The siege of Breteuil was the investment of the Norman town of Breteuil, held by partisans of Charles II, King of Navarre, by French forces between April and about 20 August 1356. It was interrupted on 5 July when a small English army relieved and resupplied the town. The French king, John II, attempted to bring the English to battle, but they evaded him and the siege was renewed. The French attracted praise for the splendour and high status of many of the participants, but made little progress as the town was well-garrisoned and stocked with food for a year. Attempts to mine under the walls were to no avail. In August a large mobile siege tower was pushed up to the walls and an assault launched, but the tower was set on fire and the attack repulsed with many casualties. Taking Breteuil became a matter of prestige for John and he refused to take the army south to face a major English offensive. Eventually the garrison was given free passage and a huge bribe to persuade them to depart.

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

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1937:

The Hormel Foods Corporation introduced Spam, the canned precooked meat product that would eventually enter into pop culture, folklore, and urban legend. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spam_%28food%29

1922:

Brazilian Army rebels took over Fort Copacabana and launched a rebellion in Rio de Janeiro against President Epitácio Pessoa and President-elect Artur Bernardes. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copacabana_Fort_revolt

1950:

Korean War: In the first encounter between North Korean and American forces, an unprepared and undisciplined U.S. Army task force was routed at the Battle of Osan. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Osan

1990:

An explosion at a petrochemical plant in Channelview, Texas, killed 17 people and injured five others. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1990_ARCO_explosion

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

asperity: 1. (uncountable) The quality of having a rough or uneven surface; roughness, unevenness; (countable, chiefly in the plural) a protruding or rough area or point on a surface; a protrusion. 2. (countable, geology) A section of a fault line with high friction, such that there is no movement along this part of the fault except during an earthquake. 3. (figurative) 4. (uncountable) The quality of being difficult or unpleasant to experience; (countable) a thing that is harsh and difficult to endure; a difficulty, a hardship. 5. (uncountable) The quality of being harsh or severe in the way one behaves or speaks toward another person; (countable, chiefly in the plural) a deeply hostile or resentful feeling; an animosity, a hatred. 6. (uncountable, archaic) 7. Of sound: gratingness, harshness. 8. Of taste: harshness or sharpness; acridity, tartness. 9. Of writing: a lack of elegance and refinement; inelegance, roughness. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/asperity

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

If we could have a full exposure of "the tricks of trade" of all sorts, of humbugs and deceivers of past times, religious, political, financial, scientific, quackish and so forth, we might perhaps look for a somewhat wiser generation to follow us. I shall be well satisfied if I can do something towards so good a purpose.   --P. T. Barnum https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/P._T._Barnum