Constantine III (died 411) was a common Roman soldier who was declared
emperor in Roman Britain in 407. He moved to Gaul (modern France),
taking all of the mobile troops and their commander Gerontius from
Britain to confront bands of Germanic invaders. Constantine stabilised
the situation and established control over Gaul and Hispania (modern
Spain and Portugal). Honorius, the Western Roman emperor, sent an army
to expel Constantine's forces. After initial victories it was repulsed.
In early 409 Honorius recognised Constantine as co-emperor. Constantine
in turn raised his oldest son to co-emperor as Constans II. In 409
Gerontius rebelled, defeating and killing Constans in early 411.
Meanwhile, Honorius appointed a new general, Constantius, who besieged
Constantine in Arles. A relief force was ambushed and he abdicated, took
holy orders and – promised his life – surrendered. Constantius had
lied: Constantine was killed and his head presented to Honorius on a
pole in September 411.
Read more:
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantine_III_%28Western_Roman_emperor%29>
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Today's selected anniversaries:
1559:
Presbyterian clergyman John Knox returned from exile to lead
the Scottish Reformation.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Knox>
1999:
Mireya Moscoso became the first woman to be elected President
of Panama.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mireya_Moscoso>
2003:
Cyclone Manou formed in the Indian Ocean; over the next two
weeks it struck Madagascar and left more than 100,000 people homeless.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclone_Manou>
2011:
Osama bin Laden was shot and killed by U.S. Navy SEAL Team 6 in
a private residential compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing_of_Osama_bin_Laden>
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Wiktionary's word of the day:
coppish:
(chiefly US, slang) Characteristic of or resembling a cop (“police
officer”). [...]
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/coppish>
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Wikiquote quote of the day:
I don't know what's right and what's real anymore And I don't
know how I'm meant to feel anymore And when do you think it will all
become clear? 'Cause I'm being taken over by the fear.
--Lily Allen
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Lily_Allen>
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