125px|Thomas the Slav negotiates with the Arabs.

Thomas the Slav (c. 760 – 823 AD) was a 9th-century Byzantine military commander, most notable for leading a wide-scale revolt against Emperor Michael II the Amorian in 820–823. An army officer of Slavic origin from the Pontus region, Thomas rose to prominence under the protection of general Bardanes Tourkos. After Bardanes's failed rebellion in 803, Thomas fell into obscurity until Leo V's rise to the throne, when Thomas was raised to a senior military command. After the murder of Leo and usurpation of the throne by Michael the Amorian, Thomas revolted, claiming the throne for himself. Thomas quickly secured support from most of the themes (provinces) and troops in Asia Minor, and concluded an alliance with the Abbasid Caliphate. He sailed with his army to besiege Constantinople. Michael II called for help from the Bulgar ruler Omurtag, whose troops attacked Thomas's army. Although repelled, the Bulgars inflicted heavy casualties on Thomas's men, who broke and fled when Michael took to the field a few months later. Thomas sought refuge in Arcadiopolis, where he was soon seized by Michael's troops and executed. (more...)

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_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1829:

The first Welland Canal opened, allowing ships to travel between Lake Erie and Lake Ontario and bypass the Niagara Falls. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welland_Canal

1947:

As the United Nations voted to terminate the British Mandate of Palestine, civil war broke out between the region's Jewish and Arab communities. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1947%E2%80%931948_Civil_War_in_Mandatory_Palestine

1962:

Burmese diplomat U Thant became United Nations Secretary-General, following the death of Dag Hammarskjöld in September of that year. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U_Thant

1982:

Michael Jackson's Thriller, the best-selling album of all time, was released. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thriller_%28album%29

2005:

John Sentamu was enthroned as Archbishop of York, becoming the first member of an ethnic minority to serve as an archbishop in the Church of England. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Sentamu

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

fire in the belly (n): The emotional stamina and vigor, passion, or inner drive to achieve something, to take action, etc http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/fire_in_the_belly

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

When a great genius appears in the world the dunces are all in confederacy against him. --Jonathan Swift http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Jonathan_Swift