LadyEllen
Posts: 10931
Joined: 6/30/2006
From: Stourport-England
Status: offline
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: KenDckey
I always thought that the British Monarch had power. After all didn't Henry or somebody go around lopping off heads. If the Monarch is only a symbol then why should the people pay for all their stuff. I was trained that royalty had to have a profession. Why don't they practice it (other than those in the military).
The post was a series of questions for my own edification. I really am courious.
Hi Ken
Pleased to hear youre as interested in our history and we are in your politics LOL!
Honestly though - please ask anything you want about British history? There's plenty of people here who can fill in the blanks.
Short version British history (as it leads to modern Britain at least);
500BC - the Welsh start arriving, until about 200BC
c. 50AD - the Romans make a recce (Julius Caesar)
c. 100AD - the Romans come to stay; Boudicca/Boadacea, Roman settlement (best preserved in Bath, near Bristol and of course Hadrian's Wall as the border between England and Scotland to this day - there is another wall further north which was abdandoned). Constantine governor of Roman Britain - later to become Emperor and install Christianity across the Empire
c. 400AD - the Romans make a sharp exit; Anglo Saxons arrive, first as mercenaries for the Romano-British to protect them from the Picts from Scotland, then to settle and form England, (pushing the Welsh into Wales, Cornwall, Cumbria and southwest Scotland), as seven kingdoms.
c.800AD - the Vikings start raiding Britain, then settling in the northern and eastern parts in the main. King Alfred of Wessex resists (burning cakes in the process), Agreement reached with the Vikings that they can stay if they stop their advance; this is why English has two main accents - northern (Viking) and southern (Anglo Saxon).
c.900AD - overkingship of England passes between Viking Danish and English royal houses
1066 - last Anglo Saxon king dies without a clear heir. There are 3 claimants - a Norwegian Viking (Harald Hardraada), a Norman Viking (William) and an English nobleman (Harold Godwinson). Harold beats Harald in the north after the Norwegian comes to claim, but loses to William in the south. William becomes King. French language introduced and mixes with Germanic Anglo Saxon over following centuries to make modern English.
1066 to 15th century - a succession of kings of England of more or less French origin, with their French lands being prime and England as their colony; Richard the Lionheart, King John, Runnymeade, Robin Hood, constant wars to defend territory in France, Agincourt, Crecy etc, knights on horses and so on. Wars in France end with the loss of the last bit still belonging to the English crown, the port of Calais (20 miles from Dunkirk). Wars of the Roses ends with Henry Tudor taking power by defeating Richard III at Bosworth.
15-17th century - Tudor rule; Henry VII (Henry Tudor's son), Mary, Elizabeth. Protestantism takes off. Persecution of Catholics. First settlement in N America. Elizabeth I dies without an heir, so Scottish king James is installed as king of England - king James Bible, gunpowder plot. James son Charles I, gets into quarrels with parliament resulting in civil war, trial and execution of Charles I, installation of Cromwell as Lord Protector. Persecution of Irish catholics byCromwell in Ireland. Cromwell dies, Charles II invited to return under Parliament's terms - monarchy stripped of much of its power. Charles II succeeded by his brother James II, a avowed catholic and seen as a threat as such. Parliament invites William of Orange to rule with even less powers, James escapes. Battle of the Boyne in Ireland, to put catholics down for good for the moment. Disastrous attempt at empire by Scotland as an independent country ends in bankruptcy for the country, forcing it into the Act of Union with England in early 18th century - resented by Scots ever since. Jacobite wars as James and his descendants try to take the throne with aid of the Scottish clans sees his claim ended by terrible defeats. Clan system broken up over coming centuries and many Scots flee to the colonies.
18th & 19th century - German kings take over - the Georges. Empire expanded. Loss of the colonies to become the US. Lots of wars with France and allies. French revolution; Napoleonic wars, Battle of Trafalgar etc. Britain established as leading naval power and worldwide empire. Industrial revolution starts in Britain, to spread worldwide. Queen Victoria rules empire on which sun never sets, as head of state. Germany forms as united country and seen as a threat which starts the arms race leading to the first world war. Potato famine in Ireland leads to mass migration to the US and colonies.
20th century - detente with France, WWI. The rest I'll assume is more familar. another world war, decline, loss of empire and industrial leadership.
E
_____________________________
In a test against the leading brand, 9 out of 10 participants couldnt tell the difference. Dumbasses.
|
RE: So I was sitting here wondering - 
. 
Profile
New Messages
No New Messages
Hot Topic w/ New Messages
Hot Topic w/o New Messages
Locked w/ New Messages
Locked w/o New Messages
Post New Thread