The Kingdom of Mysore (1399–1947) was a kingdom of southern India, traditionally believed to have been founded in 1399 in the vicinity of the modern city of Mysore. The kingdom, which was ruled by the Wodeyar family, initially served as a vassal state of the Vijayanagara Empire. Around 1565, the kingdom became independent. The 17th century saw a steady expansion of its territory and, under Narasaraja Wodeyar I (pictured) and Chikka Devaraja Wodeyar, the kingdom annexed large expanses of what is now southern Karnataka and parts of Tamil Nadu to become a powerful state in the southern Deccan. It reached the height of its military power and dominion in the latter half of the 18th century under the de facto ruler Haider Ali and his son Tipu Sultan. During this time, it came into conflict with the Marathas, the British and the Nizam of Hyderabad which culminated in the four Anglo-Mysore wars. The British restored a subsidiary alliance, and a diminished Mysore was now transformed into a Princely state until Indian independence in 1947. The Mysore kings were not only accomplished exponents of the fine arts and men of letters, they were enthusiastic patrons as well and their legacies continue to influence music and art even today.

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

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1812:

French invasion of Russia: As Napoleon's Grande Armée began its retreat, its rear guard was defeated at the Battle of Vyazma (monument pictured). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Vyazma

1942:

World War II: U.S. Marines and U.S. Army forces began an attempt to encircle and destroy a regiment of Imperial Japanese Army troops. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koli_Point_action

1957:

The Soviet Union launched the Sputnik 2 spacecraft, carrying Laika the Russian space dog as the first living creature from Earth to enter orbit. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laika

1967:

Vietnam War: A series of major engagements that were some of the hardest-fought and bloodiest battles of the war began at Đắk Tô in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Dak_To

1996:

Abdullah Çatlı, a drug trafficker, a contract killer, and a leader of the ultra-nationalist Nationalist Movement Party, was killed in a car crash near Susurluk, Balıkesir Province, Turkey, sparking the Susurluk scandal which exposed the depth of the state's complicity in organized crime. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdullah_%C3%87atl%C4%B1

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

caritative: Charitable. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/caritative

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

Once the masterpiece has emerged, the lesser works surrounding it fall into place; and it then gives the impression of having been led up to and foreseeable, though actually it is inconceivable — or, rather, it can only be conceived of once it is there for us to see it. --André Malraux https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Andr%C3%A9_Malraux