Wikipedia:Main Page history/2015 April 5

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From today's featured article

Robert Burnell (c. 1239 – 1292) was an English bishop who served as Lord Chancellor of England from 1274 to 1292. A native of Shropshire, he served as a minor royal official before entering into the service of Prince Edward, the future King Edward I of England. When Edward went on the Eighth Crusade in 1270, Burnell stayed in England to secure the prince's interests. He served as regent after the death of King Henry III of England while Edward was still on crusade. He was twice elected Archbishop of Canterbury, but his personal life—which included a long-term mistress who was rumoured to have borne him four sons—prevented his confirmation by the papacy. In 1275 Burnell was elected Bishop of Bath and Wells, after Edward had appointed him Lord Chancellor in 1274. He was behind the efforts of the royal officials to enforce royal rights during his term of office as chancellor, including the implementation of the quo warranto procedures. He also helped with the legislative and legal reforms of Edward's reign. During Burnell's tenure the chancellor's office and records became fixed in London rather than travelling with the king. He went abroad on diplomatic missions for Edward, and for a time governed Gascony. (Full article...)

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Did you know...

From Wikipedia's new and recently improved content:

... that the candy-striped Church of St John the Baptist, Kerch (pictured) is one of the oldest churches in Eastern Europe?
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... that Australian recording artist Sia agreed to release 1000 Forms of Fear on the condition that she was not obligated to do a tour or press appearances?
... that "Christ the Lord Is Risen Again!" in English is cut down from the German version because the words didn't fit?

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In the news

A preliminary deal is reached between Iran and six other countries regarding Iran's nuclear program.
Al-Shabaab gunmen attack Garissa University College in Kenya, killing more than 140 people.
Russian fishing trawler Dalniy Vostok sinks, killing at least 56 people.
Muhammadu Buhari (pictured) is elected President of Nigeria.
Islam Karimov is re-elected President of Uzbekistan.
In cricket, the World Cup concludes with Australia defeating New Zealand in the final.

Ongoing: Yemeni crisis – Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
Recent deaths: Elmer Lach – Robert H. Schuller – Manoel de Oliveira

On this day...

April 5: Easter (Western Christianity, 2015); Feast Day of Vincent Ferrer

1609 – Forces of the Japanese feudal domain of Satsuma captured the castle on Ryukyu Island, beginning the process that turned the Ryukyu Kingdom into a vassal state under Satsuma.
1722 – Dutch explorer Jacob Roggeveen became the first European to land on Easter Island.
1847 – Britain's first civic public park, Birkenhead Park (pictured) in Birkenhead, Merseyside, opened.
1942 – Second World War: Carrier-based aircraft of the Imperial Japanese Navy conducted the Easter Sunday Raid on Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) and the British Eastern Fleet in an attempt to drive the Commonwealth naval force from the Indian Ocean.
1992 – Bosnian War: Unidentified gunmen killed two people while firing upon a large crowd of anti-war protesters in Sarajevo, marking the start of the four-year-long Siege of Sarajevo.

More anniversaries: April 4 – April 5 – April 6

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Today's featured picture

Orthetrum chrysostigma is a species of dragonfly in family Libellulidae that is found in much of Africa. Adults of this species prey on various flying insects.

Photograph: Muhammad Mahdi Karim

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