Welcome to Wikipedia

,

the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.

From today's featured article

Edward I (1239–1307) was King of England from 1272 until his death. Involving himself politically under the reign of his father Henry III, Edward briefly sided with a baronial reform movement. After reconciliation with Henry III, Edward defeated the barons by 1267 and set out to the Holy Land on a crusade in 1270. On his return journey, Edward learned of his father's death; the new king returned to England in 1274 and was crowned in Westminster Abbey. Edward spent his reign reforming English currency and pushing through major legislative reform, in addition to involving himself in conflict with France. Edward conquered Wales and intended to likewise take over Scotland; this ultimately failed. Upon his death, he was succeeded by his son Edward II. Edward has been considered one of the greatest medieval English kings for the achievements of his reign, but some historians have criticised him for his brutal military campaigns and for expelling English Jews. (Full article...)

Recently featured:

Did you know ...

Crowning of Edward VII

... that a British monarch arrives at their coronation wearing the Robe of State, is crowned (example depicted) while wearing the Supertunica, Stole Royal, Robe Royal and a single white glove, and leaves Westminster Abbey wearing the Imperial Robe?
... that the Cross of Wales, leading the procession at the coronation of Charles III and Camilla, features two relics of the True Cross gifted to the King by Pope Francis?
... that the 2018 Te Deum for choir by Peter Reulein uses the same instruments including a bandoneon as Palmeri's Misatango, and is inspired by tango, habanera and huapango?
... that Helene Lecher's presentation at the Women at the Hague conference, which Mary Heaton Vorse described as the "most moving speech of all the Congress", urged for peace?
... that today the Bishop of Edinburgh plays a ceremonial role at the coronation of Charles III and Camilla as a representative of the Walker Trustees?
... that the tower of a defunct TV station turned into a Christmastime landmark in Winston-Salem, North Carolina?
... that the Greyster is a type of sled dog favored especially for dryland racing like canicross and bikejoring?
... that during her coronation, Caroline of Ansbach's dress was reportedly so covered in jewels that she required a pulley to lift her skirt for her to kneel?

In the news

Vladislav Ribnikar Elementary School

The World Health Organization ends its designation of the COVID-19 pandemic as a global health emergency.
Nine people, including eight children, are killed in a shooting at an elementary school (pictured) in Belgrade, Serbia.
Palestinian Khader Adnan dies in an Israeli jail after an 87-day hunger strike protesting against his administrative detention.
Luca Brecel wins the World Snooker Championship.
Santiago Peña is elected President of Paraguay.

On this day

May 6

The Grand Palace in the 1860s

1536 – Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire: Sapa Inca emperor Manco Inca Yupanqui's army began a ten-month siege of Cusco against a garrison of Spanish conquistadors and Indian auxiliaries led by Hernando Pizarro.
1782 – Construction began on the Grand Palace (pictured) in Bangkok, the official residence of the king of Thailand.
1915 – Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition: SY Aurora, anchored in McMurdo Sound, broke loose during a gale, beginning a 312-day ordeal in the Ross Sea and Southern Ocean for her 18-man crew.
2004 – The final episode of the television sitcom Friends was aired.
2013 – Amanda Berry escaped from the Cleveland, Ohio, home of her captor, Ariel Castro, having been held there with two other women for ten years.

Henry David Thoreau (d. 1862)
Martin Brodeur (b. 1972)
Reg Grundy (d. 2016)

More anniversaries:

Today's featured picture

His Majesty is an 1897 comic opera with dialogue by F. C. Burnand, lyrics by R. C. Lehmann, additional lyrics by Adrian Ross, and music by Alexander Mackenzie. The work premiered at the Savoy Theatre in London on 20 February 1897, running for only 61 performances until 24 April, despite a strong cast including George Grossmith, Ilka Pálmay, Scott Russell, Fred Billington, Florence Perry and Walter Passmore. The D'Oyly Carte Opera Company then toured the opera throughout 1897 alongside more familiar Gilbert and Sullivan works. This poster for His Majesty was designed by Dudley Hardy to advertise the original D'Oyly Carte production, or the tour immediately following.

Poster credit: Dudley Hardy; restored by Adam Cuerden

Recently featured:

Other areas of Wikipedia

Community portal – The central hub for editors, with resources, links, tasks, and announcements.
Village pump – Forum for discussions about Wikipedia itself, including policies and technical issues.
Site news – Sources of news about Wikipedia and the broader Wikimedia movement.
Teahouse – Ask basic questions about using or editing Wikipedia.
Help desk – Ask questions about using or editing Wikipedia.
Reference desk – Ask research questions about encyclopedic topics.
Content portals – A unique way to navigate the encyclopedia.

Wikipedia's sister projects

Wikipedia is written by volunteer editors and hosted by the Wikimedia Foundation, a non-profit organization that also hosts a range of other volunteer projects: