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Wikipedia talk:Selected anniversaries/November 20

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Today's featured article for November 20, 2024
Illustration of the use of Greek fire
Illustration of the use of Greek fire

The first Arab siege of Constantinople in 674–678 was a major conflict of the Arab–Byzantine wars, and the first culmination of the Umayyad Caliphate's expansionist strategy towards the Byzantine Empire. In 672–673 Arab fleets secured bases along the coasts of Asia Minor, and set up a loose blockade around Constantinople. They used the peninsula of Cyzicus near the city as a base to spend the winter, and returned every spring to launch attacks against the city's fortifications. Finally the Byzantines managed to destroy the Arab navy using a new invention, the liquid incendiary substance known as Greek fire (pictured). The Byzantines also defeated the Arab land army in Asia Minor, forcing them to lift the siege. A peace treaty was signed, and following the outbreak of another Muslim civil war, the Byzantines experienced a brief period of ascendancy. The siege was the first major Arab defeat in 50 years of expansion. Tales of a large-scale siege of Constantinople even reached China. (Full article...)

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Picture of the day for November 20, 2024
Machado de Assis

Joaquim Maria Machado de Assis (21 June 1839 – 29 September 1908), was a pioneer Brazilian novelist, poet, playwright and short story writer, widely regarded as the greatest writer of Brazilian literature. In 1897, he founded and became the first President of the Brazilian Academy of Letters. He was multilingual, having taught himself French, English, German and Greek later in life.


Born in Morro do Livramento [pt], Rio de Janeiro, from a poor family, he was the grandson of freed slaves in a country where slavery would not be fully abolished until 49 years later. He barely studied in public schools and never attended university. With only his own intellect and autodidactism to rely on, he struggled to rise socially. To do so, he took several public positions, passing through the Ministry of Agriculture, Trade and Public Works, and achieving early fame in newspapers where he first published his poetry and chronicles.

Machado's work shaped the realist movement in Brazil. He became known for his wit and his eye-opening critiques of society. Generally considered to be Machado's greatest works are Dom Casmurro (1899), Memórias Póstumas de Brás Cubas ("Posthumous Memoirs of Brás Cubas", also translated as Epitaph of a Small Winner) and Quincas Borba (also known in English as Philosopher or Dog?). In 1893, he published "A Missa do Galo" ("Midnight Mass"), often considered to be the greatest short story in Brazilian literature.

Photograph credit: Marc Ferrez (photographer); restored by Adam Cuerden

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I did not know we had arrived at the point where all links on the Mainpage had to be of FA quality.... --TheDJ (talk • contribs) 17:11, 18 November 2008 (UTC)[reply]

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The first module of the International Space Station was launched November 20, 1998, according to the Assembly of the International Space Station and various other websites ([1] [2] [3] [4]). I propose this anniversary to be added to the Selected anniversaries for November 20. For the equal balance of subjects, I propose this to be added instead of Slánský trial, as there are currently two trials and no subjects in science and technology on the selected anniversaries for this date, and the start of the ISS is a major event in technology. I believe this can replace the November 2 event on the first resident crew. --Gerrit CUTEDH 08:30, 20 November 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I'd like to express an opinion in favour of this addition too. Colds7ream (talk) 16:08, 4 November 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Historically, the International Space Station article has been featured on November 2 to mark the first resident crew,[5] while Zarya, its first module, has been featured here[6] ... except it is now currently tagged for cleanup. Since International Space Station was already featured on November 2 this year, this issue about whether to move International Space Station might have to wait next year – unless the Zarya page is significantly improved in the next few days. Cheers. Zzyzx11 (talk) 04:07, 8 November 2009 (UTC)[reply]

2012 notes

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—howcheng {chat} 08:15, 19 November 2012 (UTC)[reply]

2013 notes

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—howcheng {chat} 07:13, 19 November 2013 (UTC)[reply]

2014 notes

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—howcheng {chat} 08:45, 19 November 2014 (UTC)[reply]

2015 notes

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—howcheng {chat} 08:23, 18 November 2015 (UTC)[reply]

2016 notes

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—howcheng {chat} 01:27, 20 November 2016 (UTC)[reply]

2017 notes

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  • @Howcheng: @Saff V.: It's too late now (my ERRORS request was ignored), but for future reference, probably better to be specific in cases like this - this was not an Islam-wide celebration. Better to say "Shia Islam" in the link, or even "Twelver Shia." SnowFire (talk) 05:35, 21 November 2017 (UTC)[reply]

—howcheng {chat} 19:15, 20 November 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Diocletian

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Shouldn't it be simply "became Roman emperor" and not "became the Roman emperor"? AFAIK, English generally omits the definite article when discussing positions which may be held by only one person at a time. Kranix (talk | contribs) 15:25, 20 November 2018 (UTC)[reply]

2018 notes

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—howcheng {chat} 16:43, 20 November 2018 (UTC)[reply]

2019 notes

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—howcheng {chat} 16:52, 21 November 2019 (UTC)[reply]

2020 notes

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—howcheng {chat} 19:16, 21 November 2020 (UTC)[reply]

2021 notes

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—howcheng {chat} 07:17, 21 November 2021 (UTC)[reply]

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