that took place on November 26–27, 1161. Although a peace treaty in
1142 had settled the border between the two states, putting the Jin in
control of northern China and the Song in control of the south, Prince
Hailing of Jin was intent on uniting them under a single emperor.
Without much resistance, his army pushed through to the Yangtze River,
which he planned to cross at Caishi, south of modern-day Nanjing. The
Song were fortified along the Yangtze front. Hailing embarked from the
shore of the Yangtze on November 26, but the Song fleet, equipped with
trebuchets (example pictured) that launched incendiary bombs made of
gunpowder and lime, decisively defeated the light ships of the Jin navy.
Hailing was assassinated by his own men shortly after the battle. A
military coup had taken place in his absence, enthroning Emperor
Shizong, and a peace treaty signed in 1165 ended the conflict. Modern
studies suggest that the battle was smaller and that both sides were
more evenly matched than traditional accounts suggest. Nonetheless, the
victory boosted the Song infantry's morale and halted the Jin's southern
advance.
Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Caishi>
_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:
1009:
Under orders from Fatimid caliph Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah, the
Church of the Holy Sepulchre, a Christian church now within the walled
Old City of Jerusalem, was destroyed.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_the_Holy_Sepulchre>
1386:
A special Pontifical High Mass in the Church of the Holy Spirit
commemorated the opening of Heidelberg University.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heidelberg_University>
1540:
An expedition led by Spanish conquistador Hernando de Soto
destroyed the fortified village of Mabila in what is now the U.S. state
of Alabama, killing Chief Tuskaloosa in the process.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuskaloosa>
1968:
At the Summer Olympics in Mexico City, American Bob Beamon set
a world record of 8.90 m in the long jump, a mark that stood for 23
years.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Beamon>
2004:
SPDC Chairman Senior General Than Shwe announced that Burmese
Prime Minister Khin Nyunt was "permitted to retire on health grounds",
but then had him arrested.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khin_Nyunt>
_____________________________
Wiktionary's word of the day:
stipulate:
(botany; not comparable) Having stipules; that is, having outgrowths
borne on either side of the base of the leafstalk.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/stipulate>
___________________________
Wikiquote quote of the day:
Is Ahab, Ahab? Is it I, God, or who, that lifts this arm?
But if the great sun move not of himself; but is as an errand-boy in
heaven; nor one single star can revolve, but by some invisible power;
how then can this one small heart beat; this one small brain think
thoughts; unless God does that beating, does that thinking, does that
living, and not I.
--Moby-Dick
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Moby-Dick>
_______________________________________________
Wikipedia Daily Article mailing list.
To unsubscribe, visit:
https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/daily-article-l
Questions or comments? Contact dal-feedback@wikimedia.org