Phan Xich Long (1893–1916) was a 20th century Vietnamese mystic and geomancer who claimed to be the Emperor of Vietnam. He attempted to exploit religion as a cover for his own political ambitions, having started his own ostensibly religious organisation. Claiming to be a descendant of Emperor Ham Nghi, Long staged a ceremony to coronate himself, before trying to seize power in 1913 by launching an armed uprising against the colonial rule of French Indochina. His supporters launched an attack on Saigon in March 1913, drinking potions that purportedly made them invisible and planting bombs at several locations. The insurrection against the French colonial administration failed when none of the bombs detonated and the supposedly invisible supporters were apprehended. The French authorities imprisoned Long and many of his supporters, who openly admitted their aim of overthrowing French authorities at the trial. In 1916, southern Vietnam was hit by uprisings against French rule, with many of Long's supporters attempting to break him out of jail. The French easily repelled the attack on the jail, decimating Long's movement. Following attempted breakout, Long and his key supporters were put to death. Many of the remnants of his support base went on to join what later became the Cao Dai, a major religious sect in Vietnam.

Read the rest of this article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phan_Xich_Long

_________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1384:

Though she was only a ten-year old girl, Jadwiga was crowned "King of Poland". (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jadwiga_of_Poland)

1532:

Sapa Inca Atahualpa was captured by Conquistador Francisco Pizarro at the Battle of Cajamarca in Cajamarca, Peru. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Cajamarca)

1885:

After a five-day trial following the North-West Rebellion, Louis Riel, Canadian rebel leader of the Métis and "Father of Manitoba", was executed by hanging for high treason. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Riel)

1979:

The first line of Bucharest Metro, the M1 Line, opened from Timpuri Noi to Semănătoarea in Bucharest, Romania. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bucharest_Metro)

2002:

The first case of the respiratory disease Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) was recorded in Guangdong, China. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Severe_acute_respiratory_syndrome)

_______________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

repudiate (v) 1. To reject the truth or validity of something. 2. To refuse to have anything to do with; to disown. (http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/repudiate)

______________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

As for the future, your task is not to forsee it, but to enable it. --Antoine de Saint-Exupery (http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Antoine_de_Saint-Exupery)