title: Sima Yi

text: Around late May or early June 247, Cao Shuang wanted to further dominate the Wei government so he used a series of political manoeuvres to consolidate and concentrate power in himself and his clique. He heeded the advice of his close aides He Yan, Deng Yang, and Ding Mi (), and relocated Empress Dowager Guo—Cao Rui's widow—to Yongning Palace () so she could not interfere in politics. Sima Yi was unable to stop this, among other contrivances, putting severe stress on the relationship between him and Cao Shuang. Cao Shuang became increasingly distrustful and wary of Sima Yi. At the time, there was a saying in Luoyang which went; "He (Yan), Deng (Yang) and Ding (Mi) create turmoil in the imperial capital".


title: Sima Yi

text: The Princes of Qinghe and Pingyuan had been arguing among themselves with Sun Li, the governor of Ji Province, over a land dispute for the past eight years, after consulting with Sima Yi, arguing a map from the palace archives made during the time of the latter prince's enfeoffment should be used. This map would favour Pingyuan's claim but Cao Shuang preferred the plaint of the Prince of Qinghe and dismissed the appeal. Sun Li sent a memorial in a forceful tone and Cao Shuang, in anger, banished him from his position for five years. He was eventually reinstated as the governor of Bing Province, and visited Sima Yi before taking his leave. Sima Yi saw that something was amiss, and he asked him if he thought it a small thing to be made the governor of Bing Province, or if he instead felt regret for having got himself involved in this whole affair. Sun Li, in tears, said that he didn't take official ranks or past affairs to heart, but that he was worried about the dynasty's future. Sima Yi replied: "Stop for the time being, and bear the unbearable."


title: Sima Yi

text: In April or May 248, Zhang Dang (), a palace eunuch, illegally transferred 11 women out of the imperial harem and presented them to Cao Shuang to be his concubines. Cao Shuang and his close aides thought Sima Yi was seriously ill and could no longer do anything so they plotted with Zhang Dang to overthrow the emperor Cao Fang and put Cao Shuang on the throne. They were still wary of Sima Yi, however, and did not lower their guard against him.


title: Sima Yi

text: In late 248, Sima Yi, together with his eldest son, Sima Shi, and with possibly his second eldest son, Sima Zhao, began plotting against Cao Shuang


title: Sima Yi

text: Li Sheng, one of Cao Shuang's supporters, had been reassigned to be the Inspector of Jing Province. Cao Shuang secretly instructed him to check if Sima Yi was as ill as he claimed so Li Sheng visited Sima Yi before leaving for Jing Province. Sima Yi knew the true purpose of Li Sheng's visit so he pretended to be frail and senile. Li Sheng saw Sima Yi could not move around and wear clothes without help from his servants, and could not consume congee without soiling his clothes. He then told Sima Yi: "Everyone thought that your illness was a minor one; alas, who expected you to be in such poor health?" Sima Yi pretended to cough and pant as he replied: "I am old and sick and I am going to die soon. When you go to Bing Province, you should be careful because it is near barbarian territory. We might not see each other again, so I entrust my sons Shi and Zhao to your care." Li Sheng corrected him: "I am returning to my home province, not Bing Province". Sima Yi pretended to mishear and continued saying: "You are going to Bing Province, aren't you?" Li Sheng corrected him again: "My home province is Jing Province". Sima Yi replied: "I am so old and weak that I can't even hear you properly. So now you are going back to your home province. It's time for you to make some glorious achievements!" Li Sheng returned to Cao Shuang and told him: "Sima Yi is dying soon and no longer of sound mind. There's nothing for you to worry about." Later, he said: "It's sad to see that the Grand Tutor is no longer in a good state of health to serve". Cao Shuang lowered his guard against Sima Yi.


title: Sima Yi

text: According to the "Book of Jin", on the night of 4 February, the day before the planned "coup", Sima Yi sent spies to monitor the behaviour of his two eldest children. In the early hours of the next morning, the spies reported to Sima Yi that Sima Shi went to bed as usual and slept peacefully whereas Sima Zhao, having supposedly only been informed of the plan during the prior evening, tossed and turned in his bed.


title: Sima Yi

text: On 5 February 249, Cao Shuang and his brothers accompanied the emperor Cao Fang on a visit to Gaoping Mausoleum () to pay their respects to the late emperor Cao Rui. On that day, Sima Yi seized the opportunity to stage a "coup d'état" against his co-regent. He went to Yongning Palace to meet Empress Dowager Guo to request the memorialisation of a decree ordering the removal of Cao Shuang and his brothers from power. Thereafter, the city gates were closed while Sima Shi's previously-arranged 3,000 forces that had gathered at the Sima Gate () under his command were led to occupy the palace gates. Sima Yi later commented: "This son really worked well". Soon, the troops were lined up along the palace grounds, passing through Cao Shuang's camp. Cao Shuang's Controller of Camp Yan Shi () was on the upper floor, drawing his crossbow with the intent to shoot the passing Sima Yi. His colleague Sun Qian () stopped him and said: "We wouldn't know what will happen". Yan Shi thrice prepared to shoot the bow but did not shoot.


title: Sima Yi

text: Meanwhile, Sima Yi granted imperial authority to Gao Rou the Minister over the Masses and appointed him as acting General-in-Chief (), and ordered him to take command of Cao Shuang's troops, stating: "You're now like Zhou Bo". Sima Yi also appointed Wang Guan the Minister Coachman (), whom Sima Yi had previously recommended during Cao Rui's reign as acting Commandant of the Central Army (), and ordered him to seize command of the troops under Cao Shuang's brother Cao Xi ().


title: Sima Yi

text: Sima Yi, along with the Grand Commandant Jiang Ji and others, led troops out of Luoyang to the pontoon bridge above the Luo River, where he sent a memorial to the emperor Cao Fang listing Cao Shuang's crimes—which included not fulfilling his duty as regent and corrupting the government, and conspiring against the throne—and asking the emperor to remove Cao Shuang and his brothers from their positions of power. Cao Shuang blocked the memorial from reaching Cao Fang and left the emperor at the south of the Yi River while ordering his men to cut down trees to build anti-cavalry blockades and station about 1,000 troops nearby to guard against Sima Yi's advances. Sima Yi sent Xu Yun () and Chen Tai to persuade Cao Shuang to plead guilty as early as possible. Sima Yi also sent Yin Damu (), a man whom Cao Shuang trusted, to tell him nothing more would result from this aside from his dismissal. Huan Fan, the Minister of Finance (), had left the city to visit Cao Shuang's camp, with Sima Yi commenting: "The 'bag of wisdom' is gone". Jiang Ji responded: "Huan Fan is indeed wise, but stupid horses are too much attached to the beans in their manger. Cao Shuang is certain not to employ his counsel." Huan Fan attempted to persuade Cao Shuang and his brothers to flee to Xuchang with the emperor, and to issue an edict denouncing Sima Yi as a traitor and drafting troops to fight back but they remained undecided. Cao Shuang ultimately surrendered to Sima Yi and gave up his powers, thinking he could still lead a luxurious life in retirement. Huan Fan scolded them, saying: "Cao Zhen was a good man, yet sired you and your brothers, little pigs and calves that you are! I never expected to be involved with you and have my family annihilated."


title: Sima Yi

text: After returning to Luoyang, Cao Shuang and his brothers were carefully guarded, and on 9 February 249, Cao Shuang was accused of plotting treason after the palace eunuch Zhang Dang (), who had been sent to the "tingyu", had testified Cao Shuang and his associates were planning to seize the throne for themselves. Cao Shuang was arrested along with his brothers and his supporters, including He Yan, Ding Mi, Deng Yang, Bi Gui, Li Sheng, and Huan Fan. They were subsequently executed with the rest of their families and relatives on the same day. Jiang Ji had attempted to persuade Sima Yi to spare Cao Shuang and his brothers in consideration of the meritorious service rendered by their father, Cao Zhen but Sima Yi refused. Two of Cao Shuang's subordinates Lu Zhi () and Yang Zong () had been implicated in the plot and were arrested as well, although Sima Yi pardoned them under the rationale: "Each of them was serving his own master".


title: Sima Yi

text: Earlier, when Huan Fan escaped from Luoyang to join Cao Shuang, he encountered Si Fan (), who was guarding the Changping Gate. Because Si Fan used to serve under Huan Fan, Si Fan trusted Huan Fan and allowed him to pass through. Once he was out of Luoyang, Huan Fan turned back and told Si Fan: "The Imperial Tutor (Sima Yi) is planning to commit treason. You should come with me!" Si Fan, however, stayed behind and hid himself. After the coup d'état, Si Fan surrendered himself to Sima Yi and told him what happened earlier. Sima Yi asked: "What's the punishment for falsely accusing someone of treason?" The reply was: "According to the law, the one who makes the false accusation shall be punished for treason". Huan Fan was then executed along with the rest of his family.


title: Sima Yi

text: Cao Shuang's younger cousin Cao Wenshu had perished and the family of his widowed wife, Xiahou Lingnu wanted to remarry her to someone else, in response to which she cut off her ears and later her nose. Her family asserted the Cao clan was exterminated but she retorted by saying: "I have heard that a person of worth does not renounce his principles because of changes in fortune, nor a righteous person change his mind with a view to preservation or destruction. While the Cao flourished, I was bent on keeping my chastity. Now that they have declined and perished, can I bear to renounce them? Even animals do not act this way; how can I?" When Sima Yi heard of this, he allowed her to adopt a son as an heir to the Cao clan. The contemporaneous Shu official and regent Fei Yi gave his own comment regarding the coup:


title: Sima Yi

text: On 18 February or sometime in March 249, Cao Fang appointed Sima Yi as Imperial Chancellor () and added another four counties to Sima Yi's marquisate, bringing the size of the marquisate to eight counties and 20,000 taxable households. Cao Fang also awarded Sima Yi the privilege of not having to announce his name when he spoke to the emperor. Sima Yi declined the appointment of Imperial Chancellor. In January or February 250, Cao Fang awarded Sima Yi the nine bestowments and an additional privilege of not having to kowtow during imperial court sessions. Sima Yi declined the nine bestowments. In February or March 250, Cao Fang had an ancestral shrine for the Sima family built in Luoyang, increased the size of Sima Yi's personal staff, promoted some of Sima Yi's personal staff, and enfeoffed Sima Yi's sons Sima Rong () and Sima Lun as village marquises. Because Sima Yi was chronically ill, he could not regularly attend imperial court sessions so Cao Fang often visited him at his residence to consult him on policy matters.


title: Sima Yi

text: Wang Ling the Grand Commandant and his nephew Linghu Yu () the Inspector of Yan Province became worried about Sima Yi's growing influence over the emperor Cao Fang so they plotted to replace Cao Fang with Cao Biao, the Prince of Chu, while instating his capital city as Xuchang, and then to overthrow Sima Yi. Linghu Yu, however, died in December 249 or January 250.


