962day.year
The Sack of Aleppo as part of the Arab–Byzantine wars: Under the future Emperor Nicephorus Phocas, Byzantine troops storm the city of Aleppo.
In 962, Byzantine forces under the future Emperor Nicephorus Phocas stormed and sacked Aleppo, delivering a key victory in the Arab–Byzantine wars.
On December 23, 962, Byzantine troops led by General Nicephorus Phocas launched a daring assault on the fortified city of Aleppo.
The siege culminated in the sacking of the city, disrupting the Hamdanid emirate’s control of northern Syria.
Phocas’s campaign demonstrated the military resurgence of the Eastern Roman Empire in the 10th century.
The victory secured strategic garrisons and trade routes along the eastern frontier.
This achievement bolstered Phocas’s reputation, paving his path to the imperial throne months later.
The sack of Aleppo remains a pivotal episode in the long-standing Arab–Byzantine conflicts.
962
Sack of Aleppo
Arab–Byzantine wars
Emperor
Nicephorus Phocas
Byzantine troops
Aleppo
1299day.year
The Ilkhanate ruler Ghazan defeats a Mamluk army that opposes his invasion into Syria in the Battle of Wadi al-Khaznadar near Homs.
In 1299, Ilkhanate ruler Ghazan defeated a Mamluk army at the Battle of Wadi al-Khaznadar near Homs, advancing Mongol influence into Syria.
On December 23, 1299, Ghazan Khan led Ilkhanate forces against the Mamluk army at Wadi al-Khaznadar near Homs.
After fierce combat, Ghazan’s troops routed the opposition, opening a temporary corridor into Syrian territories.
This clash was part of the Ilkhanate–Mamluk rivalry for control over the Levant.
Despite the victory, logistical challenges prevented a sustained Mongol occupation of Syria.
The battle highlighted Ghazan’s military reforms and the shifting dynamics of Mongol rule in the Middle East.
Scholarship views this engagement as a crucial moment in late-13th-century geopolitics.
1299
Ilkhanate
Ghazan
Mamluk
Battle of Wadi al-Khaznadar
Homs
1598day.year
Arauco War: Governor of Chile Martín García Óñez de Loyola is killed in the Battle of Curalaba by Mapuches led by Pelantaru.
During the Arauco War in 1598, Mapuche leader Pelantaru ambushed and killed Governor Martín García Óñez de Loyola at the Battle of Curalaba, igniting a widespread uprising.
On December 23, 1598, Chile’s Spanish Governor Martín García Óñez de Loyola led his forces into the dense forests of Curalaba.
Mapuche warriors under Pelantaru launched a surprise attack and killed the governor in close combat.
This decisive victory shattered Spanish colonial morale and triggered the Mapuche Uprising.
Over the following years, indigenous forces reclaimed vast territories south of the Bío-Bío River.
The battle marked a turning point in colonial Chile, demonstrating the Mapuche’s resilience and strategic acumen.
It reshaped Spanish military strategy and frontier policy in the region.
1598
Arauco War
Governor of Chile
Martín García Óñez de Loyola
Battle of Curalaba
Mapuches
Pelantaru
1793day.year
The Battle of Savenay: A decisive defeat of the royalist counter-revolutionaries in War in the Vendée during the French Revolution.
In 1793, Republican forces decisively defeated royalist insurgents at the Battle of Savenay, crushing a major stronghold in the War in the Vendée.
On December 23, 1793, troops of the French Republic launched a coordinated assault on the royalist position at Savenay.
The engagement resulted in a swift and brutal defeat of the counter-revolutionary forces in the Vendée region.
Republican victory secured control of the Loire River and cut off royalist supply lines.
The battle marked the end of organized resistance in western France and led to harsh reprisals.
The suppression of the Vendée uprising underscored the revolutionary government’s determination to consolidate power.
Savenay remains one of the bloodiest encounters of the French Revolutionary Wars.
1793
Battle of Savenay
royalist
War in the Vendée
French Revolution
1914day.year
World War I: Australian and New Zealand troops arrive in Cairo, Egypt.
Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) troops arrive in Cairo, Egypt, to begin training on December 23, 1914.
Having departed Albany, Western Australia, in early November 1914, the ANZAC contingent reaches the outskirts of Cairo. Camped at Mena near the pyramids, soldiers undergo rigorous training under British command to prepare for combat. This arrival marks the start of ANZAC's pivotal role in the Gallipoli Campaign. Under the leadership of General William Birdwood, the force adapts to desert conditions and builds unit cohesion. The experiences in Egypt forge the ANZAC legend and contribute to national identity in Australia and New Zealand.
1914
World War I
Cairo, Egypt
1914day.year
World War I: During the Battle of Sarikamish, Ottoman forces mistook one another for Russian troops. The following friendly fire incident leaves 2,000 Ottomans dead and many more wounded.
During the Battle of Sarikamish in World War I, a tragic friendly fire incident among Ottoman troops causes around 2,000 deaths on December 23, 1914.
In the harsh winter conditions of Eastern Anatolia, miscommunication and darkness lead Ottoman units to mistake each other for Russian forces. On the night of December 23, 1914, confusion erupts between the 23rd and 25th Divisions, resulting in heavy friendly fire casualties. Approximately 2,000 Ottoman soldiers are killed and many more wounded before order is restored. This incident exacerbates the already dire situation at Sarikamish, weakening Ottoman defensive capabilities. The disaster underscores the logistical and command challenges faced by the Ottoman Army during the campaign.
