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Miniature of Alexios Komnenos
Alexios Komnenos

The Battle of Kalavrye was fought in 1078 between the Byzantine imperial forces of general (and future emperor) Alexios Komnenos (pictured) and a force led by the rebellious governor of Dyrrhachium, Nikephoros Bryennios the Elder. Bryennios had rebelled against Michael VII Doukas (reigned 1071–78) and had won over the allegiance of the Byzantine army's regular regiments in the Balkans. Even after Doukas's overthrow by Nikephoros III Botaneiates (r. 1078–81), Bryennios continued his revolt, threatening Constantinople. After failed negotiations, Botaneiates sent the young general Alexios Komnenos to confront him. The two armies clashed at Kalavrye on the Halmyros river. Komnenos, whose army was considerably smaller and far less experienced, tried but failed to ambush Bryennios's army, which in turn fell into disorder after its own Pecheneg allies attacked its camp. Reinforced by Turkish mercenaries, Alexios lured the troops of Bryennios into another ambush through a feigned retreat. The rebel army broke, and Bryennios himself was captured. This is one of the few battles that was described in detail by Byzantine sources. (Full article...)

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Thanjavur Art Plate
Thanjavur Art Plate

In the news

Alejandro G. Iñárritu in 2008
Alejandro G. Iñárritu

On this day...

February 19

Dust storm at Manzanar
Dust storm at Manzanar
Healy Hall at Georgetown University
Healy Hall at Georgetown University

There are nineteen colleges and universities in Washington, D.C. that are listed under the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. These institutions include five research universities, four master's universities, and ten special-focus institutions. Sixteen of Washington, D.C.'s post-secondary institutions are private, of which three are for-profit. Only three of the city's post-secondary institutions listed under the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education are public. Washington, D.C.'s oldest post-secondary institution is Georgetown University (pictured), founded in 1789. George Washington University, founded in 1821, is the city's largest institution of higher learning in terms of enrollment, as it had 25,653 students as of the spring of 2013. The University of the District of Columbia is Washington, D.C.'s largest public university, with an enrollment of 5,110 students. The city has two historically black colleges and universities that are members of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund: Howard University and the University of the District of Columbia. (Full list...)

Burning of the Trade Unions Building

The burning of the Trade Unions Building—used as the headquarters of the Euromaidan movement—during the 2014 Ukrainian revolution, following a failed attempt by the Ukranian police to capture the building. After the fire, the damaged building was covered with large canvas screens on two sides with the words "Glory to Ukraine" printed on them in large letters.

Photograph: Amakuha

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