Wikipedia:Main Page history/2012 August 22

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Today's featured article
The Battle of Bosworth Field was the last significant battle of the Wars of the Roses, the civil war between the House of Lancaster and the House of York that raged across England in the latter half of the 15th century. Fought on 22 August 1485, the battle was won by the Lancastrians. Their leader Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond, became the first English monarch of the Tudor dynasty by his victory and subsequent marriage to a Yorkist princess. His opponent Richard III, the last king of the House of York, was killed in the battle. Historians consider Bosworth Field to mark the end of the Plantagenet dynasty, making it one of the defining moments of English history. Richard's reign began in 1483 when he seized the throne from his twelve-year-old nephew Edward V; the boy and his younger brother soon disappeared. Meanwhile, Henry Tudor, a descendant of the House of Lancaster, also laid claim to the throne. Henry's first attempt to invade England in 1483 was frustrated by a storm, but his second arrived unopposed on 1 August 1485 on the southwest coast of Wales. Marching inland, Henry gathered support as he made for London. Richard hurriedly mustered his troops and intercepted Henry's army south of the town of Market Bosworth in Leicestershire. (more...) Recently featured: USS New Ironsides – Smith Act trials of Communist Party leaders – Rus' Khaganate Archive – By email – More featured articles...
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From Wikipedia's newest content: ... that the depiction of "monsters" in J. M. W. Turner's painting Sunrise with Sea Monsters (pictured) may have been influenced by his use of a drug related to morphine? ... that Molde FK did not want to send Martin Høyem on loan to Hønefoss BK, because the two clubs were scheduled to meet in the semi-final of the 2005 Norwegian Football Cup? ... that Freedom House recently downgraded Djibouti's human rights status from "partly free" to "not free"? ... that Roman Chatov painted the silk scarf that caused American dancer Isadora Duncan's accidental death? ... that the University of Minnesota Libraries holds the world's largest collection on Sherlock Holmes and his creator, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle? ... that Abdulredha Buhmaid died three days after being shot in the head during a peaceful protest in Bahrain? ... that the upcoming Doctor Who episode "The Power of Three" was partially inspired by the story of the MSC Napoli? ... that 2012 Australian Paralympic swimmer Katherine Downie takes her yellow duck pillow to competitions for luck? Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news
Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi (pictured) dies at the age of 57. Following a military coup, Mali forms a national unity government in an effort to solve a political crisis. Burma announces an end to pre-publication censorship of print media. Gu Kailai, the wife of former Chinese politician Bo Xilai, is given a suspended death sentence for the murder of British businessman Neil Heywood. A plane crash in Sudan kills 32 people, including members of the Sudanese government and military. A plane crash in Masbate, Philippines, kills three people including Jesse Robredo, Secretary of the Interior and Local Government of the Philippines. Syrian civil war – Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events...
On this day...
August 22: Feast Day of the Queenship of Mary (Roman Catholic Church); Madras Day in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India 1639 – The East India Company bought a small strip of land on what is today Chennai, the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, from the King of the Vijayanagara Empire, Peda Venkata Raya. 1777 – American Revolutionary War: Benedict Arnold used a devious ruse to convince the British that a much larger force was arriving, causing them to abandon the Siege of Fort Stanwix (reconstructed fort pictured). 1910 – Japan annexed Korea with the signing of the Japan–Korea Annexation Treaty, beginning a period of Japanese rule of Korea that lasted until the end of World War II. 1989 – The Voyager 2 spacecraft made its closest approach to Neptune and provided definitive proof of the existence of the planet's rings. 2006 – Pulkovo Airlines Flight 612 crashed near the Russian border over eastern Ukraine, killing all 170 people on board. More anniversaries: August 21 – August 22 – August 23 Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries It is now August 22, 2012 (UTC) – Refresh this page

Today's featured picture

Margaret Beaufort, Countess of Richmond and Derby, was the mother of King Henry VII and paternal grandmother of King Henry VIII of England. She was a key figure in the Wars of the Roses, and an influential matriarch of the House of Tudor and foundress of two Cambridge colleges. In 1509, she briefly served as regent of England for her grandson. Henry VII became King of England after leading Lancastrian forces to victory in the Battle of Bosworth Field on 22 August 1485.

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