Æthelstan (died 939) is regarded by historians as one of the greatest
Anglo-Saxon monarchs and the first king of England. The grandson of
Alfred the Great, he succeeded as King of the Anglo-Saxons in 924. In
927 he conquered Viking-ruled York and thus became the first king to
rule the whole of England. In 934 he invaded Scotland, and in 937 the
Scots and the Vikings united to launch an invasion of England, but
Æthelstan won a crucial victory at the Battle of Brunanburh. This gave
him great prestige both in England and on the Continent. Æthelstan
centralised government and summoned leading figures from distant areas
to his councils, including Welsh kings, who acknowledged his lordship by
their attendance. He was one of the most pious West Saxon kings
(depicted presenting a book to St Cuthbert), and was known for
collecting relics and founding churches. His household was the centre of
English learning during his reign, and it laid the foundation for the
English Benedictine Reform later in the century. No other West Saxon
king played as important a role in European politics, and he arranged
the marriages of several of his sisters to continental rulers.
Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%86thelstan>
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Today's selected anniversaries:
1275:
The earliest recorded usage of the name "Amsterdam" was made on
a certificate by Count Floris V of Holland that granted the
inhabitants, who had built a bridge with a dam across the Amstel
(pictured), an exemption from paying the bridge's tolls.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amsterdam>
1644:
English Civil War: The combined armies of Parliament inflicted
a tactical defeat on the Royalists, but failed to gain any strategic
advantage in the Second Battle of Newbury.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Battle_of_Newbury>
1916:
Supporters of deposed Ethiopian Emperor-designate Iyasu V were
defeated at the Battle of Segale, ending their attempt to restore him to
the throne.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Segale>
1944:
World War II: German forces captured Banská Bystrica, the
center of anti-Nazi opposition in Slovakia, bringing the Slovak National
Uprising to an end.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bansk%C3%A1_Bystrica>
2004:
The Boston Red Sox completed a sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals
to win the World Series, the club's first championship in 86 years.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_World_Series>
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Wiktionary's word of the day:
wife-beating question:
A question which presupposes some controversial premise, such that it
cannot be directly answered without incriminating oneself; a loaded
question.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/wife-beating_question>
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Wikiquote quote of the day:
Light breaks where no sun shines; Where no sea runs, the waters
of the heart Push in their tides; And, broken ghosts with glow-worms in
their heads, The things of light File through the flesh where no flesh
decks the bones.
--Dylan Thomas
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Dylan_Thomas>