Wikipedia:Main Page history/2011 November 17

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Today's featured article
William de St-Calais was a medieval Norman monk, abbot of the abbey of St. Vincent in Le Mans in Maine, who was nominated as Bishop of Durham in 1080 by King William I of England. During his term as bishop, St-Calais replaced the canons of his cathedral chapter with monks, and began the construction of Durham Cathedral. In addition to his ecclesiastical duties, he served as a commissioner for the Domesday Book. He was also a councillor and advisor to both King William I and his son, King William II, known as William Rufus. Following William Rufus' accession to the throne in 1087, St-Calais was considered by scholars to be the new king's chief advisor. However, when the king's uncle, Odo of Bayeux, raised a rebellion against the king in 1088, St-Calais was implicated in the revolt. Imprisoned briefly, St-Calais was allowed to go into exile in Normandy, where he became a leading advisor to Robert Curthose, Duke of Normandy. By 1091, St-Calais had returned to England and regained royal favour. In England, St-Calais once more became a leading advisor to the king. In 1093 he negotiated with Anselm, Abbot of Bec, concerning Anselm's becoming Archbishop of Canterbury; in 1095 it was St-Calais who prosecuted the royal case against Anselm after he had become archbishop. Before his death in 1096, he had made his peace with Anselm, who blessed and consoled St-Calais on his deathbed. (more...) Recently featured: Ming Dynasty – The Lord of the Rings – George Koval Archive – By email – More featured articles...
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From Wikipedia's newest content: ... that the foliage of the coast myall (pictured) can produce cyanide when cut? ... that a media conspiracy calling itself the Order of the Occult Hand has infiltrated The Boston Globe, the Los Angeles Times, and The Washington Times? ... that Hal Foster's first book was a children's book, and his second was a seminal text in postmodernism? ... that Dorothy Mayhall was the first director of the Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum? ... that during the Siege of Portsmouth, Southsea Castle was captured from a drunken commander? ... that Paralympic shooting medallist Ashley Adams is a cattle grazier who owns a 64,000-acre (26,000 ha) station near Blackall, Queensland? Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news
Mario Monti Soyuz TMA-22, carrying a crew of two Russians and one American, docks with the International Space Station. Following the resignation of Silvio Berlusconi, Mario Monti (pictured) becomes Prime Minister of Italy. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is re-elected President of Liberia. The Arab League suspends Syria's membership amid a violent crackdown on an internal uprising. Mexican Secretary of the Interior Francisco Blake Mora is killed in a helicopter crash near Mexico City. Sébastien Loeb wins the World Rally Championship for a record eighth consecutive year. Following the resignation of George Papandreou, Lucas Papademos is sworn in as Prime Minister of Greece. The International Union for Conservation of Nature declares the Western Black Rhinoceros extinct. Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events...
On this day...
November 17 1292 – John Balliol was chosen to be King of Scots over Robert de Brus. 1869 – The Suez Canal opened, allowing shipping to travel between Europe and Asia via the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. 1950 – Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama (pictured), was enthroned as Tibet's head of state at the age of fifteen. 1970 – The Soviet Union's Lunokhod 1 landed on the Moon to become the first roving remote-controlled robot to operate on another celestial body. 2009 – Administrators at the Climatic Research Unit at the University of East Anglia discovered that their servers had been hacked and thousands of emails and files on climate change had been stolen. More anniversaries: November 16 – November 17 – November 18 Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries It is now November 17, 2011 (UTC) – Refresh this page

Today's featured picture

The White-faced Heron (Egretta novaehollandiae) is a common species of heron found throughout most of Australasia. It is a relatively small bird, typically weighing 550 g (1.2 lb) and ranging 60–70 cm (24–28 in) in height. It can be found almost anywhere near shallow water, fresh or salt, including residential fish ponds. Adults are pale, slightly bluish-grey, with yellow legs and white facial markings.

Photo: Benjamint444

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