title: Sima Yi

text: In February 251, Wang Ling either lied by stating Eastern Wu forces were approaching the Tu River () and requested the Wei government give him troops to resist the invaders or was telling the truth that they were obstructing the river, but wanted to use the troops for his own malicious purposes. Sima Yi was suspicious of Wang Ling's intention so he refused to approve the request. On 7 June 251, upon receiving intelligence of Wang Ling's plot from officials Yang Hong () and Huang Hua (), Sima Yi immediately mobilised troops to attack Wang Ling and travelled down the river while bestowing additional authority upon Zhuge Dan and ordering him to lead his own forces to encroach upon Wang Ling's position. Sima Yi issued a pardon to Wang Ling and sent a secretary to call for his surrender. Sima Yi's army reached Gancheng () within a few days and advanced to within 100 "chi" of Wang Ling's base to put pressure on him. Wang Ling knew Sima Yi was aware of his plans to rebel and that his own forces were too weak so he gave up, sent his subordinate Wang Yu () to apologise on his behalf, and handed over his official seal and ceremonial axe to Sima Yi. When Sima Yi's army reached Qiutou (), Wang Ling tied himself up but Sima Yi, acting on imperial order, sent a Registrar () to unbind Wang Ling, reassure him of his safety, and return to him his official seal and ceremonial axe.


title: Sima Yi

text: Wang Ling met with Sima Yi at Wuqiu () with a distance of more than ten zhang between both of them. Wang Ling told Sima Yi: "If I am guilty, you can summon me to meet you. Why do you need to come here?" Sima Yi replied: "That's because you don't respond to summons". Wang Ling said: "You have failed me!" Sima Yi responded: "I would rather fail you than fail the state". Wang Ling was then escorted as a prisoner back to Luoyang. To discern Sima Yi's true intentions, Wang Ling asked him if he could receive nails for his coffin. Sima Yi had them given to him. While "en route" to Luoyang, when Wang Ling passed by a shrine honouring the Wei general Jia Kui, he said; "Jia Liangdao! Only the gods know Wang Ling is truly loyal to Wei." Wang Ling committed suicide on 15 June 251 by consuming poison at Xiang County (項縣; around present-day Shenqiu County, Henan). Sima Yi had Wang Ling's conspirators arrested and executed along with their families.


title: Sima Yi

text: Cao Fang sent Wei Dan () as an emissary to meet Sima Yi at Wuchi () and congratulate him on his success in suppressing Wang Ling's rebellion. When Sima Yi reached Gancheng, Cao Fang sent Yu Ni () as an emissary to appoint Sima Yi as Chancellor of State () and promote him from a marquis to a duke with the title "Duke of Anping Commandery". One of Sima Yi's grandsons and one of his brothers were also enfeoffed as marquises. At the time, the Sima family had 19 marquises and 50,000 taxable households in all their combined marquisates. Sima Yi declined the appointment of Chancellor of State and refused to accept his enfeoffment as a duke.


title: Sima Yi

text: Guo Huai's wife, the younger sister of Wang Ling, was taken into custody by imperial censors. Guo Huai apprehensively relented and let her be taken, not wanting to push things further, but when his five sons kowtowed before him until their foreheads started bleeding, he relented and ordered his subordinates to bring back his wife from the imperial censors. Guo Huai wrote a letter to Sima Yi: "My five sons are willing to sacrifice their lives for their mother. If they lose their mother, I lose them too. Without my five sons, I will no longer exist. If I have violated the law by seizing back my wife from the imperial censors, I am willing to see the Emperor and take full responsibility for my actions." After reading Guo Huai's letter, Sima Yi made an exception for Guo Huai's wife and pardoned her.


title: Sima Yi

text: The "Weilüe" recounts a story of a man named Yang Kang (), a former personal aide of Linghu Yu who divulged the conspiracy of Linghu Yu, who wanted to engage in a rebellion in 249 or 250.Sima Yi, while stationed in Shouchun, asked Shan Gu (), another former aide: "Did Linghu Yu plot a rebellion?" Shan Gu denied this but Sima Yi doubted him because Yang Kang had previously said Shan Gu had also been involved in the plot. Shan Gu and his family were arrested, and he was tortured and interrogated. Shan Gu remained firm in his denial so Sima Yi had Yang Kang called in to compare their testimonies. Yang Kang was unable to defend his own rhetoric so Shan Gu began cursing at Yang Kang. Yang Kang had thought he would be enfeoffed as a reward but because his own testimony had been inconsistent, he was sentenced to death together with Shan Gu, and both men were dragged out and executed.


title: Sima Yi

text: Around that time, the corpses of Wang Ling and Linghu Yu had been dragged out of their tombs and their bodies had been exposed for three days in the nearest market place.


title: Sima Yi

text: In July 251, Cao Biao was forced to commit suicide. Sima Yi then relocated the other nobles from the Cao family to Ye, where they were effectively put under house arrest.


title: Sima Yi

text: In July 251, when Sima Yi became critically ill, he dreamt of Jia Kui and Wang Ling being honoured, which disturbed him. Sima Yi died on 7 September 251 in Luoyang at the age of 73 (by East Asian age reckoning). The emperor Cao Fang donned mourning garments, attended Sima Yi's funeral in person, and ordered Sima Yi to be buried with the same honours as those accorded to Huo Guang in the Western Han dynasty. He also posthumously appointed Sima Yi as Chancellor of State and elevated him to the status of a duke. Sima Yi's younger brother Sima Fu, however, declined the ducal title and a "wenliangche" () on behalf of his deceased brother, stating Sima Yi would have done that if he was still alive.


title: Sima Yi

text: Sima Yi was buried on 19 October 251 at Heyin County (河陰縣; north of present-day Mengjin County, Henan). Cao Fang granted him the posthumous title "Wenzhen" (), which was later changed to "Wenxuan" (). Before his death, however, Sima Yi had made arrangements to be buried at Mount Shouyang (首陽山; in present-day Yanshi, Luoyang, Henan) with no markers such as tombstone or trees around his tomb, to be dressed in plain clothes, and have no luxury items buried with him. He also stated his family members who died after him should not be buried with him.


title: Sima Yi

text: After Sima Yi's death, his eldest son Sima Shi assumed his father's authority up until his own death on 23 March 255, after which Sima Yi's second eldest son Sima Zhao took up his elder brother's position. On 2 May 264, when the Wei emperor Cao Huan enfeoffed Sima Zhao as the vassal "Prince/King of Jin", Sima Zhao honoured his father with the posthumous title "Prince/King Xuan of Jin".


title: Sima Yi

text: Sima Zhao died on 6 September 265, and his eldest son Sima Yan succeeded him in his position. In 266, after Sima Yi's grandson Sima Yan usurped the throne from Cao Huan and established the Jin dynasty with himself as the emperor, he honoured his grandfather with the posthumous title "Emperor Xuan of Jin" with the temple name "Gaozu", and named his grandfather's burial place "Gaoyuan Mausoleum" ().


title: Sima Yi

text: In his youth, Sima Yi was a close friend of Hu Zhao (). In one incident, Zhou Sheng () kidnapped Sima Yi and wanted to kill him. Hu Zhao braved danger to meet Zhou Sheng in the Xiao Mountains and tried to persuade him to release Sima Yi. When Zhou Sheng refused, Hu Zhao cried and pleaded with him. Zhou Sheng was so moved by Hu Zhao's sincerity he released Sima Yi. Hu Zhao told nobody about this incident and very few people knew Sima Yi owed him his life.


title: Sima Yi

text: A different and likely fictional version of Sima Yi's joining of Cao Cao's administration comes from a "Weilüe" account that states Cao Hong, a veteran general serving under Cao Cao, had heard of Sima Yi's talent and wanted to recruit him as an adviser. Sima Yi thought little of Cao Hong, and refused to meet him, pretending to be so ill he could not walk without using crutches. Cao Hong was so unhappy he reported it to Cao Cao, who then summoned Sima Yi. When Sima Yi heard Cao Cao wanted to meet him, he immediately threw aside his crutches and rushed there.


title: Sima Yi

text: Cao Cao heard Sima Yi was ambitious and had a "lang gu" () appearance so he wanted to see if it was true. One day, Cao Cao ordered Sima Yi to walk in front of him and made him look back. Sima Yi turned his head to look back without moving his body. Cao Cao also once dreamt of three horses feeding from the same trough and he felt disturbed so he warned Cao Pi: "Sima Yi won't be content with being a subject; he will interfere in your family matters". Because Cao Pi was on good terms with Sima Yi, he often protected and shielded Sima Yi from criticism. Sima Yi also took great care to create an image of himself as a diligent and faithful subject in front of Cao Cao to reduce the latter's suspicions of him.


title: Sima Yi

text: In his later years, Sima Yi started neglecting his wife Zhang Chunhua in favour of his concubine Lady Bai () . Once, when Sima Yi was ill, Zhang Chunhua paid him a visit and he said: "Old creature, your looks are disgusting! Why do you even bother to visit me?" In response, she became angry and tried to starve herself to death, during which her children joined her. Sima Yi immediately began apologising and reconciling with her. Sima Yi later secretly told someone: "It doesn't matter if that old creature died. I was actually worried about my boys!"


title: Sima Yi

text: In 238, when Gongsun Yuan heard Sima Yi was leading a Wei army to Liaodong to attack him, he sent a messenger to request reinforcements from Wei's rival state Eastern Wu. The Wu emperor Sun Quan eventually complied and wrote to Gongsun Yuan: "Sima Yi is well-versed in military arts. He uses military strategy like a god. He defeats all who stand in his way. I am deeply worried for you, my brother."


title: Sima Yi

text: In 249, Wang Guang, the son of Wang Ling, said: "Now Sima Yi cannot be fathomed, but what he does never runs contrary to the situation. He gives his assignments to the worthy and capable, and liberally credits those who are better than he; he practices the laws of the former rulers and satisfies the people's desire. Of whatever Cao Shuang did wrong, he has left nothing uncorrected. He does not relax his efforts day and night, his primary aim being to soothe the people."


title: Sima Yi

text: The Eastern Jin dynasty's Emperor Ming (323–325), a descendant of Sima Yi, once asked an official named Wang Dao to tell him about the origins of the Jin dynasty. Wang Dao told him everything from Sima Yi's career to Cao Mao's attempted coup against Sima Zhao. After hearing from Wang Dao, Emperor Ming said: "If what you said is true, how can the Jin (dynasty) expect to last long?"


title: Sima Yi

text: The Tang dynasty historian Fang Xuanling, who was the lead editor of Sima Yi's biography in the "Book of Jin", noted Sima Yi was known for appearing to be generous and magnanimous while actually being distrustful and jealous. According to Fang, Sima Yi was suspicious, calculative, manipulative, and a skilled practitioner of power politics. He also noted Sima Yi's cruelty in massacring Liaodong's population and exterminating Cao Shuang and his entire clan.


