On This Day in History for December 23
Events in History
- 438 The Theodosian Code of Roman laws proclaimed in the Western Empire (first law reforms since 295)
- 619 Boniface V begins his reign as Catholic Pope
- 962 Byzantine-Arab Wars: Under future Emperor Nikephoros II Phokas, Byzantine troops storm the city of Aleppo, recovering the tattered tunic of John the Baptist
- 1482 The Peace of Atrecht (now Arras) concluded between Louis XI of France and Maximilian of Austria, ending the War of the Burgundian Succession
- 1493 Georg Alt's German translation of Hartmann Schedel's Nuremberg Chronicle is published.
- 1588 "The Day of the Dagger" Henry, Duke of Guise, leader of the Catholic League is assassinated by the bodyguards of King Henry III at the Château de Blois
- 1620 French Huguenots declare war on King Louis XIII
- 1672 Giovanni Cassini discovers Rhea, a satellite of Saturn
- More Events in History
Zenobia
Jacques Cartier
Richard Arkwright
Joseph Smith
Madam C. J. Walker
AkihitoWeddings in History
- 1847 Prime Minister of Canada Mackenzie Bowell (24) weds Harriet Moore
- 1977 Future President of Chile Michelle Bachelet (26) weds architect Jorge Dávalos
- 1981 Astronaut Chris Hadfield (22) weds high-school girlfriend Helene Walter
More Weddings in History
Thomas Malthus
Anthony Fokker
Hideki Tojo
Lavrentiy Beria
Mikhail KalashnikovDecember in History
Business a Rocky Road for Hansom Cab Pioneer
Architect and inventor Joseph Hansom was a man of vision who somehow found it impossible to turn his great ideas into money-making ventures.
December 23, 1834
Assassination Attempt on Lord Charles Hardinge
An assassination attempt on Lord Charles Hardinge (1858-1944) Viceroy of India, illustration from 'Le Petit Journal'
December 23, 1912
Sack of Aleppo
Capture of Aleppo by the Byzantines under Nikephoros II Phokas
December 23, 962 AD
Enter King John – England's Worst-Ever Monarch
Most historians have difficulty finding a good word to say about King John who was born on this day and by general agreement ranks as England’s worst monarch.
December 24, 1167