Wikipedia:Main Page history/2014 March 6

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From today's featured article

Gilbert Foliot (c. 1110 – 1187) was a medieval English monk and prelate, successively Abbot of Gloucester, Bishop of Hereford (Hereford Cathedral pictured) and Bishop of London. He became a monk at Cluny Abbey and was appointed Abbot of Gloucester in 1139. During the papal council at Reims in 1148, he was appointed Bishop of Hereford by Pope Eugene III. Despite promising not to recognise King Stephen, on returning to England Foliot nevertheless swore fealty to him, causing a temporary rift in his relationship with Henry of Anjou, the son of the Empress Matilda (Stephen's rival for the crown) who became King Henry II of England in 1154. Henry passed over Foliot for the position of Archbishop of Canterbury in 1162, appointing Thomas Becket instead. Foliot became Bishop of London in 1163, perhaps as compensation. During the great dispute between Becket and the king, Foliot took the king's side and was reviled by Becket and his supporters. Becket excommunicated Foliot on two occasions, the second of which precipitated the archbishop's martyrdom. Foliot often served as a royal judge, and was an active administrator and bishop. He was also a prolific letter writer. (Full article...)

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From Wikipedia's new and recently improved content:

... that before Dewey Decimal Classification (inventor pictured), books in most U.S. libraries were arranged by height and order of acquisition?
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... that Lyon Opera Ballet ballerina Susana Agüero returned to Buenos Aires when she had eyesight problems?
... that the story of "Last Gasp", the fourth episode of British dark comedy series Inside No. 9, was inspired by a collection of apparently empty jars?

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In the news

Scientists discover a viable Pithovirus specimen in 30,000-year-old frozen tundra, marking the largest giant virus yet found.
At the 86th Academy Awards, 12 Years a Slave wins Best Picture and Gravity wins seven awards, including Best Director.
At least 29 people are killed and 130 injured in a mass stabbing at Kunming Railway Station in China.
Amid tensions in Crimea, Ukraine, the Federation Council of Russia authorizes President Vladimir Putin (pictured) to use force.
Militants kill 59 students in Yobe State, Nigeria.
The Winter Olympics close with host nation Russia winning the most gold medals and most medals overall.

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On this day...

March 6: Independence Day in Ghana (1957); World Book Day in Ireland and the United Kingdom (2014)

1447 – Tomaso Parentucelli became Pope Nicholas V.
1834 – York, Upper Canada, was incorporated as Toronto, now the most populous city in Canada.
1902 – Real Madrid, the world's richest football (soccer) club, was founded as Madrid Football Club.
1964 – In a radio broadcast, Nation of Islam leader Elijah Muhammad announced that American boxer Cassius Clay would change his name to Muhammad Ali (pictured).
2008 – A Palestinian gunman shot and killed eight students and critically injured eleven in the library of the Mercaz HaRav Kook yeshiva in Jerusalem.

More anniversaries: March 5 – March 6 – March 7

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Today's featured picture

The Leaden Flycatcher (Myiagra rubecula) is a species of passerine bird in the family Monarchidae. Found in the mangrove forests of eastern and northern Australia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea, males are a shiny lead-grey with white underparts, while females have grey upperparts and a rufous throat and breast. This specimen was photographed in the Australian National Botanic Gardens, Canberra.

Photograph: JJ Harrison; edit: John O'Neill

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