title: Sima Yi

text: After the fall of the Western Jin dynasty in 316, the belief began to slowly shift from the popular ideal Wei was the rightful successor to the Han dynasty towards the view Shu may have had greater legitimacy. Before 316, Sima Yi was seen as a righteous figure and was practically deified; after 316, however, he started to be viewed in a more critical manner, which has lasted into the modern age and is exemplified by Li Shimin's (Emperor Taizong of Tang's) comment in the "Book of Jin" regarding Sima Yi:


title: Sima Yi

text: Sima Yi is a major character in the 14th-century historical novel "Romance of the Three Kingdoms", which romanticises the historical figures and events before and during the Three Kingdoms period of China. In the novel, Sima Yi pretends to be a loyal and dedicated subject of the Wei state while secretly planning to concentrate power in his hands and prepare for his descendants to usurp the throne one day – in the same way Cao Cao did towards the end of the Eastern Han dynasty. Sima Yi is also a nemesis to Zhuge Liang during the Shu invasions of Wei between 228 and 234, with both of them trying to outwit each other in battles.


title: Sima Yi

text: Sima Yi is sometimes venerated as a door god at Chinese and Taoist temples, usually in partnership with Zhuge Liang.


title: Sima Yi

text: Chan Mou's manhua comic-book series "The Ravages of Time" is a fictionalised retelling of the history of the late Eastern Han dynasty and the Three Kingdoms, with Sima Yi as the central character.


title: Sima Yi

text: Sima Yi appears as a playable character in Koei's video game series "Dynasty Warriors" and "Warriors Orochi". In the mobile video game "Puzzles & Dragons", he is featured as a God type in the Three Kingdoms 2 Pantheon alongside Ma Chao and Diaochan. In the collectible card game "" there is a card named "Sima Yi, Wei Field Marshal" in the "Portal Three Kingdoms" set.


title: Sima Yi

text: Notable actors who have portrayed Sima Yi include: Wei Zongwan, in "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" (1994); Ni Dahong, in "Three Kingdoms" (2010); Eric Li, in "Three Kingdoms RPG" (2012); Wu Xiubo, in "The Advisors Alliance" (2017); and Elvis Han, in "Secret of the Three Kingdoms" (2018).


title: Double or Nothing (2019)

text: The 2019 Double or Nothing was the inaugural Double or Nothing and inaugural professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by All Elite Wrestling (AEW). It took place during Memorial Day weekend on May 25, 2019, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in the Las Vegas suburb of Paradise, Nevada. The event aired through traditional PPV outlets, as well as on B/R Live in North America and FITE TV internationally.


title: Double or Nothing (2019)

text: The card comprised nine matches, including two on the Buy In pre-show. In the main event, Chris Jericho defeated Kenny Omega, earning a match against Adam Page, the winner of the pre-show's Casino Battle Royale, at AEW's August event All Out to determine the inaugural AEW World Champion. Other prominent matches saw The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson) defeat The Lucha Brothers (Pentagón Jr. and Rey Fénix) to retain the AAA World Tag Team Championship, and Cody defeated his brother Dustin Rhodes. The event was also notable for the surprise appearances of Awesome Kong, Bret Hart (who unveiled the AEW World Championship belt), as well as Jon Moxley (formerly known in WWE as Dean Ambrose). Moxley and Kong were confirmed to have signed with AEW.


title: Double or Nothing (2019)

text: The event received critical acclaim, with Jericho vs. Omega, The Young Bucks vs. The Lucha Brothers, and Cody vs. Dustin Rhodes earning the most praise; most critics hailed the latter as the best match of the night. Double or Nothing later won the "Wrestling Observer Newsletter" Award for Best Major Wrestling Show of 2019, while Cody vs. Dustin Rhodes won the "Pro Wrestling Illustrated" Award for Match of the Year.


title: Double or Nothing (2019)

text: After the success of the September 2018 All In event, an independent wrestling event that came as a result of a bet with wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer, a group known as The Elite (Cody, The Young Bucks, and Kenny Omega), the driving forces behind the event, used the positive response from All In to pursue further events with backing of businessmen Shahid Khan and Tony Khan. In a promo after All In, Cody said "I know when you make a bet, sometime you go double or nothing." On November 5, 2018, several trademarks were filed in Jacksonville, Florida, among them were "All Elite Wrestling" and "Double or Nothing", leading to speculation of a formation of a promotion and the name of the promotion's first event.


title: Double or Nothing (2019)

text: On January 1, 2019, All Elite Wrestling (AEW) was officially founded. Along with the announcement, the promotion's inaugural event, Double or Nothing, was scheduled to air on pay-per-view (PPV) during Memorial Day weekend on May 25, 2019, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in the Las Vegas suburb of Paradise, Nevada, with the event taking on a Vegas theme. On February 8, at AEW's Las Vegas rally, Chief Brand Officer Brandi Rhodes announced the signings of Japanese women wrestlers Aja Kong and Yuka Sakazaki, who would make their first appearances for AEW at Double or Nothing. On February 10, it was announced that pre-sale tickets sold out almost immediately after going on sale. On February 13, AEW announced that all tickets for the event sold out within 4 minutes of going on sale. In April, it was announced that Jim Ross would do play-by-play commentary for the event.


title: Double or Nothing (2019)

text: On May 8, 2019, it was announced that Double or Nothing would air on ITV Box Office in the United Kingdom. Additionally, a one-hour pre-show titled "The Buy In" aired on ITV4 featuring the Casino Battle Royale and other matches. The following week, it was announced that it would also stream on WarnerMedia's B/R Live service in the United States and AEW's YouTube channel worldwide.


title: Double or Nothing (2019)

text: The event comprised nine professional wrestling matches, including two on the Buy In pre-show, that involved different wrestlers from pre-existing scripted feuds and storylines. Wrestlers portrayed heroes, villains, or less distinguishable characters in scripted events that built tension and culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches. Storylines were produced on The Young Bucks' YouTube series "Being The Elite" and Cody's Nightmare Family YouTube series "The Road to Double or Nothing", as well as at various independent wrestling shows.


title: Double or Nothing (2019)

text: At AEW's inaugural rally in Jacksonville, a match featuring SoCal Uncensored (Christopher Daniels, Frankie Kazarian, and Scorpio Sky) against Oriental Wrestling Entertainment's (OWE) Cima and two partners of his choosing was announced for Double or Nothing after SoCal Uncensored challenged Cima to a match. On March 3, OWE announced a tag team tournament to determine who Cima's partners would be. On May 6, it was announced that Cima would team with T-Hawk and El Lindaman.


title: Double or Nothing (2019)

text: On January 4, 2018, at New Japan Pro-Wrestling's Wrestle Kingdom 12, Kenny Omega defeated Chris Jericho in their first encounter. In September at All In, after Omega defeated Penta El Zero, he was attacked by Jericho. The following month, the two were involved in a six-man tag team match at Jericho's Rock 'N' Wrestling Rager at Sea event, where Omega's team defeated Jericho's. In January 2019, Jericho signed with AEW and after Omega announced that he had signed with the promotion the following month, he was confronted by Jericho and the two brawled but were separated by Cody, Christopher Daniels, and security. A rematch from Wrestle Kingdom 12 was later announced for Double or Nothing. It was later confirmed that the winner would face the winner of the Casino Battle Royale for the inaugural AEW World Championship at a later date.


title: Double or Nothing (2019)

text: At AEW's inaugural rally in Jacksonville, Britt Baker announced that she had signed with AEW. The following month during AEW's Las Vegas rally, Brandi Rhodes announced that Kylie Rae and Nyla Rose had also signed with the promotion. Following some remarks from Rae, she was interrupted by Rose and the two had a stare down but were separated before a brawl could occur. One day later, a three-way match between Baker, Rae, and Rose was announced for the event.


title: Double or Nothing (2019)

text: During AEW's Las Vegas rally, The Lucha Brothers (Pentagón Jr. and Rey Fénix) announced they had signed with AEW. Following the announcement, the duo attacked The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson). On February 23, 2019 at AAW Wrestling's The Art of War, The Young Bucks attacked The Lucha Brothers. Two days later, a match between the two teams was announced for Double or Nothing. On March 16 at AAA's Rey de Reyes, The Young Bucks defeated The Lucha Brothers for the AAA World Tag Team Championship, subsequently turning their Double or Nothing match into a rematch for the championship.


title: Double or Nothing (2019)

text: On February 20, 2019, on "The Road to Double or Nothing", Cody announced the second Over the Budget Battle Royale for the Buy In pre-show, with initial participants being Sonny Kiss, Kip Sabian, and Brandon Cutler. On May 6, the match was renamed Casino Battle Royale. The rules were that there would be 21 entrants. Five entrants would start the match and every three minutes, five more wrestlers entered with the 21st and final entrant entering alone. It was later confirmed that the winner would receive a future AEW World Championship match against the winner of the match between Kenny Omega and Chris Jericho. On May 8, it was announced that Kip Sabian would face Sammy Guevara on the Buy In pre-show.


title: Double or Nothing (2019)

text: On April 20, 2019, after weeks of teasing opponents, it was announced that Cody would face his brother Dustin Rhodes at Double or Nothing. Dustin was most famously known for his gimmick of Goldust in WWE, which granted his release in early 2019. In the following weeks, Cody declared that he would defeat his brother as a way to "kill" the Attitude Era.


title: Double or Nothing (2019)

text: At AEW's inaugural rally in Jacksonville, Adam Page was interrupted by Pac, setting up a feud between the two wrestlers. At AEW's second rally in Las Vegas, a match between Page and Pac was officially announced for Double or Nothing. However, in late May it was reported that the match was "canceled" and would no longer take place due to "creative differences". As a result of the cancellation, they wrestled a match at Wrestle Gate Pro about a week before Double or Nothing. In a surprise appearance, Page answered an open challenge by Pac that ended in disqualification with Page winning. After the match, Pac attacked Page's knee and said that his goal all along was to injure Page and with that done, he had no reason to show up at Double or Nothing. This was done to write the match off the card. Later that week on an episode of "Being The Elite", Page was selling the knee injury and said he could not wrestle at Double or Nothing.


title: Double or Nothing (2019)

text: Two matches occurred during the Buy In. The first was the Casino Battle Royale, in which the winner would face the winner of the main event to determine the inaugural AEW World Champion at All Out. Adam Page, the 21st and final entrant, won by last eliminating MJF.


title: Double or Nothing (2019)

text: In the second match, Kip Sabian faced Sammy Guevera. Sabian performed The Deathly Hallows on Guevera to win the match.


title: Double or Nothing (2019)

text: The actual pay-per-view opened with SoCal Uncensored (Christopher Daniels, Frankie Kazarian, and Scorpio Sky) facing Strong Hearts (Cima, T-Hawk, and El Lindaman). Daniels and Kazarian performed the Best Meltzer Ever on Lindaman to win the match.


