This Day In History, May 23rd.
Five Historical Events That Happened on May 23rd.
During the Hundred Years' War, Joan of Arc is taken by the Burgundians while leading an army to liberate Compiegne.
The marriage of King Henry VIII of England and Catherine of Aragon is proclaimed null and unlawful by Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury.
Captain William Kidd is executed in London for piracy and murder in 1701.
In 1934, law enforcement authorities ambush and murder notorious outlaws Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow in Louisiana.
2015 – Ireland becomes the first country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage by popular vote, with 62.1% of voters in favor of the referendum.
Joan of Arc is captured by the Burgundians while leading an army to relieve Compiegne during the Hundred Years' War.
Joan of Arc, a French military leader and Hundred Years' War heroine, was taken by the Burgundians on May 23, 1430, while heading an army to relieve the siege of Compiegne by the English and Burgundians. Later, she was sold to the English and tried for heresy and other crimes, which led to her death by burning at the stake in 1431. Her capture and trial are still major events in medieval history, having a long-lasting influence on French national identity and culture.
The marriage of King Henry VIII of England and Catherine of Aragon is declared null and void by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Cranmer.
The marriage proclaimed null and unlawful by Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury, on May 23, 1533, was not between King Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon, but rather between Henry VIII and his second wife, Anne Boleyn.
Henry's marriage to Catherine of Aragon had been annulled earlier, in 1532, when Cranmer was still Archbishop of Canterbury-elect and before his official appointment. Cranmer then pronounced Henry and Anne's marriage lawful in May 1533, after Catherine had been expelled from court and Henry had secretly married Anne.
The annulment of Henry's first marriage to Catherine of Aragon, as well as his later marriage to Anne Boleyn, were pivotal events in English history, as they resulted in the rupture with the Roman Catholic Church and the founding of the Church of England.
Captain William Kidd is hanged in London for piracy and murder.
Captain William Kidd, a Scottish sailor and privateer, was hung on May 23, 1701, in London, after being found guilty of piracy and murder. Kidd had been tasked by the British Admiralty with attacking French ships in the Indian Ocean, but he quickly switched to piracy and became one of the most infamous pirates of his day. He was apprehended by British officials in 1699 and sent back to England to stand trial. His trial and death were extensively reported, contributing to the public's perception of pirates as merciless and deadly criminals.
Infamous criminals Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow are ambushed and killed by law enforcement officers in Louisiana.
Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow were ambushed and assassinated by law enforcement authorities on May 23, 1934, in Bienville Parish, Louisiana. During the Great Depression, Bonnie and Clyde were known for a spate of robberies, murders, and other crimes across the central United States. The ambush, planned by a squad of lawmen led by Texas Ranger Frank Hamer, occurred when Bonnie and Clyde were travelling down a country road in their automobile. The ambush culminated in a barrage of gunfire, killing both Bonnie and Clyde, who had become folk heroes to some throughout their criminal career. Bonnie and Clyde's ambush and killings were extensively documented and remain an important event in American criminal history.
Ireland becomes the first country to legalize same-sex marriage by popular vote, with 62.1% of voters supporting the referendum.
Ireland conducted a referendum on same-sex marriage on May 23, 2015, becoming the first country in the world to do so by popular vote. The referendum asked voters if they agreed with the following statement: "Marriage may be contracted in accordance with law by two persons without regard to their gender." The referendum was approved by 62.1% of people, with 37.9% voting against it. The outcome was viewed as a landmark win for the LGBTQ+ rights movement in Ireland and throughout the world, and similar law reforms in other nations have since been inspired.