Richard III

[Paulclem]

Do you suppose that is where we get the phrase "heavy heart"?
"It is with heavy heart that I inform you of Richard's passing...oh and here ya go, the heart's in the pot"




Another reference to Rouen, what's behind the French Connection? Norman?

The French connection remained strong after 1066. The Pantagenets were French and regarded English as an inferior language, and their culture of reference was France. King Richard The Lionheart, for example, spent a grand total of 6 months in England, and I think that was to raise taxes for the crusades. Most of them didn't speak English, and it was only until later that the monarchy invested culturally in England and the English. We still have an overhang of French sophistication in our attitudes today which all started with William. It is reflected in the language as well - the French chef being regarded more highly than the English word cook, and has led to differentiation of the roles into restaurant standard and bog standard.

[Emil Miller]

I don't reckon so. The only bar to the throne is the catholic faith and there are plenty of heirs around especially as from now on female offspring will have equal precedence.

What a shame. It would have given a whole new meaning to 'Queen of England.'

[Sancho]

Okay, Emil, you cracked me up again.

Modern English is rife with examples like Cook/Chef: Pig/Pork, Cow/Beef, Food/Cuisine, Earth/Terrain.

Or so I'm told.

[LitNetIsGreat]

Talking of Time Team, I used to love Time Team, brilliant stuff. Tony Robinson, some badly dressed archaealcoholics with beards, big trenches, 'geo-fizz?' Roman stuff and computer and artistic reconstructions. What more do you want for Sunday night? (Apart from Heartbeat of course.) Fantastic!

Modern English is rife with examples like Cook/Chef: Pig/Pork, Cow/Beef, Food/Cuisine, Earth/Terrain.

Cow/beef/horse is another one...

[Gilliatt Gurgle]

The French connection remained strong after 1066. The Pantagenets were French and regarded English as an inferior language, and their culture of reference was France. King Richard The Lionheart, for example, spent a grand total of 6 months in England, and I think that was to raise taxes for the crusades. Most of them didn't speak English, and it was only until later that the monarchy invested culturally in England and the English. We still have an overhang of French sophistication in our attitudes today which all started with William. It is reflected in the language as well - the French chef being regarded more highly than the English word cook, and has led to differentiation of the roles into restaurant standard and bog standard.

Thanks Paul.

I'm learning a lot about Engish history from this thread.
My parents shouldn't have pulled me out of Cathlolic school so early.

Cow/beef/horse is another one...

Haha! I got a good laugh at that one. Thanks

[Sancho]

Haha.

We have a word over here that would've prevented all of the hullabaloo over there:

Critter

Hmm, but I suppose you don't want to go mixing Varmint in with your Critter burgers.

[prendrelemick]

GG: In those days France was one of a collection of states - France, Normandy, Navarre, Maine-Anjou and more. Rouen was the capital of Normandy and the seat of the Norman Kings of England. So it's fitting that bits of them were sent there to be buried.

The word Norman is just a corruption of Norseman or Northman and Normandy was a Viking kingdom just like the North of England was. William the conqueror had as good a claim to the English throne as One-in-the-eye Harold as he was related to our Danish Kings.


Sancho: That is genius.

[kev67]

I read that Henry VIII had the last abbot of Reading hung, drawn and quartered for high treason - nice! I wondered whether that had anything to do with the body of King Henry I and his silver coffin having gone missing. However, Wikipedia says the abbot was executed for giving money to some northern rebels. The abbot, Hugh Cook Faringdon, was beatified in 1895. So Reading has its own king and its own saint - cool! Personally, I suspect Henry I's silver coffin was melted down and his bones thrown in the river. Reading is also the place where Britain's earliest written song comes from - Sumer Is Icumen In. We even had a holy relic, St James' hand, but that's now in a museum in Marlow (boo).

[Gilliatt Gurgle]

GG: In those days France was one of a collection of states - France, Normandy, Navarre, Maine-Anjou and more. Rouen was the capital of Normandy and the seat of the Norman Kings of England. So it's fitting that bits of them were sent there to be buried.

The word Norman is just a corruption of Norseman or Northman and Normandy was a Viking kingdom just like the North of England was. William the conqueror had as good a claim to the English throne as One-in-the-eye Harold as he was related to our Danish Kings.


Sancho: That is genius.

