Year 1523 (MDXXIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events of 1523 January – June June 6 – Gustav Vasa's elected king of Sweden, finally establishing its full independence from Denmark. July – December November 19 – Pope Clement VII succeeds Pope Adrian VI as the 219th pope. Undated The Ming Dynasty Chinese navy captures two Western ships with Portuguese breech–loading culverins aboard,… (More on 1523)