Wikipedia:Main Page history/2023 August 8b
From today's featured article
Henry II (1133–1189) was King of England from 1154 until his death. At various points in his life, he also controlled large parts of Wales, Ireland and France. He was an energetic and ruthless ruler. During the early years of his reign he restored the royal administration in England and re-established hegemony over Wales. Henry's desire to control the English Church led to conflict with Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, resulting in Becket's murder in 1170. Henry expanded his lands at the expense of France. As his sons grew up there were tensions over the future inheritance of Henry's domains. Henry was ultimately succeeded by his son Richard I; Henry's son John would also rule as king. Henry's territorial expansion quickly collapsed, but many of his changes endured. Henry is generally considered to have laid the basis for English common law, while his intervention in Brittany, Wales and Scotland shaped the development of their societies and governmental systems. (Full article...)
Did you know ...
- ... that the Empire of Japan turned a Korean royal cemetery at what is now Hyochang Park into a golf course (pictured)?
- ... that Milton Grant went from disc jockey and bandstand host to an owner of television stations?
- ... that Daniels Park, a Denver Mountain Park, is neither in Denver nor the mountains?
- ... that Soledad Rosas was falsely charged with eco-terrorism in Italy?
- ... that two days after the 2015 FIFA corruption case was covered in season 2 of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, FIFA president Sepp Blatter resigned?
- ... that South Australian Labor premier Des Corcoran was mentioned in despatches for courage and skill in evacuating casualties during the Korean War?
- ... that Change UK had eleven elected members of Parliament despite never actually winning an election?
- ... that the James New York – NoMad hotel employed a witch?
In the news
- The Hazara Express train derails in Sindh, Pakistan, killing 30 people.
- In cricket, the Ashes concludes with Australia retaining the trophy, drawing the series against England (Compton–Miller Medal recipient Chris Woakes pictured).
- In cycling, Demi Vollering wins the Tour de France Femmes.
- IS–KP kill more than 50 people in a suicide bombing at a political rally in Khar, Pakistan.
On this day
- 685 BC – Spring and Autumn period: Amid a succession dispute, the forces of Duke Zhuang of Lu, who was attempting to install a claimant to the Qi throne, were defeated at the Battle of Qianshi.
- 1576 – The cornerstone of Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe's observatory Uraniborg was laid on the island of Hven.
- 1914 – The Endurance departed Plymouth, England, on the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition.
- 1969 – At a zebra crossing (pictured) on Abbey Road in London, Iain Macmillan took the photograph that was used for the cover of the Beatles' album Abbey Road.
- 1988 – Tropical Storm Beryl formed over southeastern Louisiana, making it one of the few tropical cyclones to form over land.
- Emperor Horikawa (b. 1079)
- James Tissot (d. 1902)
- Margaret Urban Walker (b. 1948)
- Robert Kaske (d. 1989)
Today's featured picture
Sceloporus malachiticus, commonly known as the emerald swift or the green spiny lizard, is a species of small lizard in the Phrynosomatidae family, native to Central America. This photograph of a S. malachiticus lizard taken in Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala, was focus-stacked from nine separate images. Photograph credit: Charles J. Sharp
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