I'll be at Huddersfield Literature Festival @huddlitfest.bsky.social talking about 'These Isles: A People's History of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales', Fri 15th May, 2pm-3pm, Heritage Quay. Book here: www.huddlitfest.org.uk/event/these-... (Book due out Feb 26th, can be preordered.)
Solitude, painting by Francis Danby (1793-1861), Irish artist from County Wexford.
GlyndΕ΅r was eventually defeated by Henry's son Henry V in 1415, but became a fugitive and was never captured. He died soon afterwards, though his place of burial remains unknown. (Painting by Arthur Cadwgan Michael.) 8/8
GlyndΕ΅r was to get Wales and much of the west of England. Northumberland was to have the north, Northamptonshire, Norfolk, Warwickshire and Leicestershire. The Mortimers were to receive the rest of southern England. Percy was killed and the terms never implemented. 7/8
GlyndΕ΅r had grandiose aims. He negotiated a document known as the Tripartite Indenture with Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland, and English noble Edmund Mortimer to divide England and Wales between them. 6/8
In frustration at GlyndΕ΅rβs early successes, the English parliament passed penal laws that prevented the Welsh from gathering together, gaining access to office, carrying arms and dwelling in fortified towns. This deeped the unrest. 5/8
GlyndΕ΅rβs rising began in 1400 after a dispute with a neighbour who had seized control of some land, in which the English parliament ignored his appeal for redress. It spiralled into a national conflict. 4/8
The rebellion occurred during turmoil in England after Henry IV seized the throne in 1399 from his first cousin Richard II, who was murdered at Pontefract Castle. 3/8
GlyndΕ΅r, who had studied law in London, was Lord of Glyndyfrdwy, Denbighshire. For a few years during his revolt he controlled most of Wales. The first Welsh parliament was created under his rule and he was the last native-born Welshman to claim the title Prince of Wales. 2/8
THESE ISLES: Owain GlyndΕ΅r (c.1359-c.1416), Welsh nobleman and soldier, led a 15-year revolt in the early 15th century, the most serious attempt to end English rule in Wales, making him celebrated as a national hero. 1/8
Snow over the Potteries, painting by Edith Le Breton ((1912-92).
Puddle, Manchester, 2021, photo by Ruxx Naqvi.
Terraced housing, Wallsend, Tyneside, mid-1970s, photo by Chris Killip (1946-2020).
Moonlit Manchester canal scene, painting by Reg Gardner (b.1948).
Only Notts event so far is Lowdham Book Festival, probably Sat 20th or Sun 21st June (time yet to be fixed).
Wednesday evening, all welcome.
Man at a bus stop with a teddy bear, Cardiff, 1973, photo by David Hurn, Magnum agency photographer.
Just a few tickets left, all welcome.
White Cottage, Carbeth, Stirlingshire, 1938, painting by Wilhelmina Barns-Graham (1912-2004), St Andrews-born artist.
'These Isles: A People's History of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales' is number ten British history bestseller at Waterstones. Currently 20% off the cover price. www.waterstones.com/book/these-i...
The battle has sometimes been portrayed as a struggle between the Irish and Vikings for the sovereignty of Ireland, though it was more complex: Irish were fighting Irish, with Norse allies on both sides. (Picture: Boru scuplture at Dublin Castle.) 5/5
There was resistance to his rule, however. At the battle of Clontarf, near Dublin, his armies defeated a revolt by Leinstermen and the Dublin Norse, but Boru was killed. 4/5
Thus he came close to unifying Ireland for a short time in an era when Ireland, with a population less than 500,000, had more than 150 kings. He styled himself βEmperor of the Irishβ. 3/5
He was a king of the southern province of Munster, who subjugated Leinster and then became Irelandβs High King 1002-14, ending the dominance of the UΓ NΓ©ill dynasty. 2/5
THESE ISLES: Brian BΓ³ruma or Boru (c.941-1014) was hailed by Irish nationalists in the 19th century as a national hero, similar to the English cult of Alfred the Great. 1/5
Known as the forgotten disaster. After so many wartime deaths, another 33 didn't attract much attention.
Mills Hill Road, near Middleton Junction, Manchester, as in 1950s, painting by Steven Scholes.
Unemployed minerβs child, Jarrow, Tyneside, 1937, photo by Bill Brandt.
Play stopped, yet shockingly restarted half an hour later with bodies laid out at the side of the pitch, covered with coats. An inquiry recommended more rigorous control of crowd sizes.
Authorities had expected about 55,000 at the 70,000-capacity stadium, but an estimated 85,000 managed to find a way in. As the crowd increased, some were crushed against steel barriers that gave way, while others were trampled to death.
