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Today's featured article Richard II (1367–1400) was King of England, a member of the House of Plantagenet and the last of its main-line kings. He ruled from 1377 until he was deposed in 1399. Richard was a son of Edward, the Black Prince, and was born during the reign of his grandfather, Edward III. Richard was tall, good-looking and intelligent. Although probably not insane, as earlier historians believed, he may have suffered from one or several personality disorders that may have become more apparent toward the end of his reign. Less of a warrior than either his father or grandfather, he sought to bring an end to the Hundred Years' War that Edward III had started. He was a firm believer in the royal prerogative, which led him to restrain the power of his nobility and rely on a private retinue for military protection instead. He also cultivated a courtly atmosphere where the king was an elevated figure, and art and culture were at the centre, in contrast to the fraternal, martial court of his grandfather. Richard's posthumous reputation has to a large extent been shaped by Shakespeare, whose play Richard II portrays Richard's misrule and Bolingbroke's deposition as responsible for the 15th-century Wars of the Roses. Most authorities agree that the way in which he carried his policies out was unacceptable to the political establishment, and this led to his downfall. (more...) Recently featured: The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. – Martin Brodeur – Ram Narayan Did you know... From Wikipedia's newest content: ... that the Leona Lewis (pictured) song "Homeless" was written by Swedish songwriter Jörgen Elofsson? ... that the film Shodo Girls is based on the true story of a group of high school girls who organized a performance calligraphy competition to revive their hometown? ... that India has the highest frequency of traffic collisions in the world, with frequency of accidents in its capital New Delhi being 40 times more than in London? ... that botanist Allen Lowrie wrote three volumes dedicated to the carnivorous plants of Australia? ... that the main theme of the 1994 Asian Games was to promote peace and harmony among Asian nations, which was emphasized because the venue was the site of the first atomic bomb attack? ... that the "most famous signature in rock 'n' roll" – the opening riff to Chuck Berry's 1958 hit "Johnny B. Goode" – was actually a jazz riff played 12 years earlier by Carl Hogan? ... that the first secular Bulgarian book of the modern era was an 1824 children's encyclopedia?

In the news The coalition Let's Get Serbia Moving, led by Tomislav Nikolić (pictured), wins a plurality in the Serbian parliamentary election. Ronnie O'Sullivan wins the World Snooker Championship. New Democracy wins a plurality in the Greek legislative election. François Hollande is elected President of France. I'll Have Another, ridden by Mario Gutierrez, wins the Kentucky Derby. Beastie Boys founding member Adam Yauch, better known by the stage name "MCA", dies at the age of 47. János Áder is elected President of Hungary following the resignation of Pál Schmitt. On this day... May 8: Victory in Europe Day; Miguel Hidalgo's Birthday in Mexico 1541 – Spanish conquistadors led by Hernando de Soto (pictured) became the first documented Europeans to cross the Mississippi River. 1924 – Lithuania signed the Klaipėda Convention with the nations of the Conference of Ambassadors, taking the Klaipėda Region from East Prussia and making it into an autonomous region under unconditional sovereignty of Lithuania. 1945 – Most armed forces under German control ceased active operations by 23:01 CET after the German Instrument of Surrender was formally ratified, marking the end of World War II in Europe. 1972 – Four members of Black September hijacked Sabena Flight 571 to demand the release of 315 convicted Palestinian terrorists. 1987 – A British Army Special Air Service unit ambushed a Provisional Irish Republican Army unit in Loughgall, Northern Ireland, killing eight IRA members and a civilian. More anniversaries: May 7 – May 8 – May 9 It is now May 8, 2012 (UTC) – Refresh this page

Today's featured picture A reproductive cone of Encephalartos sclavoi, a cycad tree native to Africa. Some species of the Encephalartos genus are known as "bread trees" because a bread-like starchy food can be prepared from the centre of the stem. Male cones are elongated, and three or four may appear at a time. Female cones are borne singly, or up to three at a time, and may weigh up to 60 lb (27 kg). All the species of Encephalartos are endangered. Photo: Muhammad Mahdi Karim Recently featured: Glowing noble gases – Parodia tenuicylindrica – Nefertiti Bust

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