1914
Battle of Sarikamish
1916day.year
World War I: Battle of Magdhaba: Allied forces defeat Turkish forces in the Sinai Peninsula.
Allied forces defeat a Turkish garrison at the Battle of Magdhaba in the Sinai Peninsula on December 23, 1916.
Under General Sir Archibald Murray, British, ANZAC, and Indian units launch a coordinated attack on the Ottoman position at Magdhaba. After advancing across the desert and navigating minefields, the Allies encircle the oasis by late afternoon. Ottoman defenders, outnumbered and cut off, are overwhelmed by infantry assaults and supporting artillery fire. The victory opens the route to El Arish and secures the Sinai Peninsula for the British war effort. This successful engagement boosts morale and demonstrates the effectiveness of mobile warfare in desert conditions.
1916
Battle of Magdhaba
Allied
Turkish
Sinai Peninsula
1936day.year
Spanish Civil War: The Spanish Republic legalizes the Regional Defence Council of Aragon.
In 1936, during the Spanish Civil War, the Republican government officially recognized the Regional Defence Council of Aragon. This autonomous body coordinated local defense and administration in Aragon.
The Regional Defence Council of Aragon was established by anarchist and socialist factions to organize militias and public services in northeastern Spain during the civil war. On December 23, 1936, Spain's Republican government granted it official status, marking a rare instance of legal pluralism amid conflict. This recognition allowed the council to levy taxes, manage agriculture, and maintain security in the region. The council became a symbol of grassroots governance and collectivist ideals. However, tensions between central authorities and local councils foreshadowed its eventual dissolution in 1937. The episode highlights the complex interplay between ideology and state power in wartime Spain.
Spanish Civil War
Spanish Republic
Regional Defence Council of Aragon
1941day.year
World War II: After 15 days of fighting, the Imperial Japanese Army occupies Wake Island.
After a fierce two-week defense, Japanese forces captured Wake Island in World War II. The fall marked a rare early victory for the Empire of Japan in the Pacific.
United States Marines, naval personnel, and civilian workers defended Wake Island against Japanese assault starting on December 8, 1941. Despite determined resistance and repelling initial landings, the defenders were overwhelmed after 15 days of siege and air strikes. On December 23, Japanese forces landed in strength and accepted the American surrender. The victory provided Japan with a strategic outpost and a propaganda triumph in the early war. American POWs endured harsh captivity, and the battle became a testament to tenacity and sacrifice. Wake Island's fall underscored the challenges of defending remote Pacific positions against a well-prepared adversary.
1941
15 days of fighting
Imperial Japanese Army
Wake Island
1948day.year
Seven Japanese military and political leaders convicted of war crimes by the International Military Tribunal for the Far East are executed by Allied occupation authorities at Sugamo Prison in Tokyo, Japan.
In 1948, seven Japanese leaders convicted of war crimes by the Tokyo Tribunal were executed at Sugamo Prison. The executions symbolized Allied resolve to hold individuals accountable after World War II.
Following the International Military Tribunal for the Far East, high-ranking Japanese officials found guilty of war crimes faced capital punishment on December 23, 1948. The defendent included generals and cabinet ministers responsible for aggressive warfare and atrocities in China and Southeast Asia. Executions were carried out by hanging under Allied supervision at Sugamo Prison in Tokyo. These actions marked one of the first large-scale applications of international criminal law. The sentences fueled debates over victor's justice and legal precedents for future tribunals. For Japan, the event was a profound moment of reckoning with wartime leadership and national identity.
1948
Japanese
International Military Tribunal for the Far East
Sugamo Prison
1950day.year
General Walton Walker dies in a jeep accident and is replaced by General Matthew Ridgway in the Eighth United States Army.
U.S. General Walton Walker died in a jeep accident in 1950 and was succeeded by General Matthew Ridgway as commander of the Eighth Army during the Korean War.
On December 23, 1950, General Walton Walker was killed when his jeep skidded off a mountain road in Korea amid the harsh winter conditions. Walker had gained acclaim for organizing the defense of the Pusan Perimeter against North Korean forces earlier in the war. His sudden death prompted the swift appointment of General Matthew Ridgway to lead the Eighth Army. Ridgway revitalized UN forces' morale and launched successful counteroffensives against Chinese and North Korean troops. The leadership transition influenced the course of the Korean War and underscored the perils faced by frontline commanders. Walker's legacy endures in military history for his resilience under fire.
1950
Walton Walker
Matthew Ridgway
Eighth United States Army
1968day.year
The 82 sailors from the USS Pueblo are released after eleven months of internment in North Korea.
After eleven months of detention in North Korea, the 82 crew members of the USS Pueblo were released in 1968. Their return ended one of the most tense Cold War crises at sea.
North Korean forces captured the USS Pueblo, a U.S. Navy intelligence vessel, on January 23, 1968, sparking a diplomatic and propaganda standoff. The crew endured harsh interrogation and living conditions while being paraded on state media. Prolonged negotiations between the United States and North Korea focused on admissions of espionage and the retrieval of the classified ship. On December 23, 1968, the detained sailors were freed and repatriated, although the Pueblo itself remained in North Korean custody. The incident highlighted Cold War tensions and intelligence risks. The Pueblo continues to serve as a museum ship in Pyongyang, symbolizing unresolved disputes.
1968
USS Pueblo
North Korea