All Events

Historical Events on February 23

  • Hagia Sophia

    532

    Byzantine emperor Justinian I orders the building of a new Orthodox Christian basilica in Constantinople - the Hagia Sophia.

  • Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben

    1778

    American Revolutionary War: Baron von Steuben arrives at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania to help to train the Continental Army.

  • Reconstruction Era

    1870

    Reconstruction Era: Post-U.S. Civil War military control of Mississippi ends and it is readmitted to the Union.

  • Guantanamo Bay Naval Base

    1903

    Cuba leases Guantánamo Bay to the United States "in perpetuity".

  • Bombardment of Ellwood

    1942

    World War II: Japanese submarines fire artillery shells at the coastline near Santa Barbara, California.

  • Operation Lentil (Caucasus)

    1944

    The Soviet Union begins the forced deportation of the Chechen and Ingush people from the North Caucasus to Central Asia.

  • Manila

    1945

    World War II: The capital of the Philippines, Manila, is liberated by combined Filipino and American forces.

  • History of Poland (1939-45)

    1945

    World War II: Capitulation of German garrison in Poznań. The city is liberated by Soviet and Polish forces.

  • Abdullah Öcalan

    1999

    Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Öcalan is charged with treason in Ankara, Turkey.

All Births

Famous Birthdays on February 23

All Deaths

Famous Deaths on February 23

22. February

24. February