The Siege of Godesberg, 18 November – 17 December 1583, was the first major siege of the Cologne War (1583–89). A formidable 13th-century fortress, the Godesburg (pictured c. 1500), sat on top of the Godesberg mountain, towering over the Rhine valley. It commanded the roads leading to Bonn, the Elector of Cologne's capital city, and Cologne, the region's economic powerhouse. By the mid-16th century, the Godesburg was considered nearly impregnable and had become a symbol of the dual power of the Prince-electors and Archbishops of Cologne. Bavarian and mercenary soldiers surrounded the mountain and the village then of the same name, now Bad Godesberg, at its foot. The Godesburg resisted a lengthy cannonade by the attacking army; finally, sappers tunneled into the the mountain and blew up a significant part of the fortifications. This killed many of the defenders, but the remainder offered staunch resistance and the Bavarians had to enter the castle's inner courtyard through the latrine system to succeed. The Godesburg's commander negotiated safe passage for himself, his wife and his lieutenant. The others who were left in the keep—men, women and children—were killed.

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

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1812:

Napoleonic Wars: During Napoleon's invasion of Russia, Marshal Michel Ney's leadership in the Battle of Krasnoi earned him the nickname "the bravest of the brave" despite the overwhelming French defeat. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Krasnoi

1872:

American suffragette Susan B. Anthony was arrested and fined $100 for having voted in the U.S. presidential election in Rochester, New York, two weeks prior. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susan_B._Anthony

1928:

Walt Disney's Steamboat Willie, the first completely post- produced synchronized sound animated cartoon, was released. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steamboat_Willie

1987:

In London, an underground fire killed 31 people at King's Cross St Pancras. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King%27s_Cross_fire

1991:

Croatian War of Independence: Yugoslav People's Army forces captured the Croatian city of Vukovar, ending an 87-day siege. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Vukovar

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

full circle: 1. Through a rotation or revolution that ends at the starting point. 2. (idiomatic) Through a cycle of transition, returning to where one started after gaining experience or exploring other things. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/full_circle

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

The world is so full of people, so crowded with these miracles that they become commonplace and we forget... I forget. We gaze continually at the world and it grows dull in our perceptions. Yet seen from the another's vantage point, as if new, it may still take our breath away. Come... dry your eyes, for you are life, rarer than a quark and unpredictable beyond the dreams of Heisenberg. Come, dry your eyes. And let's go home.   --Watchmen https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Watchmen