History tends to weave together very different stories on the same page of the calendar. February 23 is one of these dates. It connects the spread of printed knowledge in Europe, the decisive military battles, the famous war photographs, and the events that shaped the geopolitics of the late 20th century. Below is a detailed look at five major events associated with this date.
Gutenberg Bible completed (1455)
In circa February 23, 1455, Johannes Gutenberg finished work on what would come to be known as the Gutenberg Bible in Mainz, Germany. The Gutenberg Bible was the first book printed using movable type printing technology. This was a significant turning point in the production and dissemination of books in Europe, leading to the rapid spread of knowledge.
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Siege of the Alamo Begins (1836)
On February 23, 1836, the Mexican army, led by General Antonio López de Santa Anna, began the siege of the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas. The battle raged for almost two weeks, becoming one of the most famous events in the Texas Revolution.
Tootsie Roll introduced (1896)
American candy maker Leo Hirschfield launched the Tootsie Roll on this day in 1896. The chocolate-flavoured candy would go on to become one of the longest-running and most recognisable candies in the United States.
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Flag raised on Iwo Jima (1945)
During World War II, US Marines planted the American flag on top of Mount Suribachi on February 23, 1945, during the Battle of Iwo Jima. The famous photograph of the event was taken by Joe Rosenthal. The image would go on to become one of the most reproduced photographs of the war.
Bin Laden issues Fatwa (1988)
On February 23, 1998, Osama bin Laden and his cohorts issued a fatwa calling for attacks on Americans. The fatwa marked the beginning of an escalation in extremist attacks that would shape the global security agenda in the years that followed.
