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Today in History 08/26 (Battle of Crécy)

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Drawing of cannon used at the Battle of Crécy in 1346 (© Hulton Archive/Getty Images)(1346) Outnumbered English win at Crécy
As King Philip VI’s French forces move into position at the Battle of Crécy, they vastly outnumber the troops of England’s Edward III. But the English army makes pioneering use of the longbow rather than the more cumbersome and less effective crossbow used by the French and most other European infantries. Edward’s English forces also surprise their enemy by introducing the cannon as a battlefield weapon. This combined-arms approach secures a surprise victory against the much larger French army.
The Battle of Crécy, also spelled Cressy, was an English victory during the Edwardian phase of the Hundred Years’ War. It was the first of three famous English successes during the conflict, followed by Poitiers in 1356 and Agincourt in 1415.
Date: Aug 26, 1346

visualisation of the Battle of Crécy
Map of the Battle of Crécy
wiki/Battle_of_Crécy
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(1346) Outnumbered English win at Crécy.
Also on this day,

1533 | Conquistadors execute the Inca’s last leader
Three centuries of an advanced and flourishing empire in the highlands of South America come to a violent end as Spanish conquistadors at the order of Francisco Pizarro execute the final sovereign emperor of the Incas, Atahualpa. Spain will call its new colony ‘Peru.’
1791 | Fitch wins a patent for his steamboat
Entrepreneur-inventor John Fitch receives a US patent for his steam-powered boat, after years of experiments result in a craft that can travel at a top speed of 8 miles per hour. It’ll take two more decades and engineer Robert Fulton’s involvement before steamboats become a profitable enterprise.
1959 | Gasoline rationing leads to a Mini marvel
The British Motor Corporation shows off its newest auto, the ‘Mini.’ Developed as an answer to fuel rationing brought on by the Suez Crisis, the car gets great mileage, and although terrifically tiny at only 10 feet long, it can still seat four adult passengers.

Today in History 08/26/17

Drawing of Atahualpa, the last sovereign emperor of the Inca (© Universal History Archive/Getty Images)(1533) Conquistadors execute the Inca's last leader
Three centuries of an advanced and flourishing empire in the highlands of South America come to a violent end as Spanish conquistadors at the order of Francisco Pizarro execute the final sovereign emperor of the Incas, Atahualpa. Spain will call its new colony 'Peru.'
Atahualpa, also Atahuallpa, Atabalipa or Atawallpa was the ruler of Quito for five years before conquering the Inca Empire from his brother Huascar, the 13th Inca Emperor. After defeating his brother, Atahualpa became very briefly the last Sapa Inca of the Inca Empire before the Spanish conquest. Atahualpa inherited the Kingdom of Quito from his father the Sapa Inca Huayna Capac in 1525. Before Huayna died, he made a verbal testament to the people in his empire that he intended to divide his empire into two parts. Atahualpa would become king in the Northern section of the Inca Empire and Atahualpa's older half brother Huáscar would receive the Southern section as Sapa Inca. Huayna died from an infectious disease. Atahualpa ruled as King over the Northern section named Quito peacefully for 5 years, until his brother Huáscar, the 13th Sapa Inca, attempted to conquer the Kingdom of Quito by first annexing the Cañari region. Atahualpa became Inca emperor after he defeated and imprisoned Huáscar and massacred any pretenders to the throne at the close of the civil war. Later, while imprisoned by the Spaniards, Atahualpa gave orders to kill Huáscar in Jauja, thinking Huáscar would use the Spaniards as allies to regain his throne.
Born: 1502 · Cusco, Peru
Died: Jul 26, 1533 · Cajamarca, Peru
Siblings: Huáscar (Brother) · Túpac Huallpa (Brother) · Manco Inca Yupanqui (Brother)
Parents: Huayna Capac (Father)
Highlights
  • 1525: Atahualpa inherited the Kingdom of Quito from his father the Sapa Inca Huayna Capac in 1525.

  • 1532: In April 1532, Quizquiz and his companions led the armies of Atahualpa to victory in the battles of Mullihambato, Chimborazo and Quipaipan.

  • 1533: In accordance with his request, he was strangled with a garrote on 26 July 1533.

  • 1533: Atahualpa died on July 26, 1533 in Cajamarca, Peru.

wiki/Atahualpa
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