The Battle of the Saw was the culminating battle of a campaign fought
between a Carthaginian army led by Hamilcar Barca and a rebel force led
by Spendius in 238 BC in what is now northern Tunisia. Carthage was
fighting a coalition of mutinous soldiers and rebellious African cities
in the Mercenary War which had started in 240 BC. Unable to confront
the Carthaginian war elephants and cavalry on open ground, the rebels
stayed on higher and rougher terrain and harassed the Carthaginian army.
After several months of campaigning, Hamilcar trapped the rebels. Pinned
against local mountains known as "the Saw" due to their sawlike shape,
with their supply lines blockaded and with their food exhausted, the
rebels ate their horses, their prisoners and then their slaves, hoping
that their comrades in Tunis would sortie to rescue them. Eventually,
the Carthaginians, led by their elephants, attacked the starving rebels
and they were all massacred. The captured rebel leaders were crucified
(depiction shown) in sight of their comrades in Tunis.
Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Saw>
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Today's selected anniversaries:
1789:
The Ladies of Trenton social club hosted a reception (depicted)
for President-elect George Washington as he journeyed to New York City
for his first inauguration.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Washington%27s_reception_at_Trenton>
1863:
Following his exile from Baghdad, Baháʼu'lláh, the founder
of the Baháʼí Faith, began a twelve-day stay in the Garden of
Ridván, where he declared himself to be "He whom God shall make
manifest".
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bah%C3%A1%CA%BCu%27ll%C3%A1h>
1975:
Vietnam War: Nguyễn Văn Thiệu resigned as President of
South Vietnam and was succeeded by Trần Văn Hương as the town of
Xuân Lộc fell after a last stand.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Xu%C3%A2n_L%E1%BB%99c>
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Wiktionary's word of the day:
hector:
1. (transitive) To dominate or intimidate in a blustering way; to bully,
to domineer.
2. (intransitive) To behave like a hector or bully; to bluster, to
swagger; to bully.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/hector>
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Wikiquote quote of the day:
If you are sure you understand everything that is going on, you
are hopelessly confused.
--Walter Mondale
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Walter_Mondale>