title: Double or Nothing (2019)

text: Next, a Triple Threat match between Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D, Nyla Rose and Kylie Rae was scheduled. Before the match, Brandi Rhodes announced Awesome Kong as a participant, thus the match was changed to a fatal four-way. Baker performed a Brainbuster onto her Knee on Rae to win the match.


title: Double or Nothing (2019)

text: After that, Best Friends (Chuck Taylor and Trent Beretta) faced Angélico and Jack Evans. Taylor and Beretta performed Strong Zero on Evans to win the match.


title: Double or Nothing (2019)

text: Later, Hikaru Shida, Riho, and Ryo Mizunami faced Aja Kong, Emi Sakura, and Yuka Sakazaki. Shida performed a Running Knee Strike on Sakura to win the match.


title: Double or Nothing (2019)

text: In the fifth match, Cody (accompanied by his wife, Brandi Rhodes) faced his brother, Dustin Rhodes. Brandi tackled Dustin on the floor, leading to referee Earl Hebner ejecting her, which Diamond Dallas Page removed her following Hebner's request. Dustin performed a Final Cut on Cody for a near-fall. Cody performed a Disaster Kick and Cross Rhodes on Dustin for a near-fall. Cody performed a second Cross Rhodes on Dustin to win. After the match, Cody announced he would team with Dustin against The Young Bucks (Matt and Nick Jackson) at Fight for the Fallen. Cody and Dustin embraced in the ring after the announcement.


title: Double or Nothing (2019)

text: In the penultimate match, The Young Bucks (Matt and Nick Jackson) defended the AAA World Tag Team Championship against Lucha Brothers (Pentagon Jr and Rey Fenix). Matt and Nick performed the Meltzer Driver on Fenix to retain the title.


title: Double or Nothing (2019)

text: In the main event, Chris Jericho faced Kenny Omega; the winner would face Adam Page to determine the inaugural AEW World Champion at All Out. Omega performed a Baseball Slide and Rise of the Terminator on Jericho into a table. Omega performed a Springboard Double Foot Stomp on the table on Jericho. Jericho performed a Back Body Drop on Omega through the table on the floor. Omega dove off the top rope but Jericho countered into a Codebreaker for a nearfall. Omega attempted a One-Winged Angel but Jericho countered into a DDT and performed a second Codebreaker on Omega. In the end, Jericho then performed the Judas Effect on Omega to win the match. After the match, Jon Moxley (formerly Dean Ambrose in WWE) appeared and attacked both Jericho and Omega. Omega fought back and the two brawled up the entrance ramp where Moxley performed a standing fireman's carry takeover on Omega through the stage.


title: Double or Nothing (2019)

text: According to Dave Meltzer, there were 11,000 tickets for Double or Nothing. Of these tickets, "almost all" were sold in a pre-sale on February 11, 2019, in around or less than 30 minutes, to people who had earlier provided their email addresses. Travel packages and VIP packages also sold out. Ticket sales were opened to the general public on February 13, 2019, and sold out in 4 minutes.


title: Double or Nothing (2019)

text: On the June 3, 2019 edition of the "Wrestling Observer Newsletter", Dave Meltzer wrote that Double or Nothing received "roughly 98,000 buys between television and digital PPV, with close to a 50/50 split between the two ... About two-thirds came from the U.S., with the U.K., which aired the pregame show on ITV 4, being the strong second followed by Australia, Germany and Canada." Meltzer predicted that further replay buys of Double or Nothing "should easily" result in it overtaking "ECW's biggest-ever show (99,000) and [becoming] the biggest PPV in pro wrestling history that wasn't produced by WWE or WCW." Meltzer additionally described that no one has achieved this level of buys "without regular television exposure since the 2002 Tito Ortiz vs. Ken Shamrock and 2004 Chuck Liddell vs. Ortiz [mixed martial arts] fights". On the June 10 edition, Meltzer wrote that Double or Nothing "is estimated at somewhere between 98,500 and 113,000 buys worldwide. The best estimate has U.S. PPV buys at around 71,000, with almost an exact 50/50 split between television and B/R Live. That’s notable because nobody does a 50/50 split. The biggest split I’ve heard of for a television PPV and streaming was Conor McGregor vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov, which was an 80/20 split in favor of television. Usually it’s closer to 85/15".


title: Double or Nothing (2019)

text: John Powell of Canadian Online Explorer's "Slam! Wrestling" noted that Double or Nothing "proved without a doubt that AEW is THE competition [to WWE], THE alternative [to WWE], THE very change the wrestling industry and wrestling fans have been waiting for", with Kenny Omega, Cody Rhodes, Adam Page, Nick and Matt Jackson being the "faces of the wrestling revolution some fans have been waiting for since March 26, 2001, when Monday Nitro went off the air and WWE bought WCW."


title: Double or Nothing (2019)

text: A CBS Sports article jointly written by Brian Campbell, Jack Crosby and Adam Silverstein declared that Double or Nothing "felt very much like a historic card that boldly announced new competition for the long-time industry leader WWE", as they successfully built "anticipation of the launch of their weekly fall show on TNT". They highlighted "AEW's first viral moment" created by the unannounced appearance of Jon Moxley, the "blood and tears exchanged by the Rhodes brothers", and the "theatrics and aerial exploits of Kenny Omega, The Young Bucks and The Lucha Bros".


title: Double or Nothing (2019)

text: Tim Fiorvanti of ESPN declared: "Double or Nothing was not a perfect first effort for AEW, but the show hit hard where it counted most -- storytelling, emotion and surprise." The emotion and storytelling was brought by the "vicious, bloody war waged between brothers Cody and Dustin Rhodes". Chris Jericho's win and the appearances of Jon Moxley and Awesome Kong were the surprises. Also, Fiorvanti felt "the entire card reminded people how good tag-team wrestling can be when it's at its best" and "offered a tremendous cross section of what the future of women's wrestling will look like."


title: Double or Nothing (2019)

text: Sean Radican of "Pro Wrestling Torch" described the event as "fantastic first outing overall for AEW". Omega-Jericho had a "very sudden, but good finish", Cody-Dustin "was a classic throwback bloodbath that had a ton of heat", while Young Bucks-Lucha Bros "was a state-of-the-art tag team classic". However, Radican noted that there "were some warts with production and commentary", and also preferred removing "the pre-show and most of the undercard matches" as the event would have been a "total home run" for him if it were shortened to two hours.


title: Double or Nothing (2019)

text: Jason Powell of "Pro Wrestling Dot Net" wrote that AEW "delivered big in its first pay-per-view effort". The "big three matches" that ended the event "made the show" because they "had real storyline support and were very well worked". Cody-Dustin had the "intensity, drama, and the storyline of two brothers doing battle", Young Bucks-Lucha Bros was a "spot crazy match that also had good emotion", while Jericho and Omega "definitely left it all in the ring" despite a match that "was sloppy here and there".


title: Double or Nothing (2019)

text: Mike Tedesco of "WrestleView" described Double or Nothing as an "amazing show" that "started slow" but ultimately reminded him "why pro wrestling can be fun and exciting when done right". The AAA World Tag title match was "off the hook fun" and "got a little spotty, but the athleticism was on another level." The main event had "great drama and action" and "everything made sense." Jon Moxley's "amazing introduction" "sets him right at the top of the ladder". However, Tedesco "cringed with some of the comments made toward WWE".


title: Double or Nothing (2019)

text: Dave Meltzer of the "Wrestling Observer Newsletter" wrote that Double or Nothing "will go down as one of the landmark PPVs in history, both because of the match quality but more the atmosphere created by the fans." Also, from "a creative standpoint and connecting with fans, [AEW] blew away WWE". The show indicated "the value of social media" and "the dissatisfaction with WWE". Meltzer said the Cody-Dustin match "stole the show", giving it five full stars. In a poll done by the newsletter of over 1700 respondents, 97.5% gave a "thumbs up" to the show, 1.8% were neutral, while 0.7% gave a "thumbs down". The publication later awarded it the "Wrestling Observer Newsletter" Award for Best Major Wrestling Show of 2019.


title: Double or Nothing (2019)

text: In November, Troy L. Smith of "cleveland.com" released a list of the "50 greatest wrestling pay-per-views of all time" from every professional wrestling promotion in the world, with Double or Nothing ranked at number 46, writing that the first AEW pay-per-view event "feels like something that will eventually mark a turning point in the wrestling industry." "Pro Wrestling Illustrated" awarded the Cody vs. Dustin Rhodes match the "Pro Wrestling Illustrated" Award for Match of the Year.


title: Double or Nothing (2019)

text: A week after Double or Nothing, the inaugural AEW World Championship match between Chris Jericho and Adam Page was confirmed for AEW's event, All Out, on August 31, 2019. At All Out, Jericho defeated Page to become the first-ever AEW World Champion.


title: Double or Nothing (2019)

text: Following the confrontation between Jon Moxley and Kenny Omega, a match between the two was scheduled for All Out, but it was cancelled due to Moxley suffering an elbow injury. It was then rescheduled for Full Gear in November. At Full Gear, Moxley emerged victorious.


title: Double or Nothing (2019)

text: After settling creative differences, Pac returned to AEW and replaced Jon Moxley in a match against Kenny Omega at All Out that Pac won. During Adam Page's post-event interview following his loss to Chris Jericho for the AEW World Championship at All Out, Pac interrupted the interview and said he returned to AEW to seek revenge against Page. The two were then scheduled to face each other during the debut broadcast of AEW's television show, "AEW Dynamite" on October 2.


title: Double or Nothing (2019)

text: Double or Nothing has since been called AEW's marquee event, and along with their next three major PPVs, All Out, Full Gear, and Revolution, the four together are considered AEW's "Big Four" PPVs, their four biggest shows produced quarterly.


title: Double or Nothing (2019)

text: Five wrestlers started the match. Every three minutes, five more wrestlers entered. The 21st and final entrant entered alone.


title: Michael Irby

text: Michael Clinton Irby (born November 16, 1972) is an American actor known for portraying Sergeant First Class Charles Grey in the CBS series "The Unit" (2006–2009), and more recently, for his work as Obispo 'Bishop' Losa in "Mayans M.C." (2018–) and Cristobal Sifuentes on the HBO series "Barry" (2018–).


title: Michael Irby

text: Irby was born in Palm Springs, California, the son of Ernie and Cindy Irby. He is of mixed Mexican-American and African-American heritage and has two brothers, Jason and Ernest III.


title: Michael Irby

text: With a lifelong love for association football, he played in Europe as part of Team USA before he was forced to give it up due to injury.


title: Michael Irby

text: Following the end of his football career, he attended College of the Desert in Palm Desert, California and Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, California. His drama professor encouraged him to pursue a career in theater at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, New York City.


title: Michael Irby

text: Irby is married to Susan Matus, whom he met while studying in New York. They have a son named Adison James Bear Irby.


