# What happened on May 23 in history?

**Date:** May 23  
**Events recorded:** 54  
**Years spanned:** 1040 – 2022  
**Full page:** https://thisday.info/events/may/23/

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## Featured Event

**2021** — Ryanair Flight 4978 is forced to land by Belarusian authorities to detain dissident journalist Roman Protasevich.

[Read more on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryanair_Flight_4978)

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## Events on this date

- **1040** — The Seljuks defeat the Ghaznavids in the battle of Dandanaqan. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seljuk_dynasty))
- **1308** — Robert the Bruce, king of Scots, defeats John Comyn, earl of Buchan, decisively in the battle of Inverurie. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_the_Bruce))
- **1430** — Joan of Arc is captured at the Siege of Compiègne by troops from the Burgundian faction. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan_of_Arc))
- **1498** — Girolamo Savonarola is burned at the stake in Florence, Italy. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Girolamo_Savonarola))
- **1533** — The marriage of King Henry VIII to Catherine of Aragon is declared null and void. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_VIII))
- **1568** — Dutch rebels led by Louis of Nassau defeat Jean de Ligne and his loyalist troops in the Battle of Heiligerlee, opening the Eighty Years' War. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_of_Nassau))
- **1609** — Official ratification of the Second Virginia Charter takes place. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Virginia_Charter))
- **1618** — The Third Defenestration of Prague precipitates the Thirty Years' War. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defenestrations_of_Prague))
- **1706** — John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, defeats a French army under Marshal François de Neufville, duc de Villeroy at the Battle of Ramillies. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Churchill%2C_1st_Duke_of_Marlborough))
- **1788** — South Carolina became the eighth state to ratify the United States Constitution. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Carolina))
- **1793** — Battle of Famars during the Flanders Campaign of the War of the First Coalition. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Famars))
- **1829** — Accordion patent granted to Cyrill Demian in Vienna, Austrian Empire. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accordion))
- **1844** — Báb: A merchant of Shiraz announces that he is a Prophet and founds a religious movement. He is considered to be a forerunner of the Baháʼí Faith. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%C3%A1b))
- **1846** — Mexican–American War: President Mariano Paredes of Mexico unofficially declares war on the United States. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexican%E2%80%93American_War))
- **1863** — The General German Workers' Association, a precursor of the modern Social Democratic Party of Germany, is founded in Leipzig, Kingdom of Saxony. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_German_Workers'_Association))
- **1873** — The Canadian Parliament establishes the North-West Mounted Police, the forerunner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North-West_Mounted_Police))
- **1900** — American Civil War: Sergeant William Harvey Carney is awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism in the Assault on the Battery Wagner in 1863. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Civil_War))
- **1905** — Abdul Hamid II, Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, publicly announces the creation of the Ullah millet for the Aromanians of the empire, which had been established one day earlier. For this reason, the Aromanian National Day is usually celebrated on May 23, although some do so on May 22 instead. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdul_Hamid_II))
- **1907** — The unicameral Parliament of Finland gathers for its first plenary session. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unicameralism))
- **1911** — The New York Public Library is dedicated. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_Public_Library))
- **1915** — World War I: Italy joins the Allies, fulfilling its part of the Treaty of London. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I))
- **1919** — Sheikh Mahmud Barzanji, a Kurdish sheikh and at-the-time governor of the Slêmanî Province of British Iraq, initiates the first Mahmud Barzanji revolt. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahmud_Barzanji))
- **1932** — In Brazil, four students are shot and killed during a manifestation against the Brazilian dictator Getúlio Vargas, which resulted in the outbreak of the Constitutionalist Revolution several weeks later. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazil))
- **1934** — American bank robbers Bonnie and Clyde are ambushed by police and killed in Bienville Parish, Louisiana. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bank_robbery))
- **1934** — The Auto-Lite strike culminates in the "Battle of Toledo", a five-day melée between 1,300 troops of the Ohio National Guard and 6,000 picketers. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auto-Lite_strike_(1934)))
- **1939** — The U.S. Navy submarine USS Squalus sinks off the coast of New Hampshire during a test dive, causing the death of 24 sailors and two civilian technicians. The remaining 32 sailors and one civilian naval architect are rescued the following day. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Navy))
- **1941** — World War II: German paratroopers start a series of mass executions of Greek civilians in Missiria for their participation in the ongoing Battle of Crete. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II))
- **1945** — World War II: Heinrich Himmler, head of the Schutzstaffel, commits suicide while in Allied custody. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heinrich_Himmler))
- **1945** — World War II: Germany's Flensburg Government under Karl Dönitz is dissolved when its members are arrested by British forces. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flensburg_Government))
- **1946** — The start of a two-day tornado outbreak across the Central United States that spawned at least 15 significant tornadoes. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tornado_outbreak_of_May_23%E2%80%9324%2C_1946))
- **1948** — Thomas C. Wasson, the US Consul-General, is assassinated in Jerusalem, Israel. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_C._Wasson))
- **1949** — Cold War: The Western occupying powers approve the Basic Law and establish a new German state, the Federal Republic of Germany. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allied-occupied_Germany))
- **1951** — Tibetans sign the Seventeen Point Agreement with China. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibet))
- **1960** — A tsunami caused by an earthquake in Chile the previous day kills 61 people in Hilo, Hawaii. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsunami))
- **1971** — Seventy-eight people are killed when Aviogenex Flight 130 crashes on approach to Rijeka Airport in present-day Rijeka, Croatia (then the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia). ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aviogenex_Flight_130))
- **1971** — The Intercontinental Hotel in Bucharest opens, becoming the second-tallest building in the city. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Hotel_Bucharest))
- **1978** — A Tupolev Tu-144 crashes near the Russian town of Yegoryevsk, killing two. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupolev_Tu-144))
- **1980** — The Shining, the psychological horror film directed by Stanley Kubrick, is premiered on 10 screens in New York City and Los Angeles on the Memorial Day weekend. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Shining_(film)))
- **1991** — Aeroflot Flight 8556 crashes at Pulkovo Airport, killing 13. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aeroflot_Flight_8556))
- **1992** — Italy's most prominent anti-mafia judge Giovanni Falcone, his wife and three body guards are killed by the Corleonesi clan with a half-ton bomb near Capaci, Sicily. His friend and colleague Paolo Borsellino will be assassinated less than two months later, making 1992 a turning point in the history of Italian Mafia prosecutions. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giovanni_Falcone))
- **1995** — The first version of the Java programming language is released. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Java_(programming_language)))
- **1998** — The Good Friday Agreement is accepted in a referendum in Northern Ireland with roughly 75% voting yes. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Friday_Agreement))
- **2002** — The "55 parties" clause of the Kyoto Protocol is reached after its ratification by Iceland. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyoto_Protocol))
- **2006** — Alaskan stratovolcano Mount Cleveland erupts. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stratovolcano))
- **2008** — The International Court of Justice (ICJ) awards Middle Rocks to Malaysia and Pedra Branca (Pulau Batu Puteh) to Singapore, ending a 29-year territorial dispute between the two countries. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Court_of_Justice))
- **2013** — A freeway bridge carrying Interstate 5 over the Skagit River collapses in Mount Vernon, Washington. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_5_in_Washington))
- **2014** — Seven people, including the perpetrator, are killed and another 14 injured in a killing spree near the campus of University of California, Santa Barbara. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Isla_Vista_attacks))
- **2015** — At least 30 people are killed as a result of floods and tornadoes in Texas, Oklahoma, and northern Mexico. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tornado_outbreak_and_floods_of_May_23%E2%80%9326%2C_2015))
- **2016** — Two suicide bombings, conducted by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, kill at least 45 potential army recruits in Aden, Yemen. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_State))
- **2016** — Eight bombings are carried out by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria in Jableh and Tartus, coastline cities in Syria. One hundred eighty-four people are killed and at least 200 people injured. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_State))
- **2017** — Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte declares martial law in Mindanao, following the Maute's attack in Marawi. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rodrigo_Duterte))
- **2021** — A cable car falls from a mountain near Lake Maggiore in northern Italy, killing 14 people. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stresa%E2%80%93Mottarone_cable_car_crash))
- **2021** — Ryanair Flight 4978 is forced to land by Belarusian authorities to detain dissident journalist Roman Protasevich. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryanair_Flight_4978))
- **2022** — Anthony Albanese of the Australian Labor Party is sworn in as the 31st Prime Minister of Australia after winning the 2022 Australian federal election, ending 9 years of conservative rule. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Albanese))

