Romanization of Scotland

The written history of Scotland begins with the romanization of central southern Great Britain. The Romans called Caledonia initially to Scotland, for the huge Caledonian pine forest that stretched from north to south and from east to west across the country. The main people who sat in that time in the region was that of Scottish Picts, so called, apparently, for his habit of painting their bodies. The Scots, meanwhile, were a people of Irish origin, also known as dalriadas, who settled in the west of Scotland. During this period there were therefore two distinct realms: the West of Scotland, Scotland, Pictish kingdom and the east, Alba.

The Romanization of Scotland was a long process with lots of interruptions: in 83 a. C., General Gnaeus Julius Agricola defeated the Caledonians at the Battle of Monte Graupio, September 8 which allowed the construction of a chain of fortifications known as the Gask Ridge close to the Highland Fault, and shortly thereafter, however, the Romans withdrew to the Southern Uplands, ie the third most southerly of Scotland, and began construction of Hadrian's Wall to control tribes in the area. This line marked for most of the period of Roman occupation the northern boundary of the Roman Empire, despite the construction, further north, the Antonine Wall. This could only be defended border for brief periods, of which later took place between the years 208 and 210, during the reign of Emperor Septimius Severus. Later the territory was created in the Roman province of Valentia. In total, the occupation of these areas in Scotland by the Romans lasted no more than 40 years, although the Latin influence in the southernmost part, especially among the tribes of Breton origin, was more durable.

Bronze Age

English society changed by the invention of bronze. Metal objects appeared in England as early as 2700 BC, although it is believed to have been imported.

About 2,000 BC bronze was created in England, comprising 9 parts of copper and tin. It is, of course, harder than stone and always more efficient as a tool and weapon.

In the Bronze Age the English rode horses and they were the first to weave cloth. The bronze age women, their hair adorned with pins and bone crescent and wore necklaces.

In the late Bronze Age (1000 BC-650 BC) built forts in the hills because wars were more common. This may have been because the population increased and fertile land were difficult to obtain.

Meanwhile, in the Bronze Age barrows are being built, although cremation was practiced. The dead were buried with useful items. It was believed that the need in the afterlife. Unfortunately, they had no written records, we know nothing of the religion of the Bronze Age.

We know that the British Bronze Age round living in wooden huts with thatched roofs, but nothing is known of their society and their organization. However, it is believed that there were different social classes.

The War of the Roses

The War of the Roses (1455-1485) was the set of conflicts intermittent civil war between the House of Lancaster wing against the House of York. Both royal families had a common origin in the Royal House of Plantagenet, as descendants of King Edward III. The name "War of the Roses" was not used at the time, but comes from the emblems of the two royal houses. On one side was the red rose of Lancaster and the white rose of another York, which were used as emblems in the war.

The war was mainly between members of the landed aristocracy and armies of feudal lords. Support for each of the sides depended largely dynastic marriages among the nobility. The patriarch of the house of Lancaster, John of Gaunt had the first title the Earl of Richmond, the same that would show Henry VII at the end of the war. The leader of the House of York was Edmund of Langley, who held the Lordship of Cambridge. Later, during the reigns of the Tudors and the Stuarts, Richmondshire and Cambridgeshire would become major foci of recusants and Puritans, respectively. Notably, the fight between factions continued beyond the time of Henry, as the monarchs that followed prompted clashes continued.

The War of the Roses, largely caused the fall of the Plantagenets, as it produced a high number of deaths among the nobility, and generate widespread social discontent. This period marked the decline of British influence in Europe, the weakening of the feudal power of the nobles and, in return, increased influence by traders, and the growth and strengthening of a centralized monarchy under the Tudors . This war marks the end of the English feudal era and the beginning of the Renaissance.

This last rose is the Tudor rose, created at the end of the civil war, uniting both emblems.

A Incredible Treasure

Terry Herbert, an amateur search for objects with metal detector, never imagined that his hobby would take to the pages of the newspapers. However, last July Herbert discovered on the farm of some friends in Burntwood (Staffordshire, UK) which is considered as the largest Anglo-Saxon treasure discovered so far. According to experts, the pieces discovered (more than 1,500 gold and silver) are older than about 1,300 years, and are delicately worked. The beautiful jewelry totaling five gold and 1.3 kilograms of silver.
"The quantity of gold is amazing but, more importantly, the quality of craftsmanship is really high," said Kevin Leahym, Portable Antiquities Scheme member, a group that records archaeological finds made ​​by 'treasure hunters' amateurs in UK. It was not the only expert in making statements about the importance of this discovery. In the words of Leslie Webster, a researcher at the British Museum, "[the discovery] is going to alter our perceptions of Anglo-Saxon England in the seventh century and early VIII as radically, if not more, as the Sutton Hoo discoveries in 1939; force archaeologists and art historians to rethink the chronology of the manuscripts and metalwork.

