Ine was King of Wessex from 688 to 726. He was unable to retain the territorial gains of his predecessor, Cædwalla, who had brought much of southern England under his control and expanded West Saxon territory substantially. By the end of Ine's reign the kingdoms of Kent, Sussex and Essex were no longer under West Saxon domination; however, Ine maintained control of what is now Hampshire, and consolidated and extended Wessex's territory in the western peninsula. Ine is noted for his code of laws (Ine’s laws or laws of Ine), which he issued in about 694 (12th-century copy pictured). These laws were the first issued by an Anglo-Saxon king outside Kent. They shed much light on the history of Anglo-Saxon society, and reveal Ine's Christian convictions. Trade increased significantly during Ine's reign, with the town of Hamwic (now Southampton) becoming prominent. It was probably during Ine's reign that the West Saxons began to mint coins, though none have been found that bear his name. Ine abdicated in 726 to go to Rome, leaving the kingdom to "younger men", in the words of the contemporary chronicler Bede. He was succeeded by Æthelheard.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ine_of_Wessex

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1665:

The London Gazette, the oldest surviving English-language newspaper, was first published as the Oxford Gazette. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_London_Gazette

1811:

American forces led by Indiana Territory Governor William Henry Harrison defeated the forces of Shawnee leader Tecumseh's growing American Indian confederation at the Battle of Tippecanoe near present- day Battle Ground, Indiana. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Tippecanoe

1885:

Construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway, the first transcontinental railroad across Canada, concluded with the driving of the "last spike" in Craigellachie, British Columbia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Last_Spike_(Canadian_Pacific_Railway)

1929:

The Museum of Modern Art (pictured), often identified as the most influential museum of modern art in the world, opened to the public. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Museum_of_Modern_Art

1941:

World War II: German aircraft sank the Soviet hospital ship Armenia while she was evacuating civilians and wounded soldiers from Crimea, killing an estimated 5,000 people. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armenia_(Soviet_hospital_ship)

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

Cassandra: A person who makes dire predictions, especially those which are not believed but turn out to be true. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Cassandra

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

In that daily effort in which intelligence and passion mingle and delight each other, the absurd man discovers a discipline that will make up the greatest of his strengths. The required diligence and doggedness and lucidity thus resemble the conqueror's attitude. To create is likewise to give a shape to one's fate. For all these characters, their work defines them at least as much as it is defined by them. The actor taught us this: There is no frontier between being and appearing.   --Albert Camus https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Albert_Camus