title: Indian rituals after death

text: Hindu traditions right from Ramayan to till date cremate their dear ones, burying the dead is in some sections of the society. But majority of Hindus cremate the dead as we believe that the body is made up of 5 elements which after cremation will mix in the pancha bhootas,


title: Indian rituals after death

text: The cremation ground is called "Shmashana" (in Sanskrit), and traditionally it is located near a river, if not on the river bank itself. Those who can afford it may go to special sacred places like Kashi (Varanasi), Haridwar, Prayagraj (also known as Allahabad), Sri Rangam, Brahmaputra on the occasion of Ashokastami and Rameswaram to complete this rite of immersion of ashes into water.


title: Indian rituals after death

text: The Antyesti ceremonial offerings varies across the spectrum of Hindu society. Some of the popular rituals followed in Vedic religions after the death of a human being, for his or her peace and ascent to heaven are as follows.


title: Indian rituals after death

text: The last rites are usually completed within a day of death. While practices vary among sects, generally, his or her body is washed, sandalwood paste and turmeric is applied on the body, wrapped in a dhoti for a man and a saree for women. The big toes are tied together with a string and a "Tilak" (red, yellow or white mark) is placed on the forehead. A bed is made out of bamboo sticks on which the deceased is taken to the Shamshan. The dead adult's body is carried to the cremation ground near a river or water, by family and friends, and placed on a pyre with feet facing south.


title: Indian rituals after death

text: The eldest son, or a male mourner, or a priest – called the lead cremator or lead mourner – then bathes himself and his hair is cut leaving only one strand of hair called shikha before leading the cremation ceremony. He circumambulates the dry wood pyre with the body, says a eulogy or recites a hymn, places sesame seeds or rice called as pind on the deceased's chest, hand and legs. He sprinkles the body and the pyre with ghee (clarified butter), then draws three lines signifying "Yama" (deity of the dead), "Kala" (time, deity of cremation) and the dead. Prior to lighting the pyre, an earthen pot is filled with water, and the lead mourner circles the body with it, before lobbing the pot over his shoulder so it breaks near the head. Once the pyre is ablaze, the lead mourner and the closest relatives may circumambulate the burning pyre one or more times. The ceremony is concluded by the lead cremator, during the ritual, is "kapala kriya", or the ritual of piercing the burning skull with a stave (bamboo fire poker) to make a hole or break it, in order to release the spirit. All those who attend the cremation, and are exposed to the dead body or cremation smoke take a shower as soon as possible after the cremation, as the cremation ritual is considered unclean and polluting. The cold collected ash from the cremation is later consecrated to the nearest river or sea.


title: Indian rituals after death

text: In some regions, the male blood members of the deceased shave their head on the 9th day called as NAUVAR and then invite all friends and relatives, on the thirteenth (13th) day, to eat a meal together in remembrance of the deceased called as Tehrvi Sanskar. This day, in some communities, also marks a day when the poor and needy are offered food in memory of the dead.


title: Indian rituals after death

text: Apart from the cremation method. several sects in Hinduism follow the practice of burial of the dead. In some sects, the important sadhus are buried. The preparatory rituals are more or less similar to cremation viz, washing the body, applying vibuthi or chandam on the forehead of the deceased etc., but instead of cremating, the deceased is buried. The body is either placed in sleeping position or in some Shaivite and tribal traditions is in Padmasana sitting position with legs folded and arms resting on the thigh simulating meditative position. The burial pit is prepared in the community burial ground called Shamshana, usually situated outside the city or village. Some affluent will bury their dead in their own field. The burial pit for sleeping position is generally three feet width and six feet in length and for sitting position it is three feet by three feet. As a thumb rule in all the sects invariable the saints are buried in sitting position in a separate place where later on a Samadhi is built which becomes a place of worship. For example, followers of Ayyavazhi sect bury the body, facing the geographic north in a padmasana position, without coffins and it is covered by sand or Namam (sacred soil) as an act austerity for the unfolding of Dharma Yukam.


title: Indian rituals after death

text: Niravapanjali is a sacred ritual in Hinduism where after the cremation rites, the ashes are ceremonially immersed in holy water by the closest relatives, so that the soul may rise to heaven. In Hinduism, king Bhagiratha performed a tapasya to bring down the river Ganges upon earth, so that he could immerse the ashes of sixty thousand of his slain ancestors in her sacred waters.


title: Indian rituals after death

text: Tarpana is a sacred ritual whereupon the closest relatives make a sacred offering to the Gods so that the departed soul may enter Swarga. In Hindu mythology, the Great Parasurama offered a tarpana for his father Jamadagni with the blood of his father's killer.


title: Indian rituals after death

text: Rasam Pagri, prevalent in Punjab and Rajasthanis, is conducted upon the death of the eldest male member in a family to appoint his heir, in which the eldest surviving male member of the family ties a turban ("pagri") on his head in the presence of the extended family or clan. Ceremony is usually performed by the father of the wife of the eldest, surviving male member. The ceremony usually takes place on the fourth day from the day of funeral rites ("Antim Sanskar", also known as "Uthala"), or on the thirteenth day, "Tehravin". The turban signifies honor of the family, and the ceremony signifies the transition of responsibility for the protection and welfare of the family from the deceased to the surviving oldest male member.


title: Indian rituals after death

text: Pind Sammelan, also called Spindi or terahvin in North India, is a ritual performed in Hinduism on the 13th day of death of somebody. This ritual is performed to place the departed soul with the ancestors and God. It is believed that before the ritual the departed soul is a preta (evil spirit), and after performing this ritual, the soul will become "pitr" (good spirit) and will be included in the ancestors.


title: Indian rituals after death

text: Many people visit Hindu pilgrimage sites to perform, "Śrāddha" ceremonies, like Pehowa, Kurukshetra, Haridwar, Gokarneshwar, Nashik, Gaya etc. where they also update their genealogy registers maintained by pandas.


title: Indian rituals after death

text: The Pitrs (the fathers) are the spirits of the departed ancestors in Hindu culture, who are usually remembered annually and venerated.


title: Indian rituals after death

text: Jathera or Dhok, from "jayestha" (elder) and "dahak" ("dahak" the sacred fire), are samadhi (shrines) dedicated to the worship of ancestors.


title: Indian rituals after death

text: Śrāddha ritual is performed to pay homage to one's 'ancestors' (Sanskrit: Pitṛs), especially to one's dead parents, to express heartfelt gratitude and thanks towards their parents and ancestors, for having helped them to be what they are and praying for their peace. It performed as a "day of remembrance" for both the father and mother separately, on their respective 'thithi' – death anniversaries as per the Hindu Calendar. Additionally, it is performed for the entire community of 'pitr' – both from paternal and maternal side – collectively during the Pitru Paksha or "Shraaddha" paksha (Fortnight of ancestors), right before "Sharad Navaratri" in autumn.


title: Indian rituals after death

text: Pitru Paksha is a 16–lunar day period in Hindu calendar when Hindus pay homage to their ancestor (Pitrs), especially through food offerings.


title: Kyle Trask

text: Kyle Jacob Trask (born March 6, 1998) is an American football quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Florida and was selected by the Buccaneers in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft.


title: Kyle Trask

text: Trask attended Manvel High School in Manvel, Texas. He did not start any games at quarterback after his freshman year as he served as a backup to D'Eriq King. He graduated in 2016 and committed to the University of Florida to play college football as a three star recruit.


title: Kyle Trask

text: Trask was redshirted in his first year at Florida in 2016. Trask did not see any action in 2017 at Florida. He was originally intended to compete with Feleipe Franks for the starting job, but suffered an injury which cost him the season.


title: Kyle Trask

text: In 2018, he played in four games as a backup to Franks, completing 14 of 22 passes for 162 yards and a touchdown. His season came to an end after he again injured his foot during practice.


title: Kyle Trask

text: Trask entered his junior year in 2019 again as a backup to Franks. After Franks was injured, Trask took over as the starter. Making his first start since his freshman year of high school, Trask completed 20 of 28 passes with two touchdowns and two interceptions in a win against Tennessee. Trask passed for 363 yards in a 56–0 win over Vanderbilt, the most passing yards in a game by a Florida quarterback since Tim Tebow passed for 482 in the 2010 Sugar Bowl.


title: Kyle Trask

text: In the Gators' first game of 2020 against Ole Miss, Trask eclipsed his own record, passing for 416 yards and 6 touchdowns, also setting an all-time team record for yards in a conference game in the process. Midway through the season, Trask threw for 474 yards and 4 touchdowns against then #4 Georgia, becoming the first quarterback in SEC history to throw 4 touchdowns in 5 consecutive games. As the season continued, Trask continued to put up record-setting numbers and became a betting favorite to win the Heisman. Trask finished the season setting the school's single-season passing touchdown record with 43, breaking the record set by Danny Wuerffel in 1996. Trask was named a Heisman Trophy Finalist following his historic season. Trask declared for the 2021 NFL Draft following the season.


title: Kyle Trask

text: Trask was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second round, 64th overall, of the 2021 NFL Draft. On June 8, 2021, Trask signed his four-year rookie contract with the Buccaneers, worth $5.54 million and a $1.39 million signing bonus.


title: Kyle Trask

text: Trask was named after Kyle Field, Texas A&M University's football stadium, as his parents and several other family members attended there. His grandfather, Orville Trask, was a defensive tackle and team captain for the Houston Oilers team that won the 1960 and 1961 American Football League championships.


title: Smoothness

text: In mathematical analysis, the smoothness of a function is a property measured by the number of continuous derivatives it has over some domain, called "differentiability class". At the very minimum, a function could be considered smooth if it is differentiable everywhere (hence continuous). At the other end, it might also possess derivatives of all orders in its domain, in which case it is said to be infinitely differentiable and referred to as a C-infinity function (or formula_1 function).


title: Smoothness

text: Differentiability class is a classification of functions according to the properties of their derivatives. It is a measure of the highest order of derivative that exists and is continuous for a function.


title: Smoothness

text: Consider an open set formula_2 on the real line and a function formula_3 defined on formula_2 with real values. Let "k" be a non-negative integer. The function formula_3 is said to be of differentiability class "formula_6" if the derivatives formula_7 exist and are continuous on formula_2. If formula_3 is formula_10-differentiable on formula_2, then it is at least in the class formula_12 since formula_13 are continuous on formula_2. The function formula_3 is said to be infinitely differentiable, smooth, or of class formula_16, if it has derivatives of all orders on formula_2. (So all these derivatives are continuous functions over formula_2.) The function formula_3 is said to be of class formula_20, or analytic, if formula_3 is smooth (i.e., formula_3 is in the class formula_16) and its Taylor series expansion around any point in its domain converges to the function in some neighborhood of the point. formula_20 is thus strictly contained in formula_16. Bump functions are examples of functions in formula_16 but "not" in formula_20.


