World History – Page 30 – General History

Lancastrians and Yorkists

Edward IV (York) King of England / en.wikipedia.org

There is more to the intense rivalry between Yorkshire and Lancashire than mere cricket, though one has to admit that these two large northern English counties seem to have produced more first-class cricketers than others.

Lancastrians are descendants or supporters of John (of Gaunt) Duke of Lancaster, second son of Edward III, younger brother of Edward the Black Prince. The reason why Gaunt did not become King when the Black Prince died young is that the throne had by then been usurped by Hereford, becoming Henry IV. The usurper did away with Richard II, grandson of Edward III, but Gaunt was crafty enough to survive, and important enough to get himself into Shakespeare’s plays in a big way. The ‘This sceptr’d isle!’ soliloquoy is spoken by a dying John of Gaunt. (more…)

By Dean Swift| 2013-02-05T18:47:53+00:00 February 5th, 2013|British History, English History, English Language, French History, History of the Cinema, World History|0 Comments

Post-War poverty in Socialist Britain (1945 – 51)

Winter queues 1948 / telegraph.co.uk

It was a surrealist time to be British. Six years of total war had left the people with their men and womenfolk dead, wounded and crippled as well as bemedalled, heroic and stoic. Most people had lost their home (or homes) to the German bombing. France and Belgium, just over the narrow Channel, had been occupied throughout almost all the Second War, and were recovering much faster than the British. The latter, having listened avidly to the words of a fat old man with a fondness for brandy and cigars asking them to sacrifice everything to beat the German menace, and having followed his indefatigable leadership, showed their loyalty by throwing him and his party out in the 1945 elections. The new Prime Minister was Clement Attlee, an Old Harrovian, who had been Churchill’s Deputy PM during the war. He was one of those patricians who become members of the Labour Party, presumably to reward their parents for sacrificing everything to educate them privately. He was all for NATO, against private incomes and country life. (more…)

By Dean Swift| 2013-01-31T18:30:52+00:00 January 31st, 2013|British History, Commonwealth of Nations, English History, English Language, French History, German History, History of the Low Countries, Philosophy, US History, World History|0 Comments

Feminism – a 20th century phenomenon?

A young Suffragette throws herself under the King’s horse at the Derby / scotsman.com

There will I suppose be frenzied and furious cries from members of the ‘gentler sex’ after (not) reading this post in General-History. The title will be enough to raise feminine hackles. “Phenomenon indeed!” Why should a thirst for equality be described as a ‘phenomenon’?

Feminism is an almost international movement concerning the social, political and economic rights of women. For the most part feminism’s voices demand equal rights for both sexes, but some would go further; they assert the right of women to separate development.

For as long as can be remembered women were subjected to their menfolk, and excluded from a proper education, economic independence, the right to own property, have a bank account in their own name, but, hardest of all, excluded from political representation. It is difficult to know why, as one woman’s vote requires the same thinking ability as any man has. (more…)

By Dean Swift| 2013-01-30T13:02:20+00:00 January 30th, 2013|British History, English History, Jewish History, Today, World History|0 Comments

Two bad men

Today we will concentrate on two bad men whose names constantly crop up in history. One, the first, was a Nazi leader in Germany, the second was a German-born President of a Latin American country.

Julius Streicher / fwjs.cn

Julius Streicher was born in 1885. Though it is difficult to believe he was once a schoolteacher. But he frightened his pupils by teaching them anti-Jewish propaganda. He also wrote at least three books for children with strongly anti-Semitic text. He used the periodical Der Stúrmer (which at one time he owned) to publish his virulent views, and probably because of this came to be noticed by Adolf Hitler. (more…)

By Dean Swift| 2013-01-29T12:25:15+00:00 January 29th, 2013|German History, Jewish History, South American History, World History|0 Comments

The Peninsula War (1807-14)

Joseph, brother of Napoleon Bonaparte /fuenterrebollo.com

Napoleon Bonaparte decided he would imitate the Roman emperors. Instead of listening to his better senses, he invaded the Peninsula of Spain and Portugal, causing one of the Napoleonic Wars, and a very great deal of unnecessary bloodshed. Spain is included in the very short list of nations it is unwise to invade or attempt to occupy. (more…)

By Dean Swift| 2013-01-27T13:51:04+00:00 January 27th, 2013|British History, English History, French History, German History, History of Portugal, Spanish History, Today, World History|0 Comments

The Nine Years War

William III / livius.org

Of all the wars known by duration in years, the least well-known is the Nine Years War (1688 – 97). Nevertheless this conflict has its important side, as it involved the Sun King himself, Louis XIV of France, and Britain under her Dutch-born monarch, William III. (more…)

By Dean Swift| 2013-01-26T11:56:28+00:00 January 26th, 2013|Austrian history, British History, Dutch History, English History, French History, German History, History of the Low Countries, Scottish history, Spanish History, World History|2 Comments

The Percy family, marching with English history

Alnwick Castle in Northumberland / tumblr.com

This is more usually a first or Christian name, and sometimes encourages unfair laughter: “Come on Percy, show ‘em wot you got!” As a surname or family name it should inspire respect, possibly awe because the Percy family have figured in British history almost since the damp mists of Time.

The Percys were marcher lords (q.v.) in the far north-east of England. A William de Percy was given vast lands by William the Conquerer in return for helping him conquer England. He fought beside Duke William the Norman bastard at the Battle of Hastings (1066). (more…)

By Dean Swift| 2013-01-23T12:18:57+00:00 January 23rd, 2013|British History, English History, History of the Cinema, Scottish history, Today, World History|7 Comments

Pontiac

Algonquin Chief Pontiac / macmillanmh.com

Some of our many readers will be disappointed that this post is not composed about the finely-produced American quality motorcar that I fear has passed away and perhaps been buried. No, I talk about Pontiac, born around 1720, leader of a ‘Native America’ confederacy of tribes, most of his life a faithful friend to the French in North America.

After the defeat of the French armies in 1759, and subsequent occupation of their forts by the English, Pontiac assembled the many Algonquian tribes ready to face what he considered would be typically English intransigence, expansion, and untrustworthiness. (more…)

By Dean Swift| 2013-01-20T13:20:25+00:00 January 20th, 2013|A History of North America, British History, Today, World History|0 Comments

The Hohenzollern family

William ! of Prussia / en.wikipedia.org

Of all the great and influential German families, descending from the mists of time, always involved in something – providing kings, making a nuisance of themselves, being or not being involved in charitable causes etc., the Hohenzollern top the list. There are still plenty of them around, but their power has waned. (more…)

By Dean Swift| 2013-01-18T12:46:45+00:00 January 18th, 2013|Austrian history, British History, English History, German History, Greek History, Russian history, Scandinavian history, Spanish History, Today, World History|0 Comments

Armies

A moment’s rest during The Great War / frivolousendeavour.wordpress.com

There are times when we believe that that History is nothing but series of forgettable dates, the names of Kings or Presidents or Prime Ministers, and the Battle of This or the Battle of the Other. We may be right, but History is also the events of yesterday, that we may try to compare with the events of BC. It is also the history of armies. (more…)

By Dean Swift| 2013-01-16T13:02:55+00:00 January 16th, 2013|Today, World History|0 Comments