Wikipedia:Main Page history/2015 August 5

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From today's featured article

Henry I (c. 1068 – 1135) was King of England from 1100 to 1135. After his father, William the Conqueror, died in 1087, Henry's older brothers Robert and William inherited Normandy and England, respectively, while Henry was landless. He seized the English throne after William's death in 1100, and Robert invaded England to claim it. A settlement between the two confirmed Henry as king, but it was short-lived; Henry invaded Normandy and defeated Robert. Henry's control of Normandy was challenged by William Clito, Robert's son, and a rebellion resulted. Peace only came after Henry's victory at the Battle of Bremule. Considered by contemporaries to be a harsh but effective ruler, Henry drew on the existing Anglo-Saxon system of justice in England and added the exchequer and judges. Normandy was increasingly governed in the same manner. He encouraged the ecclesiastical reforms initiated by Pope Gregory VII, but became involved in a dispute with Archbishop Anselm of Canterbury. Henry's only legitimate son, William Adelin, drowned in the White Ship disaster, causing a succession crisis. Henry declared his daughter, Matilda, as his heir and married her to Geoffrey Plantagenet. After his death, however, Henry was succeeded by his nephew, Stephen, resulting in a civil war known as the Anarchy. (Full article...)

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Allington Castle

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... that the Indian actor Shahid Kapoor turned vegetarian after reading a book on the subject?
... that Herbert Read described the work of the Geometry of Fear sculptors at the 1952 Venice Biennale as "scuttling across the floors of silent seas"?
... that Oliver Brown, a founding member of the Scottish National Party, once stood for election in Scotland as an Irish Anti-Partitionist?
... that the Portuguese settlement in Chittagong flourished for more than 130 years between the 16th and 17th centuries?
... that Arthur Dingle was selected to play rugby for England in 1913, even though Oxford had dropped him?
... that Mark Ronson and Jeff Bhaskar dropped in on churches, nightclubs, bars, and community centres in an attempt to find an appropriate vocalist for their song "I Can't Lose"?
... that Brad Carter became known as the "guy playing guitar during brain surgery" after he posted a video of his brain operation on YouTube?

In the news

National Aquatics Center

The International Olympic Committee selects Beijing as the host city of the 2022 Winter Games (National Aquatics Center pictured).
The Taliban confirms that its former leader, Mohammed Omar, died in April 2013.
Scientist and former President of India A. P. J. Abdul Kalam dies at the age of 83.
In cycling, Chris Froome wins the Tour de France for a second time.
Pierre Nkurunziza is re-elected President of Burundi for a third term.
After a suicide bombing in Suruç that killed 32 people, Turkey launches airstrikes against ISIL and Kurdistan Workers' Party camps in Iraq.

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On this day...

August 5: Independence Day in Burkina Faso (1960)

Marilyn Monroe in Some Like It Hot

641 or 642 – King Penda of Mercia defeated and killed King Oswald of Northumbria at the Battle of Maserfield, traditionally believed to have been fought in Oswestry, Shropshire, England.
1583 – Explorer Humphrey Gilbert established the first English colony in North America at what is now St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
1925 – The Welsh political party Plaid Cymru was founded with the goals of promoting the Welsh language and the political independence of the Welsh nation.
1962 – Actress and model Marilyn Monroe (pictured) was found dead in her home in Brentwood, Los Angeles, an event that has become the center of one of the most debated conspiracy theories.
1995 – During Operation Storm, Croatian forces recovered the town of Knin from the Republic of Serbian Krajina.

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Today's featured picture

Locomotive U-127 is a 4-6-0 steam locomotive of class U, preserved at the Museum of the Moscow Railway next to Paveletsky Rail Terminal in Moscow. Built in 1910, the locomotive was badly damaged during the Russian Civil War but restored in May 1923. The following year it hauled head of state Vladimir Lenin's funeral train from Gerasimovskaya to Paveletsky station. For the next 13 years it continued in passenger service, until it was withdrawn in 1937, restored, and preserved.

Photograph: Harveyqs

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