title: Smoothness

text: To put it differently, the class formula_28 consists of all continuous functions. The class formula_29 consists of all differentiable functions whose derivative is continuous; such functions are called continuously differentiable. Thus, a formula_29 function is exactly a function whose derivative exists and is of class formula_28. In general, the classes formula_6 can be defined recursively by declaring formula_28 to be the set of all continuous functions, and declaring formula_6 for any positive integer formula_10 to be the set of all differentiable functions whose derivative is in formula_12. In particular, formula_6 is contained in formula_12 for every formula_39, and there are examples to show that this containment is strict (formula_40). The class formula_16 of infinitely differentiable functions, is the intersection of the classes formula_6 as formula_10 varies over the non-negative integers.


title: Smoothness

text: is continuous and times differentiable at all . At , however, formula_3 is not times differentiable, so formula_3 is of class "C", but not of class "C" where .


title: Smoothness

text: Because formula_50 oscillates as → 0, formula_51 is not continuous at zero. Therefore, formula_52 is differentiable but not of class "C".


title: Smoothness

text: is differentiable but its derivative is unbounded on a compact set. Therefore, formula_54 is an example of a function that is differentiable but not locally Lipschitz continuous.


title: Smoothness

text: The exponential function formula_55 is analytic, and hence falls into the class "C". The trigonometric functions are also analytic wherever they are defined as they are linear combinations of complex exponential functions formula_56 and formula_57.


title: Smoothness

text: is smooth, so of class "C", but it is not analytic at , and hence is not of class "C". The function is an example of a smooth function with compact support.


title: Smoothness

text: A function formula_59 defined on an open set formula_2 of formula_61 is said to be of class formula_6 on formula_2, for a positive integer formula_10, if all partial derivatives


title: Smoothness

text: exist and are continuous, for every formula_66 non-negative integers, such that formula_67, and every formula_68. Equivalently, formula_3 is of class formula_6 on formula_2 if the formula_10-th order Fréchet derivative of formula_3 exists and is continuous at every point of formula_2. The function formula_3 is said to be of class formula_76 or formula_28 if it is continuous on formula_2. Functions of class formula_29 are also said to be "continuously differentiable".


title: Smoothness

text: A function formula_80, defined on an open set formula_2 of formula_61, is said to be of class formula_6 on formula_2, for a positive integer formula_10, if all of its components


title: Smoothness

text: are of class formula_6, where formula_88 are the natural projections formula_89 defined by formula_90. It is said to be of class formula_76 or formula_28 if it is continuous, or equivalently, if all components formula_93 are continuous, on formula_2.


title: Smoothness

text: Let formula_95 be an open subset of the real line. The set of all formula_6 real-valued functions defined on formula_95 is a Fréchet vector space, with the countable family of seminorms


title: Smoothness

text: where formula_99 varies over an increasing sequence of compact sets whose union is formula_95, and formula_101.


title: Smoothness

text: The set of formula_16 functions over formula_95 also forms a Fréchet space. One uses the same seminorms as above, except that formula_104 is allowed to range over all non-negative integer values.


title: Smoothness

text: The above spaces occur naturally in applications where functions having derivatives of certain orders are necessary; however, particularly in the study of partial differential equations, it can sometimes be more fruitful to work instead with the Sobolev spaces.


title: Smoothness

text: The terms "parametric continuity" ("C") and "geometric continuity" ("G") were introduced by Brian Barsky, to show that the smoothness of a curve could be measured by removing restrictions on the speed, with which the parameter traces out the curve.


title: Smoothness

text: Parametric continuity (C) is a concept applied to parametric curves, which describes the smoothness of the parameter's value with distance along the curve. A (parametric) curve formula_105 is said to be of class "C", if formula_106 exists and is continuous on formula_107, where derivatives at the end-points formula_108 are taken to be one sided derivatives (i.e., at formula_109 from the right, and at formula_110 from the left).


title: Smoothness

text: As a practical application of this concept, a curve describing the motion of an object with a parameter of time must have "C" continuity and its first derivative is differentiable—for the object to have finite acceleration. For smoother motion, such as that of a camera's path while making a film, higher orders of parametric continuity are required.


title: Smoothness

text: The concept of geometrical continuity or geometric continuity (G) was primarily applied to the conic sections (and related shapes) by mathematicians such as Leibniz, Kepler, and Poncelet. The concept was an early attempt at describing, through geometry rather than algebra, the concept of continuity as expressed through a parametric function.


title: Smoothness

text: The basic idea behind geometric continuity was that the five conic sections were really five different versions of the same shape. An ellipse tends to a circle as the eccentricity approaches zero, or to a parabola as it approaches one; and a hyperbola tends to a parabola as the eccentricity drops toward one; it can also tend to intersecting lines. Thus, there was "continuity" between the conic sections. These ideas led to other concepts of continuity. For instance, if a circle and a straight line were two expressions of the same shape, perhaps a line could be thought of as a circle of infinite radius. For such to be the case, one would have to make the line closed by allowing the point formula_116 to be a point on the circle, and for formula_117 and formula_118 to be identical. Such ideas were useful in crafting the modern, algebraically defined, idea of the continuity of a function and of formula_119 (see projectively extended real line for more).


title: Smoothness

text: A curve or surface can be described as having formula_120 continuity, with formula_115 being the increasing measure of smoothness. Consider the segments either side of a point on a curve:


title: Smoothness

text: In general, formula_120 continuity exists if the curves can be reparameterized to have formula_114 (parametric) continuity. A reparametrization of the curve is geometrically identical to the original; only the parameter is affected.


title: Smoothness

text: Equivalently, two vector functions formula_127 and formula_128 have formula_120 continuity if formula_130 and formula_131, for a scalar formula_39 (i.e., if the direction, but not necessarily the magnitude, of the two vectors is equal).


title: Smoothness

text: While it may be obvious that a curve would require formula_123 continuity to appear smooth, for good aesthetics, such as those aspired to in architecture and sports car design, higher levels of geometric continuity are required. For example, reflections in a car body will not appear smooth unless the body has formula_124 continuity.


title: Smoothness

text: A (with ninety degree circular arcs at the four corners) has formula_123 continuity, but does not have formula_124 continuity. The same is true for a , with octants of a sphere at its corners and quarter-cylinders along its edges. If an editable curve with formula_124 continuity is required, then cubic splines are typically chosen; these curves are frequently used in industrial design.


title: Smoothness

text: While all analytic functions are "smooth" (i.e. have all derivatives continuous) on the set on which they are analytic, examples such as bump functions (mentioned above) show that the converse is not true for functions on the reals: there exist smooth real functions that are not analytic. Simple examples of functions that are smooth but not analytic at any point can be made by means of Fourier series; another example is the Fabius function. Although it might seem that such functions are the exception rather than the rule, it turns out that the analytic functions are scattered very thinly among the smooth ones; more rigorously, the analytic functions form a meagre subset of the smooth functions. Furthermore, for every open subset "A" of the real line, there exist smooth functions that are analytic on "A" and nowhere else .


title: Smoothness

text: It is useful to compare the situation to that of the ubiquity of transcendental numbers on the real line. Both on the real line and the set of smooth functions, the examples we come up with at first thought (algebraic/rational numbers and analytic functions) are far better behaved than the majority of cases: the transcendental numbers and nowhere analytic functions have full measure (their complements are meagre).


title: Smoothness

text: The situation thus described is in marked contrast to complex differentiable functions. If a complex function is differentiable just once on an open set, it is both infinitely differentiable and analytic on that set .


title: Smoothness

text: Smooth functions with given closed support are used in the construction of smooth partitions of unity (see "partition of unity" and topology glossary); these are essential in the study of smooth manifolds, for example to show that Riemannian metrics can be defined globally starting from their local existence. A simple case is that of a bump function on the real line, that is, a smooth function "f" that takes the value 0 outside an interval ["a","b"] and such that


title: Smoothness

text: Given a number of overlapping intervals on the line, bump functions can be constructed on each of them, and on semi-infinite intervals formula_139 and formula_140 to cover the whole line, such that the sum of the functions is always 1.


title: Smoothness

text: From what has just been said, partitions of unity don't apply to holomorphic functions; their different behavior relative to existence and analytic continuation is one of the roots of sheaf theory. In contrast, sheaves of smooth functions tend not to carry much topological information.


title: Smoothness

text: Given a smooth manifold formula_141, of dimension formula_142 and an atlas formula_143 then a map formula_144 is smooth on formula_141 if for all formula_146 there exists a chart formula_147 such that formula_148 and formula_149 is a smooth function from a neighborhood of formula_150 in formula_151 to formula_152 (all partial derivatives up to a given order are continuous). Smoothness can be checked with respect to any chart of the atlas that contains formula_153 since the smoothness requirements on the transition functions between charts ensure that if formula_3is smooth near formula_155 in one chart it will be smooth near formula_155 in any other chart.


title: Smoothness

text: If formula_157 is a map from formula_141 to an formula_115-dimensional manifold formula_160, then formula_161 is smooth if, for every formula_162 there is a chart formula_163 containing formula_153 and a chart formula_165 containing formula_166 such that formula_167 and formula_168 is a smooth function from formula_169


title: Smoothness

text: Smooth maps between manifolds induce linear maps between tangent spaces: for formula_157, at each point the pushforward (or differential) maps tangent vectors at formula_155 to tangent vectors at formula_166: formula_173 and on the level of the tangent bundle, the pushforward is a vector bundle homomorphism: formula_174 The dual to the pushforward is the pullback, which "pulls" covectors on formula_160 back to covectors on formula_176 and formula_10-forms to formula_10-forms: formula_179 In this way smooth functions between manifolds can transport local data, like vector fields and differential forms, from one manifold to another, or down to Euclidean space where computations like integration are well understood.


title: Smoothness

text: Preimages and pushforwards along smooth functions are, in general, not manifolds without additional assumptions. Preimages of regular points (that is, if the differential does not vanish on the preimage) are manifolds; this is the preimage theorem. Similarly, pushforwards along embeddings are manifolds.


title: Smoothness

text: There is a corresponding notion of smooth map for arbitrary subsets of manifolds. If formula_180 is a function whose domain and range are subsets of manifolds formula_181 and formula_182 respectively. formula_3 is said to be smooth if for all formula_184 there is an open set formula_185 with formula_186 and a smooth function formula_187 such that formula_188 for all formula_189


title: Dracaena fragrans

text: Dracaena fragrans (cornstalk dracaena), is a flowering plant species that is native throughout tropical Africa, from Sudan south to Mozambique, west to Côte d'Ivoire and southwest to Angola, growing in upland regions at altitude. It is also known as striped dracaena, compact dracaena, and corn plant.


title: Dracaena fragrans

text: "Dracaena fragrans" is a slow growing shrub, usually multistemmed at the base, mature specimens reaching or more tall with a narrow crown of usually slender erect branches. Stems may reach up to diameter on old plants; in forest habitats they may become horizontal with erect side branches. Young plants have a single unbranched stem with a rosette of leaves until the growing tip flowers or is damaged, after which it branches, producing two or more new stems; thereafter, branching increases with subsequent flowering episodes.


