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
_______________________________ 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
_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:
coppish: (chiefly US, slang) Characteristic of or resembling a cop (“police officer”). [...] https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/coppish
___________________________ 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