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## Notable births on May 23

- **2007** — **Rayane Messi** — French footballer ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rayane_Messi))
- **2005** — **Alexandra Eala** — Filipino tennis player ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexandra_Eala))
- **2001** — **Brennan Johnson** — Welsh footballer ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brennan_Johnson))
- **2000** — **Felipe Drugovich** — Brazilian-Italian racing driver ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felipe_Drugovich))
- **2000** — **Israel Reyes** — Mexican footballer ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel_Reyes))
- **1999** — **James Charles** — American internet personality ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Charles))
- **1999** — **Trinidad Cardona** — American singer and songwriter ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinidad_Cardona))
- **1999** — **Sandro Mamukelashvili** — Georgian-American basketball player ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandro_Mamukelashvili))
- **1998** — **Sérgio Sette Câmara** — Brazilian racing driver ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C3%A9rgio_Sette_C%C3%A2mara))
- **1998** — **Salwa Eid Naser** — Bahraini track and field sprinter ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salwa_Eid_Naser))

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## Notable deaths on May 23

- **2024** — **Caleb Carr** — American military historian and author (born 1955) ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caleb_Carr))
- **2024** — **Morgan Spurlock** — American filmmaker (born 1970) ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morgan_Spurlock))
- **2021** — **Ron Hill** — English long-distance runner (born 1938) ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Hill))
- **2021** — **Eric Carle** — American children's book designer, illustrator, and writer best known for The Very Hungry Caterpillar (born 1929) ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Carle))
- **2020** — **Hana Kimura** — Japanese professional wrestler (born 1997) ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hana_Kimura))
- **2017** — **Roger Moore** — English actor (born 1927) ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Moore))
- **2015** — **Anne Meara** — American actress, comedian and playwright (born 1929) ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Meara))
- **2015** — **Aleksey Mozgovoy** — Pro-Russian Ukrainian separatist leader (born 1975) ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aleksey_Mozgovoy))
- **2015** — **Alicia Nash** — Salvadoran-American physicist and engineer (born 1933) ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alicia_Nash))
- **2015** — **John Forbes Nash Jr.** — American mathematician and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1928) ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Forbes_Nash_Jr.))

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## About this page

This is a machine-readable Markdown summary of [thisday.info/events/may/23/](https://thisday.info/events/may/23/).  
Historical data is sourced from [Wikipedia/Wikimedia](https://www.wikipedia.org) under [CC BY-SA](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/).  
Editorial framing and site content © thisday.info.