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Today's featured article Anne of Denmark (1574–1619) was queen consort of Scotland, England, and Ireland as the wife of King James VI and I. The second daughter of King Frederick II of Denmark, Anne married James in 1589 at the age of fourteen and bore him three children who survived infancy, including the future Charles I. She demonstrated an independent streak and a willingness to use factional Scottish politics in her conflicts with James over the custody of Prince Henry and his treatment of her friend Beatrix Ruthven. Anne appears to have loved James at first, but the couple gradually drifted and eventually lived apart, though mutual respect and a degree of affection survived. In England, Anne shifted her energies from factional politics to patronage of the arts and constructed a magnificent court of her own, hosting one of the richest cultural salons in Europe. After 1612, she suffered sustained bouts of ill health and gradually withdrew from the centre of court life. Though she was reported to have died a Protestant, evidence suggests that she may have converted to Catholicism at some stage in her life. Historians have traditionally dismissed Anne as a lightweight queen, frivolous and self-indulgent. However, recent reappraisals acknowledge Anne's assertive independence and, in particular, her dynamic significance as a patron of the arts during the Jacobean age. (more...) Recently featured: Bruce Castle – The Hardy Boys – Operation Epsom Archive – By email – More featured articles... Did you know... From Wikipedia's newest articles: ... that the velvet belly lantern shark (pictured) has proteins in its liver that can detoxify heavy metals such as cadmium, copper, mercury, and zinc? ... that while training to become a mountain guide, former Olympic snowboarding gold medalist Karine Ruby was killed in a climbing accident on Mont Blanc? ... that Bob Dylan's song "From a Buick 6" borrowed some lyrics from the 1930 Sleepy John Estes song "Milk Cow Blues"? ... that following the Supreme Court's ruling on Coeur Alaska, Inc. v. Southeast Alaska Conservation Council, Coeur d'Alene Mines share prices increased by over five percent? ... that the works of Romanian sociologist and novelist Dan Lungu refer to concealed communist-era phenomena, such as the working class practice of stealing state property? ... that the New Mexico School for the Blind and Visually Impaired covers nearly ninety percent of its operating expenses from income from lands held in trust for it by the State Land Office? ... that American hammer thrower Walter Boal astonished passengers on a ship traveling to England in 1899 by skipping rope around the deck with another athlete on his back? Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news Japanese diplomat Yukiya Amano is elected as Director General for the International Atomic Energy Agency (flag pictured). North Korea test-fires four missiles off its eastern coast, in defiance of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1874. Prime Minister of Sweden Fredrik Reinfeldt becomes President of the European Council. TerreStar-1, the largest commercial telecommunication satellite ever built, is launched at the Guiana Space Centre. The Government of Ireland declares that brucellosis has been eradicated from the country. Ivo Sanader announces his resignation as Prime Minister of Croatia and withdraws from active politics. Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events... On this day... July 3: Independence Day in Belarus 1608 – French explorer Samuel de Champlain founded Quebec City, considered to be the first European-built city in non-Spanish North America. 1778 – American Revolutionary War: Loyalists and Iroquois killed or tortured over 300 Patriots at the Battle of Wyoming in Pennsylvania. 1844 – The last known pair of Great Auks (illustration by John Gerrard Keulemans shown), the only species in the genus Pinguinus, were killed in Eldey off the coast of Iceland. 1863 – Pickett's Charge, a disastrous Confederate infantry assault against Union Army positions, occurred during the final and bloodiest day of fighting in the Battle of Gettysburg, marking a turning point in the American Civil War. 1988 – United States Navy warship USS Vincennes shot down Iran Air Flight 655 over the Persian Gulf, killing all 290 people aboard. More anniversaries: July 2 – July 3 – July 4 Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries It is now July 3, 2009 (UTC) – Refresh this page

Today's featured picture The Bridgewater Bridge and Causeway is a vertical lift bridge located in Hobart, Tasmania that crosses the Derwent River. Construction began in 1939 but was delayed due to World War II; the bridge opened in 1946. It is the largest lift bridge in Australia and one of the few left in the Southern Hemisphere. Photo credit: Noodle snacks Recently featured: Othello poster – Canadian victory bond poster – New York City skyline Archive – More featured pictures...

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