Wikipedia:Main Page history/2017 April 19

the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.

From today's featured article

Donnchadh's seal

Donnchadh (Duncan), Earl of Carrick (died 1250), was a Gall-Gaidhil prince and one of the longest serving magnates in medieval Scotland. His father, Gille-Brighde of Galloway, and his uncle, Uhtred of Galloway, were the two rival sons of Fergus, Lord of Galloway. As a result of Gille-Brighde's conflict with Uhtred and the Scottish monarch William the Lion, Donnchadh became a hostage of King Henry II of England. He probably remained in England for almost a decade before returning north on the death of his father. Although denied succession over all the lands of Galloway, he was granted lordship over Carrick in the north. Allied to John de Courcy, Donnchadh fought battles in Ireland, acquiring and losing land there. A patron of religious houses, particularly Melrose Abbey and North Berwick priory nunnery, he attempted to establish a monastery in his own territory, at Crossraguel. He married the daughter of Alan fitz Walter, a leading member of the family later known as the House of Stewart—future monarchs of Scotland and England. His descendants include the Bruce, the Stewart Kings of Scotland, and probably the Campbell Dukes of Argyll. (Full article...)

Recently featured:

Did you know...

Harry Lewis with his senior thesis project

... that the website "Six Degrees to Harry Lewis" (Lewis pictured) was a precursor to Facebook?
... that federal funding for the project to electrify Bay Area commuter railroad Caltrain was pulled days before construction was scheduled to begin?
... that Angata, a Christian Rapa Nui prophetess, led a 1914 rebellion on Easter Island, claiming God wanted her people to kill and eat the island's livestock?
... that Donald Trump says he hopes to achieve a foreign policy whereby "old enemies become friends"?
... that Sigismund Báthory, Prince of Transylvania, promised to restore the freedom of the Székely commoners if they joined his campaign against the Ottomans?
... that Max Reger conducted the premiere of "An die Hoffnung" (To Hope), a setting of Hölderlin's poem and his only orchestral song, with contralto Anna Erler-Schnaudt?
... that Ravinder Goswami carried out the first studies on vitamin D deficiency in India?
... that the naked broomrape is a parasite of other plants?

In the news

Sergio García

Turkey votes in favour of changing the parliamentary system of government to an executive presidency in a constitutional referendum.
A suicide bombing of civilian evacuation buses near Aleppo, Syria, kills more than 120 people, including 68 children.
Emma Morano, the last living person born before 1900, dies at the age of 117.
Pakistan sentences former Indian naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav to death for espionage and sabotage.
In golf, Sergio García (pictured) defeats Justin Rose in a playoff to win the Masters Tournament.

On this day...

April 19: Feast of Saint Alphege (Western Christianity)

Pope Benedict XVI

1713 – With no living male heirs, Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI issued the Pragmatic Sanction to ensure one of his daughters would inherit the Habsburg lands.
1775 – The American Revolutionary War began with the Battles of Lexington and Concord in the British colony of Massachusetts.
1809 – War of the Fifth Coalition: The French won a hard-fought victory over Austria in Lower Bavaria when their opponents withdrew from the field of battle that evening.
1984 – Scottish-born composer Peter Dodds McCormick's "Advance Australia Fair", a patriotic song that was first performed in 1878, officially replaced "God Save the Queen" as Australia's national anthem.
2005 – Joseph Alois Ratzinger was elected Pope Benedict XVI on the second day of the papal conclave.

Sarah Bagley (b. 1806) · Benjamin Disraeli (d. 1881) · Jiroemon Kimura (b. 1897)

More anniversaries:

Today's featured picture

Cassiopeia is a constellation in the northern sky, named after the vain queen Cassiopeia in Greek mythology. One of the 48 constellations listed by Ptolemy, it remains one of the 88 constellations recognized today. It is easily identified by its distinctive 'W' shape, formed by five bright stars. This illustration was included in Urania's Mirror, a set of celestial cards illustrated by Sidney Hall.

Illustration: Sidney Hall; restoration: Adam Cuerden

Recently featured:

Other areas of Wikipedia

Community portal – Bulletin board, projects, resources and activities covering a wide range of Wikipedia areas.
Help desk – Ask questions about using Wikipedia.
Local embassy – For Wikipedia-related communication in languages other than English.
Reference desk – Serving as virtual librarians, Wikipedia volunteers tackle your questions on a wide range of subjects.
Site news – Announcements, updates, articles and press releases on Wikipedia and the Wikimedia Foundation.
Village pump – For discussions about Wikipedia itself, including areas for technical issues and policies.