title: Dracaena fragrans

text: The leaves are glossy green, lanceolate, long and wide; small leaves are erect to spreading, and larger leaves usually drooping under their weight. The flowers are produced in panicles long, the individual flowers are diameter, with a six-lobed corolla, pink at first, opening white with a fine red or purple central line on each of the lobes; they are highly fragrant, and popular with pollinating insects. The fruit is an orange-red berry diameter, containing several seeds.


title: Dracaena fragrans

text: In Africa, "D. fragrans" is commonly grown as a hedge plant. It is suited to frost-free climates and USDA Hardiness zones 10-11. Elsewhere, it is primarily popular as a houseplant and valued for its tolerance of a wide range of indoor conditions, from bright indirect light, to bright shade (which brings out more variegation in certain hybrids) and even deep shade (where it will have a darker green color). It is also very tolerant of neglect. The NASA Clean Air Study indicated that the plant aided removal of indoor pollutants such as formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene. The plant is known as "masale" to the Chagga people of Tanzania, who regard it as holy.


title: Dracaena fragrans

text: In cultivation, in the Neotropics, a few generalist hummingbird species, like the sapphire-spangled emerald ("Chionomesa lactea"), visit the flowers.


title: Dracaena fragrans

text: Several cultivars have variegated foliage. 'Massangeana' (also commonly called "Mass Cane"), has a bright-yellow central stripe on the foliage. 'Compacta' is more compact and suitable for indoor cultivation, with smaller, flatter and slightly pointed leaves. Some of the most popular cultivars include 'Janet Craig', 'Lemon Lime', and 'Warneckei' ('Warneckii'), which are often sold under the synonym "D. deremensis".


title: Dracaena fragrans

text: The cultivars 'Lemon Lime', ‘Massangeana’, and 'Warneckei' bear the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.


title: Dracaena fragrans

text: "Dracaena fragrans" can be propagated by cutting segments of old stems, about long, drying them in shade for a day, and then inserting them into moist perlite, sphagnum moss and/or sand, until they root. Signs of new root growth are usually indicated as new leaves emerging. Lateral, bushy stem growth (typically being two or three shoots) comes from old foliar scars, from the leaf “eyes” that are located growing up along the entire stem. Additionally, anywhere a cutting is made (at any point along the stem) is likely to be where new stems will form, where a leaf once grew.


title: Dracaena fragrans

text: The species name refers to the fragrant flowers, while the English name derives from a perceived resemblance of the stem to a corn ("Zea mays") stalk. Synonyms include "Aletris fragrans" L. (basionym), "Cordyline fragrans" (L.) Planch., "Pleomele fragrans" (L.) Salisb., "Sansevieria fragrans" (L.) Jacq., "Dracaena deremensis" Engl., "Dracaena smithii" Hook.f., and "Dracaena ugandensis" Baker. Other English names include striped dracaena (for variegated cultivars), corn plant (for the cultivar 'Massangeana';), Chinese money tree, and fortune plant.


title: K-13 (missile)

text: The Vympel K-13 (NATO reporting name: AA-2 "Atoll") is a short-range, infrared homing air-to-air missile developed by the Soviet Union. It is similar in appearance and function to the American AIM-9B Sidewinder from which it was reverse-engineered. Although it since has been replaced by more modern missiles in frontline service, it saw widespread service in many nations.


title: K-13 (missile)

text: During the Second Taiwan Strait Crisis in 1958, Taiwan's F-86 Sabres faced the much higher performance mainland Chinese PLAAF MiG-17s. The MiG-17s had speed, maneuverability, and altitude advantages over the Sabres, allowing them to engage only when they desired, normally at advantageous times. In response, the US Navy rushed to modify 100 ROCAF Sabres to carry the newly introduced AIM-9 Sidewinder missile. These were introduced into combat on 24 September 1958, when a group of MiG-17s cruised past a flight of Sabres, only to find themselves under attack by missile fire. This was the first instance of guided missiles being used in air-to-air combat.


title: K-13 (missile)

text: On 28 September 1958, a similar engagement resulted in one of the missiles becoming lodged in a MiG-17 without exploding, allowing it to be removed after landing. The Soviets later became aware that the Chinese had at least one Sidewinder, and after some wrangling, were able to persuade the Chinese to send them one of the captured missiles. Gennadiy Sokolovskiy, later chief engineer at the Vympel team, said that "the Sidewinder missile was to us a university offering a course in missile construction technology which has upgraded our engineering education and updated our approach to production of future missiles."


title: K-13 (missile)

text: A subsequent claim was made by Ron Westrum in his book "Sidewinder" that the Soviets obtained the plans for the Sidewinder from Swedish Colonel and convicted spy Stig Wennerström, and rushed their version into service by 1961 copying it so closely that even the part numbers were duplicated. Although Wennerström did leak information of the Sidewinder after negotiating its purchase for Sweden, none of the known Soviet sources mention this, while all explicitly mention the Chinese example.


title: K-13 (missile)

text: The Sidewinder was quickly reverse engineered as the K-13 (also called R-3 or Object 300) and entered limited service only two years later in 1960. This was followed by the improved K-13A (R-3S, Object 310), which entered service in 1962. The R-3S was the first version to enter widespread production, in spite of a very long seeker settling time on the order of 22 seconds, as opposed to 11 seconds for the original version.


title: K-13 (missile)

text: The R-3S was seen by the West in 1961 and given the NATO reporting name AA-2A 'Atoll'. Minimum engagement range for the R-3S is about one kilometre. All K-13 variants are physically similar to Sidewinder, sharing the 5 inch (127 mm) diameter. Subsequent examination of AA-2 missiles captured by NATO forces showed that parts from an AIM-9 could be interchanged with parts from an AA-2 and either combination would still work.


title: K-13 (missile)

text: While the R-3S was being introduced in 1961, work started on a semi-active radar homing (SARH) version for high-altitude use, the K-13R (R-3R or Object 320) with 8 km range, similar to the little-used US Navy AIM-9C Sidewinder (carried by the F-8 Crusader). This took longer to develop, and did not enter service until 1966. This version was designated AA-2B by NATO.


title: K-13 (missile)

text: Three training versions were also developed. The R-3U ("uchebnaya", training) was an empty missile body with a homing set, allowing pilots to get used to the aiming of the system. The R-3P ("prakticheskaya", practice) was a complete missile without an explosive warhead. The RM-3V ("raketa-mishen", target-missile) served as an aerial target.


title: K-13 (missile)

text: The Vympel team started working on a more ambitious upgrade in the late 1960s, emerging as the K-13M (R-13M, Object 380) for the IRH and K-13R (R-3R) for the SARH variant, were developed in the late 1960s. These were dubbed Advanced Atoll (AA-2C and AA-2D, respectively) in the west. The R-13M was roughly equivalent to the improved USN AIM-9G Sidewinder, with a new proximity fuse, more propellant for longer range, better maneuverability, and a more sensitive nitrogen-cooled seeker head. None were all-aspect missiles. The same electronics upgrades were also applied to the Kaliningrad K-5 (AA-1) to arm fighters that did not carry the K-13.


title: K-13 (missile)

text: The K-13 in different versions was widely exported to the Warsaw Pact and other air forces, and remains in service with a few smaller nations. A license-built version called A-91 was built in Romania, and the People's Republic of China copied the K-13 as the PL-2. Updated Chinese versions were the PL-3 and PL-5. Soviet Union provided China K-13 missile technology as a part of MiG-21 fighter jet deal in 1962. In 1967, China successfully completed locally produced K-13 (PL-2) missile tests, and started to deploy this missile to combat units. It was first used to intercept USAF UAVs flown from Vietnam and other south east Asian countries to mainland China.


title: K-13 (missile)

text: The K-13 missile was used by North Vietnamese MiG-21 pilots. Due to the NVAF's very limited number of MiG-21s, their common tactic was to approach an American formation at maximum reasonable speed, fire their missiles in volleys, and exit the area at maximum speed to avoid engagement.


title: K-13 (missile)

text: Some of these missiles were seized by Israel during the Six-Day War in the Sinai Peninsula. They were used during the War of Attrition, by Squadron 101 (Mirage IIICJ) and probably also by 117 and 119 squadrons, all Mirage squadrons of the Israeli Air Force. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the Israelis shot down dozens of MiGs – but there had been no success in using this missile, as Israeli pilots preferred to use cannons or indigenous missiles such as Shafrir 1 and Shafrir 2.


title: K-13 (missile)

text: K-3 or K-13 missiles were also used during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 by the Indian Air Force; they were integrated on MiG-21FLs and used to shoot down at least two to four Pakistani F-104 Starfighters. They were used during the Yom Kippur War by the Arab Air Forces in 1973, and during the Iran–Iraq War by the Iraqi Air Force between 1980 and 1988.


title: K-13 (missile)

text: On 19 August 1981, during the 1981 Gulf of Sidra incident, a Libyan Air Force Su-22 fired a K-13 missile head on at approaching US Navy F-14As; the missile was evaded.


title: Lohengrin (opera)

text: Lohengrin, WWV 75, is a Romantic opera in three acts composed and written by Richard Wagner, first performed in 1850. The story of the eponymous character is taken from medieval German romance, notably the "Parzival" of Wolfram von Eschenbach, and its sequel "Lohengrin", itself inspired by the epic of "Garin le Loherain". It is part of the Knight of the Swan legend.


title: Lohengrin (opera)

text: The opera has inspired other works of art. King Ludwig II of Bavaria named his castle Neuschwanstein Castle after the Swan Knight. It was King Ludwig's patronage that later gave Wagner the means and opportunity to complete, build a theatre for, and stage his epic cycle "Der Ring des Nibelungen". He had discontinued composing it at the end of Act II of "Siegfried", the third of the "Ring" tetralogy, to create his radical chromatic masterpiece of the late 1850s, "Tristan und Isolde", and his lyrical comic opera of the mid-1860s, "Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg".


title: Lohengrin (opera)

text: The most popular and recognizable part of the opera is the Bridal Chorus, colloquially known in English-speaking countries as "Here Comes the Bride," usually played as a processional at weddings. The orchestral preludes to Acts I and III are also frequently performed separately as concert pieces.


title: Lohengrin (opera)

text: The literary figure of Lohengrin first appeared as a supporting character in the final chapter of the medieval epic poem "Parzival" of Wolfram von Eschenbach. The Grail Knight Lohengrin, son of the Grail King Parzival, is sent to the duchess of Brabant to defend her. His protection comes under the condition that she must never ask his name. If she violates this requirement, he will be forced to leave her. Wagner took up these characters and set the "forbidden question" theme at the core of a story which makes contrasts between the godly and the mundane, and between Early Middle Age Christendom and Germanic paganism. Wagner attempted at the same time to weave elements of Greek tragedy into the plot. He wrote the following in "Mitteilungen an meine Freunde" about his Lohengrin plans:Who doesn't know "Zeus and Semele"? The god is in love with a human woman and approaches her in human form. The lover finds that she cannot recognize the god in this form, and demands that he should make the real sensual form of his being known. Zeus knows that she would be destroyed by the sight of his real self. He suffers in this awareness, suffers knowing that he must fulfill this demand and in doing so ruin their love. He will seal his own doom when the gleam of his godly form destroys his lover. Is the man who craves for God not destroyed?


