Al-Adid (1151–1171) was the fourteenth and last caliph of the Fatimid dynasty, and the twenty-fourth imam of the Hafizi Isma'ili branch of Shi'a Islam, reigning from 1160 to 1171. Like the previous two caliphs, al-Adid came to the throne as a child, a puppet in the hands of various strongmen who became viziers of the Fatimid Caliphate. The power struggles in Cairo weakened the Fatimid state, strengthening both the Kingdom of Jerusalem, a Crusader state, and Nur al-Din, the Sunni ruler of Syria. The Crusaders repeatedly invaded Egypt; the Syrians sent their general, Shirkuh, to counter them. In January 1169, Shirkuh occupied Cairo and became vizier, but died shortly after. He was succeeded by his nephew, Saladin, who was at first conciliatory towards al-Adid, but proceeded to dismantle the Fatimid regime, with al-Adid sidelined. Sunni Islam was established as state religion, culminating in the official proclamation of Abbasid suzerainty in September 1171. Al-Adid died a few days later; his family was placed under house arrest.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Adid

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1792:

The French Army achieved its first major victory of the War of the First Coalition at the Battle of Valmy. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Valmy

1920:

Irish War of Independence: British auxiliary police officers known as Black and Tans went on a rampage in Balbriggan, burning more than fifty homes and businesses and killing two people. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sack_of_Balbriggan

1967:

L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology, announced the story of Xenu in a taped lecture sent to all Scientologists. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xenu

1997:

Hurricane Erika, the strongest and longest-lasting hurricane of the 1997 Atlantic hurricane season, dissipated after causing flooding and power outages throughout Puerto Rico. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Erika_%281997%29

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

old timer's disease: (neurology, pathology, slang, sometimes derogatory or humorous) Eggcorn of Alzheimer's disease (“a disorder involving loss of mental functions resulting from brain tissue changes”). https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/old_timer%27s_disease

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

At this inflection point in history, we’re going to be judged by whether or not we live up to the promises we have made to ourselves, to each other, to the most vulnerable, and to all those who will inherit the world we create, because that’s what we’re doing. Will we find within ourselves the courage to do what must be done to preserve the planet, to protect human dignity, to provide opportunity for people everywhere, and to defend the tenets of the United Nations? There can be only one answer to that question: We must, and we will.   --Joe Biden https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Joe_Biden