In History, Today on November 23

The Conquest of Seville by the Christian forces of King Ferdinand III of Castile is completed, marking a significant event in the Reconquista, the centuries-long series of battles by Christian states to recapture territory from the Muslims (Moors) on the Iberian Peninsula.

Pretender Perkin Warbeck, who claimed to be Richard of Shrewsbury, Duke of York, is hanged for treason after attempting to overthrow King Henry VII of England.

John Milton publishes 'Areopagitica', a pamphlet decrying censorship and advocating for the freedom of the press, which becomes a foundational text in the history of free speech.

The Battle of Chattanooga begins during the American Civil War, where Union forces under Major General Ulysses S. Grant launch an offensive against Confederate troops, leading to a significant Union victory.

The first issue of Life magazine is published as a photojournalism magazine, becoming one of the most popular and influential publications in the United States.

French naval bombardment of the Vietnamese city of Haiphong kills thousands, escalating tensions that lead to the First Indochina War.

The BBC broadcasts the first episode of "Doctor Who," a science fiction television series that becomes a significant part of British popular culture.

The People's Republic of China is seated in the United Nations Security Council, replacing the Republic of China (Taiwan), marking a significant shift in international relations during the Cold War.

A series of earthquakes, the strongest being a magnitude 6.9, strike southern Italy, particularly affecting the regions of Campania and Basilicata, resulting in nearly 3,000 deaths and widespread destruction.

The first smartphone, IBM Simon, is introduced at COMDEX in Las Vegas, Nevada, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of mobile technology.

Ethiopian Airlines Flight 961 is hijacked and crashes into the Indian Ocean near the Comoros Islands after running out of fuel, resulting in 125 fatalities out of 175 passengers and crew.

The Convention on Cybercrime, the first international treaty seeking to address Internet and computer crime by harmonizing national laws, improving investigative techniques, and increasing cooperation among nations, is signed in Budapest, Hungary.

Georgia's President Eduard Shevardnadze resigns following the Rose Revolution, a peaceful protest movement against electoral fraud.

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is declared the winner of the Liberian presidential election, becoming Africa's first elected female head of state.

Alexander Litvinenko, a former Russian spy, dies in London after being poisoned with polonium-210, leading to a major international incident.

The European Space Agency's Mars Express spacecraft discovers a large amount of water ice beneath the surface of Mars.

A Russian Sukhoi Su-24 fighter jet is shot down by a Turkish F-16 fighter jet near the Syria–Turkey border, escalating tensions between the two countries.

The Camp Fire, the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California's history, was fully contained after burning for over two weeks.