title: Lohengrin (opera)

text: "Lohengrin" was written and composed between 1845 and 1848 when Wagner worked as Kapellmeister at the Royal Dresden court. The opera's genesis, however, starts some years earlier when Wagner was living and working in Paris. By late 1841, Wagner had conceived a five-act historical opera based on the Hohenstaufen dynasty entitled "Die Sarazenin" (The Saracen Woman) and, although he lavished on it all the trappings of Grand Opera, his attention was soon distracted by a Volksbuch that he obtained through his friendship with the philologist Samuel Lehrs. The book in question was Ludwig Bechstein's 1835 anthology of legends "Der Sagenschatz und die Sagenkreise des Thüringerlandes". As well as being the means by which Wagner first became aware of the Lohengrin legend, the anthology also retold the tale of Tannhäuser.


title: Lohengrin (opera)

text: Seeking a more authentic picture of the Tannhäuser legend, Lehrs then provided Wagner with the annual proceedings of the Königsberg Germanic Society which not only included C.T.L. Lucas's critical study of the "Wartburg war" but also included a piece of criticism about the poem "Lohengrin", together with a lengthy narrative of the rambling epic's principal content. Thus, Wagner admits, with one blow a whole new world was opened to him, and although unable to find the form to master the material for his own dramatic purpose, he could clearly visualize Lohengrin and it remained as an inextinguishable image within him.


title: Lohengrin (opera)

text: Stewart Spencer neither regards the abandonment of the Hohenstaufen projects during the 1840s at this time nor, more specifically, in the musical and formal dissimilarities between "" and "Der fliegende Holländer" as symptomatic of a fundamental turn from history towards myth. Instead Spencer argues that Wagner did not draw any fundamental distinction between history and myth, and that Wagner's response to myth is dynamic and dialectical. History per se might be arid and reductive but it contained within it the potential for a categorical interpretation allowing Wagner to make use of Leopold August Warnkönig's (1835–42), three volume "Flandrische Staats- und Rechtsgeschichte bis zum Jahr 1305" to be mined for an accurate evocation of tenth century Brabant. It would be nearly four years before Wagner's image of Lohengrin would again manifest itself to his creative imagination.


title: Lohengrin (opera)

text: Writing retrospectively in his extremely readable 1865 biography (even if its royal patronage diminishes its reliability), Wagner tells the story of how "Lohengrin"'s libretto was written. In the summer of 1845 Wagner with his wife Minna planned their annual hydrotherapeutic visit to Marienbad. Putting his work as Kapellmeister at the Royal Dresden court out of his mind, Wagner's intention was to abandon himself to a life of the utmost leisure, and he had chosen his summer reading with care: the poems of Wolfram von Eschenbach, and the anonymous epic of Lohengrin with an introduction by Joseph von Görres. His plan to lie beside a brook communing with Titurel and Parzival didn't last long and the longing to create was overpowering:


title: Lohengrin (opera)

text: Lohengrin stood suddenly revealed before me in full armor at the center of a comprehensive dramatic adaptation of the whole material. ... I struggled manfully against the temptation to set down the plan on paper. But I was fooling myself: no sooner had I stepped into the noonday bath than I was seized by such desire to write Lohengrin that, incapable of lingering in the bath for the prescribed hour, I leapt out after only a few minutes, scarcely took the time to clothe myself again properly, and ran like a madman to my quarters to put what was obsessing me on paper. This went on for several days, until the entire dramatic plan for Lohengrin had been set down in full detail.


title: Lohengrin (opera)

text: By 3 August 1845 he had worked out the prose draft. Wagner, with his head in a whirl, wrote to his brother, Albert, the following day, 4 August 1845:


title: Lohengrin (opera)

text: ...it was in this frame of mind yesterday that I finished writing out a very full & detailed scenario for Lohengrin; I am delighted with the result, indeed I freely admit that it fills me with a feeling of proud contentment. ... the more familiar I have become with my new subject & the more profoundly I have grasped its central idea, the more it has dawned upon me how rich & luxurious the seed of this new idea is, a seed which has grown into so full & burgeoning a flower that I feel happy indeed. ...In creating this work, my powers of invention & sense of formal structure have played their biggest part to date: the medieval poem which has preserved this highly poetical legend contains the most inadequate & pedestrian account to have come down to us, and I feel very fortunate to have satisfied my desire to rescue what by now is an almost unrecognizable legend from the rubble & decay to which the medieval poet has reduced the poem as a result of his inferior & prosaic treatment of it, & to have restored it to its rich & highly poetical potential by dint of my own inventiveness & reworking of it. – But quite apart from all this, how felicitous a libretto it has turned out to be! Effective, attractive, impressive & affecting in all its parts! – Johanna]'s role in it (Albert's daughter – see illustration below) – which is very important & in point of fact the principal role in the work – is bound to turn out the most charming & most moving in the world.


title: Lohengrin (opera)

text: Between May and June 1846, Wagner made a through-composed draft for the whole work that consisted of only two staves: one for the voice, the other just indicating the harmonies. Coterminously, Wagner began work on a second draft of the poem, beginning with Act III. The complete draft of Act III was completed before the second draft of Acts I and II. This has sometime led to the erroneous conclusion that the entire work was completed from the end to the front. On 9 September 1846 Wagner began to elaborate the instrumental and choral parts, which, along with the Prelude, was completed on 29 August 1847.


title: Lohengrin (opera)

text: Numerous changes to the poem, particularly Act III, took place during work on the second draft. At this time Wagner was still trying to clarify the precise nature of the tragedy, and the extent to which he needed to spell out the mechanics of the tragedy to the audience. On 30 May 1846 Wagner wrote to the journalist regarding the relationship between Lohengrin and Elsa. It is apparent from the letter that Wagner and Franck had been discussing Lohengrin for some time, and Wagner refers back to an earlier argument about the relationship between Lohengrin and Elsa, and in particular whether Elsa's punishment of separation from Lohengrin at the end of the opera is justifiable. Wagner uses the letter firstly to argue in favour of his version and secondly to expand upon the more general mythical structure underpinning the relationship between Lohengrin and Elsa – a theme he would publicly develop in his 1851 autobiographical essay A Communication To My Friends. Elsa's punishment, Wagner argues, cannot be chastisement or death but that her separation from Lohengrin: 'this idea of separation- which, if it were left out, would require a total transformation of the subject and probably allow no more than its most superficial externals to be retained'. Franck's concern appears to be that this particular punishment of separation will make the opera incapable 'of being dramatically effective in a unified way'. Wagner confesses that Franck's concerns have forced him to look objectively at the poem and to consider ways of making Lohengrin's involvement in the tragic outcome clearer than had previously been the case. To this end, Wagner decided not to alter Act I or II but to write new lines in Act III:


title: Lohengrin (opera)

text: Wagner asks Franck if he should explicitly mention the specific rule associated with the Grail which, although not expressly forbidding the Grail knights from committing such excesses, nevertheless, discourages them from acting in this way. Wagner's opinion is that it should be sufficient for the audience to deduce the Grail's advice. Readers of the libretto in English will note that in Amanda Holden's 1990 singing translation for the English National Opera, the Grail's advice is transformed into an explicit commandment, with Holden acknowledging, on her website, that translating a libretto is effectively writing a new one "despite its compulsory faithfulness to the original".


title: Lohengrin (opera)

text: Having completed the second complete draft of Act III ten months later on 5 March 1847, Wagner returned to the beginning of Act I and began work on the second draft of Act I on 12 May and which was complete on 8 June 1847. The second complete draft of Act II was started on 18 June and complete on 2 August 1847. In a letter to Ferdinand Heine dated 6 August 1847, Wagner announced that he had completed the "Lohengrin" opera:


title: Lohengrin (opera)

text: As outlined to Heine, Wagner's plan was to build on the success of the premiere of Rienzi in Berlin on 24 October 1847 with a follow-up performance of "Lohengrin". As it turned out "Rienzi" in Berlin was not a success and "Lohengrin" was not performed there until 1859.


title: Lohengrin (opera)

text: Composition of the full score began three months later on 1 January 1848, and by 28 April 1848 the composition of Lohengrin was complete. In September 1848 Wagner conducted excerpts from Act I at a concert in Dresden to mark the 300th anniversary of the court orchestra (later Dresden Staatskapelle).


title: Lohengrin (opera)

text: "Lohengrin" occupies an ambivalent position within Wagner's aesthetic oeuvre. Despite Wagner's ostensible rejection of French grand opéra, "Lohengrin", like all Wagner's operas, and for that matter his later musikdramas, owes some debt to the form as practised by Auber, Halévy and, irrespective of what Wagner sets out in his prose writings, Meyerbeer. "Lohengrin" is also the last of Wagner's four "Romantic" operas, and continues with the associative style of tonality that he had previously developed in "Tannhäuser". And "Lohengrin" is also the last of his composed works before his political exile, and despite the seventeen-year-long performance hiatus, "Lohengrin"s musical style nevertheless anticipates Wagner's future leitmotif technique.


title: Lohengrin (opera)

text: The first production of "Lohengrin" was in Weimar, Germany, on 28 August 1850 at the Staatskapelle Weimar under the direction of Franz Liszt, a close friend and early supporter of Wagner. Liszt chose the date in honour of Weimar's most famous citizen, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, who was born on 28 August 1749. Despite the inadequacies of the lead tenor Karl Beck, it was an immediate popular success.


title: Lohengrin (opera)

text: Wagner himself was unable to attend the first performance, having been exiled because of his part in the 1849 May Uprising in Dresden. Although he conducted various extracts in concert in Zurich, London, Paris and Brussels, it was not until 1861 in Vienna that he was able to attend a full performance.


title: Lohengrin (opera)

text: The opera's first performance outside German-speaking lands was in Riga on 5 February 1855. The Austrian premiere took place in Vienna at the Theater am Kärntnertor on 19 August 1858, with Róza Csillag as Ortrud. The work was produced in Munich for the first time at the National Theatre on 16 June 1867, with Heinrich Vogl in the title role and Mathilde Mallinger as Elsa. Mallinger also took the role of Elsa in the work's premiere at the Berlin State Opera on 6 April 1869.


title: Lohengrin (opera)

text: The Belgian premiere of the opera was given at La Monnaie on 22 March 1870 with Étienne Troy as Friedrich von Telramund and Feliciano Pons as Heinrich der Vogler.