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Castle of Guînes in 2012
The siege of Guînes took place from May to July 1352 when a French army under Geoffrey de Charny unsuccessfully attempted to recapture the French castle (pictured) at Guînes which had been seized by the English the previous January. The siege was part of the Hundred Years' War and took place during the uneasy and ill-kept truce of Calais. The strongly fortified castle had been taken by the English during a period of nominal truce and the English king, Edward III, decided to keep it. Charny led 4,500 men and retook the town but was unable to either recapture or blockade the castle. After two months of fierce fighting, a large English night attack on the French camp inflicted a heavy defeat and the French withdrew. Guînes was incorporated into the Pale of Calais. The threat posed by this enclave caused the French to garrison 60 fortified positions around it, at ruinous expense. The castle was besieged by the French in 1436 and 1514, but was relieved each time, before falling to the French in 1558. (Full article...)
... that Giovanni Manu was the first player from his university ever to be selected in the NFL draft?
... that Barack Obama made an election promise to make non-emergency bills freely available online for a five-day public consultation period under "sunlight before signing"?
... that Bob Noel was the one responsible for dealing "with all the dirty laundry" of the Green Bay Packers?
The Eastern Phoebe(Sayornis phoebe) is a small, migratory passerine bird found in Central and North America. It breeds in woodlands in the eastern United States and often nests on human structures. This specimen was photographed in Madison, Wisconsin, US.
The United States Senate confirms Janet Yellen as the Federal Reserve System's first female chair. Jan 6(read more)
Archeologists identify the tomb of Egyptian pharaoh Sobekhotep I. Jan 6(read more)
North America experiences record low temperatures. Jan 6(read more)
Amid violence and a boycott by opposition parties, the Bangladesh Awami League wins the general election. Jan 5(read more)
The al-Qaeda-affiliated Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant captures the city of Fallujah. Jan 5(read more)
Latvia becomes the 18th European Union member state to adopt the euro. Jan 1(read more)
More than 100 people are killed when anti-government forces attack key buildings in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Dec 30(read more)
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