joining West Germany. Over two-thirds of voters opted for unification with West Germany. This decisive outcome led to the Saar Treaty and the region's formal incorporation into the Federal Republic on January 1, 1957. The vote marked a key moment in Franco-German reconciliation and reshaped the geopolitical map of post-war Europe.
1955
Saar region
referendum
West Germany
France
1982day.year
A gunfight breaks out between police officers and members of a religious cult in Arizona. The shootout leaves two cultists dead and dozens of cultists and police officers injured.
In 1982, an armed confrontation erupted between Arizona law enforcement and a religious sect, resulting in multiple casualties and injuries.
On October 23, 1982, Arizona state troopers and local police moved to serve search warrants at a remote compound of a controversial religious group near Tucson. Cult members opened fire on the officers, sparking a prolonged gunfight that lasted several hours. Two sect members were killed, and dozens of cultists and police officers were wounded in the exchange. Crisis negotiators were called in to de-escalate the situation, eventually securing the surrender of the remaining individuals. The incident prompted an inquiry into law enforcement tactics for high-risk warrant service and raised questions about the group's practices. It remains a notable example of the challenges faced by police when confronting armed extremist factions.
1982
A gunfight breaks out
1989day.year
The Hungarian Republic officially replaces the communist Hungarian People's Republic.
On October 23, 1989, Hungary officially transitioned from communist rule to the newly established Hungarian Republic, marking a peaceful end to decades of one-party government.
On October 23, 1989, the Hungarian People's Republic was officially dissolved and replaced by the newly formed Hungarian Republic.
This change marked Hungary’s transition to a multiparty democracy after decades of communist rule aligned with the Soviet bloc.
The announcement was made on the symbolic 63rd anniversary of Hungary's 1956 Revolution.
Reformist leaders introduced sweeping political and economic changes, including free elections and market liberalization.
Border openings with Austria earlier that year had already accelerated the collapse of the Iron Curtain.
Hungary's peaceful transition became a model for reform movements across Eastern Europe.
The establishment of the Hungarian Republic paved the way for the nation's eventual membership in NATO and the European Union.
The events of October 23, 1989, are celebrated annually as a national holiday commemorating freedom and democracy.
1989
The Hungarian Republic officially replaces
Hungarian People's Republic