I read that Henry VIII had the last abbot of Reading hung, drawn and quartered for high treason - nice! I wondered whether that had anything to do with the body of King Henry I and his silver coffin having gone missing. However, Wikipedia says the abbot was executed for giving money to some northern rebels. The abbot, Hugh Cook Faringdon, was beatified in 1895. So Reading has its own king and its own saint - cool! Personally, I suspect Henry I's silver coffin was melted down and his bones thrown in the river. Reading is also the place where Britain's earliest written song comes from - Sumer Is Icumen In. We even had a holy relic, St James' hand, but that's now in a museum in Marlow (boo).

Thanks.
I'm now recalling the French Connection due mostly in part to a copy of 1966 National Geographic magazine I held on to after clearing out the family home after the parents passing.

A few shots from the magazine you Ricardians might appreciate:

(click on the thumbnails for larger image)




The end of Harold (Mick's "poke in the eye")
If you look closely you can just make out the shaft in Harold's hand as he attempts to pull it out of his eye...



Halley's comet passed in 1066 and was recorded on the tapestry
You can see it along the top border...

[prendrelemick]

I read that Henry VIII had the last abbot of Reading hung, drawn and quartered for high treason - nice! I wondered whether that had anything to do with the body of King Henry I and his silver coffin having gone missing. However, Wikipedia says the abbot was executed for giving money to some northern rebels. The abbot, Hugh Cook Faringdon, was beatified in 1895. So Reading has its own king and its own saint - cool! Personally, I suspect Henry I's silver coffin was melted down and his bones thrown in the river. Reading is also the place where Britain's earliest written song comes from - Sumer Is Icumen In. We even had a holy relic, St James' hand, but that's now in a museum in Marlow (boo).

That would be part of the "Harrowing of the North" that Henry VIII instigated as punishment for being rebellious. We've long memories round these parts.

Thanks.
I'm now recalling the French Connection due mostly in part to a copy of 1966 National Geographic magazine I held on to after clearing out the family home after the parents passing.

A few shots from the magazine you Ricardians might appreciate:

(click on the thumbnails for larger image)




The end of Harold (Mick's "poke in the eye")
If you look closely you can just make out the shaft in Harold's hand as he attempts to pull it out of his eye...



Halley's comet passed in 1066 and was recorded on the tapestry
You can see it along the top border...

Ahh the Bayeux tapestry. An early example of a graphic novel. Some ladies in a Scottish Isle sewing circle have just completed a copy.

[kev67]

That would be part of the "Harrowing of the North" that Henry VIII instigated as punishment for being rebellious. We've long memories round these parts.



Ahh the Bayeux tapestry. An early example of a graphic novel. Some ladies in a Scottish Isle sewing circle have just completed a copy.

There is also a copy in Reading Museum. Reading has a tenuous link with Battle, the town near Hastings where the Battle of Hastings was fought. Some Victorian ladies decided it would be a good idea to make a copy of the Bayeux Tapestry. It's fairly faithful to the original, but where the original clearly showed stallions, the copy shows geldings.

[Gilliatt Gurgle]

...a copy of the Bayeux Tapestry. It's fairly faithful to the original, but where the original clearly showed stallions, the copy shows geldings.

That is interesting, I'll see if I can find the Reading copy on the interwebs.

Their rendering of the horses may stem from the recent dietary supplements you're experiencing over there.
Prendrelemick, are you sure "Jasmine" wasn't a gelding?

[prendrelemick]

Victorian Ladies didn't do horse's knackers. They ignored their existance for fear of becoming "fallen women."

[kasie]

You know this theory of being only six removes from anyone you care to mention? I've just realised I'm only a few removes from William the Conqueror, thank to Kev's post: the connection between Reading and Battle is that Battle Abbey (founded by William after the Battle of Hastings) owned land in Reading. It was where the old Battle Hospital was built - now a Tesco Superstore. My first flat was built on land that had belonged to Battle Hospital; therefore it was built on land that had been gifted to Battle Abbey by William himself; therefore I should have been paying my groundrent to the Duchy of Normandy.... Just a thought....

I think the Scottish ladies have 'completed' the Bayeux Tapestry, in that they have added a post-battle scene or two.

[prendrelemick]

little known - or maybe not - there were 5 contenders for the throne when Edward the confessor died in 1066.

The problem was the last 3 kings had died without issue, so direct heirs were scarce.

Eadgar the Atheling, who was probably the rightful king but a bit young. Harold Godwinson, Harold Hardrada of Norway, Sweyn of denmark, and William.

William was the last man standing so he got the prize.