The celts

Origin

The most accepted theory of the origin of the Celts, is the "Indo-European". From India and the Middle East, migrated to Europe. However, some studies suggest other possible different origins of the Celtic people.

Celtic culture

Celtic culture comprises orally transmitted traditions, highlighting the stories included in the Ulster Cycle.

The dress of the Celts, as has been rebuilt, shows a colorful style and well decorated, with great tendency to mix bold colors. The main dyes that caused so fervently surely were: for red, the "Red" for Reseda luteola yellow and blue, pastel grass. The linen fabric was the oldest found, used by proto-Celts. The wool became the main raw material used once the sheep were domesticated. In the Iron Age most clothing was made of wool Celts. The fabric was woven with looms, plaid and stripes. The pieces were braccae basic dress for men and long gowns for women peplum and a bag on the belt for both.

The houses were made of armor studs, intertwined branches and twigs and mud, straw cubiertasd of entramdos. Holes distributed around the house, were used to store grain. The homes were within fortified hill, as in the case of Maiden, in Dorset.

Religion

The religion of the ancient Celts, particularly that of the Gauls before the Roman conquest, is not well known, and the data they have to rebuild it are scarce and not very accurate.

The cult was in charge of the "Druids", priests who were both educators of youth. The monuments called "Druid Stone", before the arrival of the Celts west of Europe, seem to have shown no role in the religion of the ancient Gauls.

For a long time there were only local cults especially related to mountains, forests and waters, who was invoked under different names.

The Gauls were too abstract deities or spirits of the cities.

Among the practices of popular belief is famous collection, according to fixed prescriptions, mistletoe, which is endowed with extraordinary virtues considered. Also, the oak was considered a sacred tree.

The Hundred Years War

The Hundred Years War was an armed conflict that lasted in reality 116 years (1337-1453) between the kingdoms of France and England. This war was feudal roots, as its purpose was none other than settle who would control the vast possessions of the English monarchs in French territories since 1154, due to the accession of Henry II Plantagenet, Count of Anjou and married to Eleanor of Aquitaine, the throne English. Had international implications. Finally, after countless avatars, resulted in the removal English French lands.

Origins of the conflict

The huge rivalry between France and England had already begun at the time of the Battle of Hastings, in which the French Duke William of Normandy (William the Conqueror or William the Bastard) from seizing England (1066). Now the Normans were kings of a great nation, and would require the French king to be treated as such. But the point of view of France was not the same. The Dukes of Normandy had always been his vassals, and that had risen from his duchy to a high throne in a country "far" did not have to change their traditional subservience to the crown of Paris.

The war

Among the children of Philip the Fair was Elizabeth, who was the mother of Edward III of England. The young king, of only sixteen years, tried to claim his right to the throne of France by appealing to this. if the host had English thesis, the daughters of Louis X, Philip V and Charles IV would have more right to pass the crown over his aunt Elizabeth of France.

Of course, France disagreed therefore invoked the Salic Law, which forbade the transmission of the crown through the female line, and therefore decided that the newly abandoned crown passed to the Capetian younger brother of Philip the Fair: Charles of Valois. But this was 1328, and Charles had died three years earlier. Thus, the theory corresponded French crown to his son, Philip of Valois, under the real name of Philip VI. This was the first monarch of the Valois dynasty, which reigned in France without Edward III could do anything about it.

Waterloo(15-18th June 1815)

Battle of Waterloo (French: watɛʁ'lo), battle fought between the French army commanded by Napoleon Bonaparte's troops against British, Dutch and German led by the Duke of Wellington and the Prussian army of Field Marshal Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher , near the town of Waterloo (Belgium), June 18, 1815.

It is considered as part of the Campaign of Waterloo all combat ranging from the first encounters between French troops with Prussian detachments June 15, until the final withdrawal of the French army on the 18th.

French side participated in the 80,000 troops and 210 cannons, estimated casualties were 11,500 (14%). The Prussians deployed 84,000 soldiers and 224 cannons, estimated casualties were 25,000 (30%) .1

On February 26, 1815 Napoleon flees the island of Elba where he was exiled. On March 13, hearing of the news, is reunited Congress of Vienna where he was declared outlaw and decided to meet again an alliance to capture him, being so formed the Seventh Coalition.

