Lancaster's chevauchée of 1356 in Normandy was an English offensive directed by Henry, Earl of Lancaster (depicted), as part of the Hundred Years' War. The offensive took the form of a chevauchée, a large-scale mounted raid, and lasted from 22 June to 13 July 1356. Lancaster landed in the Cotentin and pillaged and burnt his way eastward across the Duchy of Normandy with 2,300 men. John II of France moved to Rouen with a much stronger force to intercept Lancaster, but the English turned south after relieving and re-victualling the besieged friendly citadel of Pont-Audemer. They resupplied another friendly fortification, Breteuil, then stormed and sacked the important town of Verneuil-sur- Avre before retreating. John pursued, but bungled several opportunities to bring the English to battle. In 22 days the English travelled 330 miles (530 km), a remarkable effort for the period. The expedition seized a large amount of loot, damaged the French economy and prestige, and cemented new alliances.
Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lancaster%27s_Normandy_chevauch%C3%A9e_of_1356
_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:
1911:
King George V and Queen Mary of Teck were crowned at Westminster Abbey in London. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_of_Teck
1966:
Vietnamese Buddhist activist leader Thích Trí Quang was arrested as the military junta of Nguyễn Cao Kỳ crushed the Buddhist Uprising. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Th%C3%ADch_Tr%C3%AD_Quang
2002:
An earthquake registering 6.5 Mw struck northwestern Iran, killing at least 230 people and injuring 1,300 others, and later causing widespread public anger at the slow official response. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2002_Bou%27in-Zahra_earthquake
2009:
Two Metro trains collided in Washington, D.C., killing nine people and injuring eighty others. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/June_2009_Washington_Metro_train_collision
_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:
gadfly: 1. Any dipterous (“two-winged”) insect or fly of the family Oestridae (commonly known as a botfly) or Tabanidae (horsefly), noted for irritating animals by buzzing about them, and biting them to suck their blood; a gadbee. 2. (figuratively, also attributively) 3. A person or thing that irritates or instigates. 4. (specifically) A person who upsets the status quo by posing novel or upsetting questions, or attempts to stimulate innovation by being an irritant. 5. Synonym of gadabout (“a person who restlessly moves from place to place, seeking amusement or the companionship of others”) 6. (derogatory, slang) A person who takes without giving back; a bloodsucker. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/gadfly
___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:
I would urge all of those watching today to focus on the evidence the committee will present. Don't be distracted by politics. This is serious. We cannot let America become a nation of conspiracy theories and thug violence. --Liz Cheney https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Liz_Cheney