Theodore II Laskaris (1221/1222–1258) was a Byzantine emperor who
ruled the Empire of Nicaea from 1254 until his death. Nicaea was a
successor state to the Byzantine Empire, after crusaders captured the
Byzantine capital, Constantinople, in 1204 during the Fourth Crusade.
Theodore began to write treatises on theological, historical and
philosophical themes in his youth. From around 1242, he was co-ruler
with his father, and his relationship with some prominent aristocrats
grew tense. Succeeding his father in 1254 Theodore replaced many
aristocratic officials and generals with loyalists, including some of
low birth. In 1256, he repelled a Bulgarian invasion of Thrace and
Macedonia and forced Epirus to cede Dyrrachium on the Adriatic Sea.
Epirus allied with Serbia and Sicily, and jointly invaded Nicaea in
1257; Nicaea's new generals could not resist the invasion. Theodore died
in 1258, leaving an underage son, John IV. Michael Palaiologos seized
the regency, and usurped the throne soon after.
Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodore_II_Laskaris>
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Today's selected anniversaries:
1843:
Honório Hermeto Carneiro Leão, Marquis of Paraná, became the
de facto first prime minister of the Empire of Brazil.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hon%C3%B3rio_Hermeto_Carneiro_Le%C3%A3o,_Marquis_of_Paran%C3%A1>
1968:
The Houston Cougars upset the UCLA Bruins in what became known
as the "Game of the Century", ending the Bruins' 47-game winning streak,
and establishing college basketball as a sports commodity on American
television.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_of_the_Century_%28college_basketball%29>
1969:
Bengali student activist Amanullah Asaduzzaman was shot and
killed by East Pakistani police, an event that led to the Bangladesh
Liberation War.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amanullah_Asaduzzaman>
2009:
During a national financial crisis, thousands of people
protested at the Icelandic parliament in Reykjavík.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_Icelandic_financial_crisis_protests>
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Wiktionary's word of the day:
tropism:
1. (uncountable, biology) The turning of an organism (chiefly a plant)
or part of an organism either towards or away from a stimulus;
(countable) an instance of this.
2. (countable, by extension, chiefly virology) A capability or tendency
for a pathogen (chiefly a virus) to infect a type of cell, tissue,
organ, or host organism.
3. (countable, figurative) Of a person: an instinctive predilection or
tendency; also (generally), a liking, a preference.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/tropism>
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Wikiquote quote of the day:
Remember we have the potential to make life better for others. In
our own small way, we can inspire, mentor, and encourage other women to
do great things. So, don’t hold back. Don’t be silent. Don’t give
in to fear. Be bold. Be adventurous. Be yourself. There will always be
people who want to tell you what you can do and what you can’t. What
is possible and what is not. I know because I have encountered those
people throughout my life. Some of them were well meaning. But all of
them wanted to limit my potential. Your potential is limitless. Your
life — the life you want — is worth fighting for. So, fight.
--Nikki Haley
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Nikki_Haley>
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