A week later Napoleon arrives in Paris where he again received the support of the people and come to him all the officers and soldiers of the Grande Armée. Given the situation leaves Louis XVIII and Napoleon proclaimed Emperor for the second time.

The new coalition of Austria, Russia, Britain and Prussia begins to unfold in the Netherlands, when Napoleon decides to attack, aware of the need to stop them before they back together all the armies. On June 12, is preparing to blow up the coalition and take Brussels.

The main reason why Napoleon chose an offensive strategy was for the possible effects that could produce an overnight success.

But what finally tipped the balance was the known existence of political differences between England and Prusia.Un sudden attack could force one side to retire following his own line of communication. If Napoleon took advantage of the gap between them, which at first was already 75 kilometers (distance between headquarters) could isolate and either attack them separately, it was clear that neither of the two separate armies would able to stand against the powerful Armée du Nord

However, the strategy did not work out, but came very close to winning.
Only in the final moments of the battle, when Blücher reached positions of Napoleon, decided the fate of Waterloo.

The defeat ended the Napoleonic dream, because 6 years later died on the island of St. Helena.

Anglo-spanish war (1585-1604) Part 2

In 1589 British forces under the command of Francis Drake and John Norreys attacked La Coruna, where they were rejected, and went to Lisbon, where they failed in their attempt to provoke an uprising Portuguese for Don Antonio.

The failure of the British Contraarmada caused major financial losses in the Elizabethan treasure, and allowed Philip rebuild Atlantic Spanish fleet, which turned quickly to have supremacy

A sophisticated intelligence escort and frustrated most pirate attacks to the Indian fleet from the 1590s: buccaneer expeditions of John Hawkins and Martin Frobisher in the beginning of the decade were defeated. Also, the ship Revenge (Revenge) one of the most important of its navy was captured near the Azores in 1591, when an English fleet tried to capture the Indian fleet.

In 1592 Pedro de Zubiaur dispersed ocean an English convoy of 40 ships on fire capturing the flagship and three other boats and the following year in the Battle of Blaye defeated a small fleet of six British ships (sinking its two main units) and escaped of a fleet sent to capture him even greater

Between 1595 and 1596, an English expedition against the Spanish settlements in the Caribbean, led by Drake and Hawkins, was defeated first in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and then in successive battles against Spanish forces greatly outnumbered in various Caribbean locations. The Spanish defenses were ahead of the attackers, the British suffered heavy losses, including the death of two sailors

In 1595, four Spanish ships commanded by Charles of Amésquita landed in Cornwall, western England. Also ran without problems in a fleet sent to destroy them.

In July 1596, Anglo-Dutch expedition led by Robert Devereux Earl of Essex sacked Cadiz, destroying the Spanish fleet anchored in the bay, and in October of that year the Spanish fleet under the command of Martin de Padilla was disrupted by a storm off the coast of Galicia on his way to Ireland. This army was reorganized and the British could not attack by another storm on the coast of Galicia, the English fleet headed for the Azores where it managed to win the Spanish fleet returning from the Indies. A new Spanish expedition against England in 1597 was derailed by a storm in the English Channel.

After the death of Philip II in 1598, his successor Philip III of Spain would continue the war against England. In May 1600 peace talks began in Boulogne-sur-Mer, which resulted fallidas.2

In October 1601 John Eagle landed in front of their thirds in Kinsale, on the south coast of Ireland, to support Irish forces at that time against England held the Nine Years War. The Spanish troops would be defeated in early 1602 in the Battle of Kinsale, with the coalition losing 1,200 men, including 90 Spanish, forcing his return to Spain and leaving as prioriaria achieving its objectives in Flanders

After the death of Elizabeth I in 1603, his successor James I of England in 1604 signed the Treaty of London with Philip III, in which both countries agreed to war.

The result for Spain was much more positive. He was the leading European power in the seventeenth century until the defeat against France in the Thirty Years War and the rise of Dutch naval power eventually reducing it to a higher power
 

Anglo-Spanish War (1585-1604) Part 1

The Anglo-Spanish War (1585-1604) was a conflict between the kingdoms of England, ruled by Elizabeth I of England, and Spain, where Philip II reigned. The war began with English victories like that of Cadiz in 1587, and the loss of the Spanish Armada in 1588, but many Spanish victories like the Contraarmada in 1589, and the vast improvement in the escort of the Indies fleets and rapid recovery of Spain to the losses, eventually weaken and finally to England resulted in the signing of a peace treaty favorable to Spain in London in 1602

The war began in 1585. In October of that year Drake sailed west Iberian coast, plundering Vigo, La Palma and Santiago de Cabo Verde, crossed to the West Indies capturing Santo Domingo and Cartagena de Indias, whose return demanded by the Spanish authorities for the payment of a ransom , and St. Augustine (in Florida). Irritated by these attacks, Philip II sent a large fleet to assemble the mission to invade England.

