The Fatimid conquest of Egypt took place in 969, as the troops of the
Fatimid Caliphate under the general Jawhar captured Egypt, then ruled by
the autonomous Ikhshidid dynasty in the name of the Abbasid Caliphate.
The Fatimids had launched repeated unsuccessful invasions of Egypt soon
after coming to power in Ifriqiya in 909. By the 960s, the collapse of
the Ikhshidid regime, and an economic crisis and factional infighting in
Egypt, allowed Fatimid caliph al-Mu'izz (coin pictured) to organize a
large expedition to conquer the country, aided by the activity of a
network of Fatimid agents there. When the Fatimid invasion came, the
Ikhshidid elites negotiated a peaceful surrender, and the brief
resistance of the Ikhshidid soldiery was overcome. Jawhar took control
of Fustat, the Egyptian capital, on 6 July. Jawhar served as viceroy of
Egypt until 973, when al-Mu'izz arrived and took up residence in a new
capital, Cairo, which became the seat of the Fatimid Caliphate.
Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatimid_conquest_of_Egypt>
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Today's selected anniversaries:
1897:
The Bersey Electric Cab entered service as the first electric
taxi in London.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bersey_Electric_Cab>
1950:
The 766th Independent Infantry Regiment of North Korea was
disbanded after fighting for less than two months in the Korean War.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/766th_Independent_Infantry_Regiment_%28North_Korea%29>
2003:
A Hamas suicide bomber killed 23 people and wounded more than
130 others, including many Orthodox Jewish children, on a crowded public
bus in Shmuel HaNavi, Jerusalem.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shmuel_HaNavi_bus_bombing>
2005:
Thunderstorms in southern Ontario, Canada, spawned at least
three tornadoes that caused over C$500 million in damage.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Ontario_tornado_outbreak_of_2005>
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Wiktionary's word of the day:
godsend:
1. An instance of unexpected benefit or good fortune; a windfall.
2. (specifically, Britain, regional, archaic) The wreck of a ship which
has washed up on shore, from which cargo, timber, etc., may be obtained.
3. A person who provides greatly needed assistance.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/godsend>
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Wikiquote quote of the day:
Every man has a right to his own opinion, but no man has a right
to be wrong in his facts.
--Bernard Baruch
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Bernard_Baruch>
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