Edward III (1312–1377), King of England from 1327 until his death, restored royal authority after the unorthodox and disastrous reign of his father, Edward II. Edward III transformed the Kingdom of England into one of the most formidable military powers in Europe. His reign of fifty years, the second longest in medieval England, saw vital developments in legislation and government—in particular the evolution of the English parliament—as well as the ravages of the Black Death. Edward was crowned at age fourteen after his father was deposed by his mother, Isabella of France, and her lover Roger Mortimer. At age seventeen he led a successful coup against Mortimer, the de facto ruler of the country, and began his personal reign. After a successful campaign in Scotland he declared himself the rightful heir to the French throne in 1337, but his claim was denied, starting the Hundred Years' War. Following some initial setbacks the war went well for England; victories at Crécy and Poitiers led to the favourable Treaty of Brétigny. Edward's later years were marked by international failure and domestic strife, largely as a result of his inactivity and poor health.

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

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1395:

An outnumbered Wallachian army repulsed an Ottoman invasion force in the Battle of Rovine. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Rovine

1590:

Anne of Denmark was crowned Queen consort of Scotland in the abbey church at Holyrood Palace. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_of_Denmark

1914:

Albania officially recognized the area of Northern Epirus as an autonomous region within the Albanian state, which was never established due to World War I. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protocol_of_Corfu

1947:

After renegotiating the contract with the makers of her signature Chanel No. 5 perfume, Coco Chanel received her share of wartime profits from its sale, making her one of the richest women in the world. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coco_Chanel

1997:

The First Congo War came to an end when Laurent-Désiré Kabila proclaimed himself president of Zaire, which was also renamed the Democratic Republic of the Congo. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Congo_War

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

jotun: (Norse mythology) A member of a race of giants who usually stand in opposition to the Æsir and especially to Thor. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/jotun

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

The understanding of things must be based, not on sentiment, but on reason. There must be justice, not charity. Kindness is solitary. Compassion becomes one with him whom we pity; it allows us to fathom him, to understand him alone amongst the rest; but it blurs and befogs the laws of the whole. I must set off with a clear idea, like the beam of a lighthouse through the deformities and temptations of night.   --Henri Barbusse https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Henri_Barbusse