The execution of Mary Queen of Scots in February 1587 outraged Catholics of continental Europe. His claim to the throne was inherited by Philip, who was a widower of Mary I of England. In July of the same year, Philip receives approval of Pope Sixtus V to depose Elizabeth, who already in 1570 had been excommunicated by Pope Pius V

In August 1588 the Spanish plans to invade England became effective: the Spanish Armada, led by the Duke of Medina Sidonia attacked the English fleet led by Charles Howard in the English Channel. Adverse weather conditions and clashes with the English fleet led to the loss or capture of half of the Spanish ships.

The failure of the Spanish Armada enabled England to continue their pirate attacks to the Spanish colonies, while continuing aid to the Netherlands and France.

Middle Ages in England

England during the Middle Ages (5th century of the retreat of the Roman forces of the province of Britannia and of the Germanic invasions, up to ends of the Anglo-Saxon period), fragmented in a series of independent kingdoms.

The medieval period in England begins with the arrival in Kent of the Anglo-Saxon troops directed by the legendary Hengest and Horsa. Later the Celtic kingdoms Brythonic, whose territories were close to the modern zone of England, were conquered by Jutes, Anglos and Saxons.

The end of the medieval epoch one is in the habit of dating for the summit of the " Renaissance English " in the reign of Enrique VIII of England, and the Reform in Scotland.

From a political point of view, the Norman conquest of the medieval England divides in two phases different from the cultural and political history: from a linguistic point of view, the Norman conquest had only a limited effect, in the evolution of the ancient Englishman, though the Anglo-Norman language would continue being the language of those who governed for two centuries, before mixing it with the Half Englishman. During this period, an alone King governed from the border with Scotland up to the border with Wales to the border with Cornwall.

The Great Fire of London

The Great Fire of London was a major conflagration that swept through the central parts of the English city of London, from Sunday, 2 September to Wednesday, 5 September 1666. The fire gutted the medieval City of London inside the old Roman City Wall. It threatened, but did not reach, the aristocratic district of Westminster, Charles //'s Palace of Whitehall, and most of the suburban slums. It consumed 13,200 houses, 87 parish churches, St. Paul's Cathedral and most of the buildings of the City authorities. It is estimated to have destroyed the homes of 70,000 of the City's 80,000 inhabitants.
The Great Fire started at the bakery of Thomas Farriner (or Farynor) on Pudding Lane, shortly after midnight on Sunday, 2 September, and spread rapidly west across the City of London. The use of the major firefighting technique of the time, the creation of firebreaks by means of demolition, was critically delayed owing to the indecisiveness of the Lord Mayor of London, Sir Thomas Bloodworth. By the time large-scale demolitions were ordered on Sunday night, the wind had already fanned the bakery fire into a firestorm which defeated such measures.

HALLOWEEN 2012







       Every 31st of October, kids of all parts of England go from home to home saying "Trick or Treat?" and waiting for some candy. We enjoy this festivity and it's becoming an international party

      Yes, but... Whatis it's origin?
 
This party The word Halloween was first used in the 16th century and represents a Scottish variant of the fuller All Hallows' Even ('evening'), that is, the night before

All Hallows' Day.   Although the phrase All Hallows' is found in Old English.  The origin is sat on the pagan festivity of the end of summer, also linked to the Saint night.  People thought that every 31st of October an 24 hour portal is opened for the dead, to became alive.   They made Jack o' Lanterns, that are pumkpins with cutted mouths and eyes and a candle inside. They use this spooky lanterns for scaring the ghosts and other spirits. Today, we also use this pumpkins and disguise for enjoy an GREAT NIGHT.

Roman Britain

After the conquest of Gaul, Julius Caesar set his sights on England. He commanded an army in 54 B.C. and conquered part of suereste.

However up to 43 did not reduce to Britain a Roman province. It was easy to reach the center and southeast of the island, but in the north and west reigned Boudica, not made ​​things easy to Rome, razing Londinium (London). However, it was defeated.

Between 78 and 85 Roma progressed quite yet Emperor Hadrian built Hadrian's Wall as the boundary between northern peoples and Rome.

The people of Britain had little involvement in the political life of Rome. On the other side, or producing wheat and minerals offering its mines covering the enormous costs associated with the occupation. There was a notable Romanization in Britain to consider, especially in the cities, but it never became as Hispania and Gaul