Day In History
This Day in History
Today: January 23, 2026
393
Roman emperor Theodosius I proclaims his eight-year-old son Honorius co-emperor.[1]
971
Using crossbows, Song dynasty troops soundly defeat a war elephant corps of the Southern Han at Shao.
1264
In the conflict between King Henry III of England and his rebellious barons led by Simon de Montfort, King Louis IX of France issues the Mise of Amiens, a one-sided decision in favour of Henry that later leads to the Second Barons' War.[2]
1368
Zhu Yuanzhang proclaims himself the Hongwu Emperor, beginning the Ming dynasty.[3]
1546
Having published nothing for eleven years, François Rabelais publishes the Tiers Livre, his sequel to Gargantua and Pantagruel.
1556
The deadliest earthquake in history, the Shaanxi earthquake, hits Shaanxi province, China. The death toll may have been as high as 830,000.[4]
1570
James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray, regent for the infant King James VI of Scotland, is assassinated by firearm, the first recorded instance of such.[5]
1571
The Royal Exchange opens in London.[6]
1579
The Union of Utrecht forms a Protestant republic in the Netherlands.[7]
1656
Blaise Pascal publishes the first of his Lettres provinciales.[8]
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