In the Roman calendar, a day falling roughly in the middle of the month.
Ides
Fact of the Day
When President Lyndon Johnson was asked by members of the press why American soldiers were in Vietnam, he unzipped his trousers, pulled out what lay beneath and said 'This is why!'
Quote of the Day
"Who has appointed the Germans the judges of nations?
"
~ John of Salisbury
On This Day
1016 Cnut defeated Edmund Ironside at the Battle of Assandun, forcing Edmund to make a peace with the invading Danes: he got to keep Wessex, but the rest of England came under Danish rule. A month later, he had died of 'natural causes' so Wessex, too, went to Cnut.
1216 King John died of dysentery. He was succeeded by his nine year old son, Henry III.
1867 The US officially took possession of Alaska. It wasn't a popular decision at the time.
1922 The BBC was founded.
