I believe that this date, 05 November 2024 will be remembered, at least for awhile, because of the social implications of the election.
Today is election day and most people, that I know, are planning to go out and vote and it will be an ordeal or so they say…..there probably will not be much traffic on my blog today as people make their way to the polls.
But this day has been remembered for many years.
What better time for a little history?
Because of this I shall drop a little history on you……
‘Remember, remember the fifth of November.’
On this date in 1605, a group of conspirators attempted to blow up the Houses of Parliament and everyone inside them. Since the State Opening was to occur on this day, it would have led to the death of King James I of England and VI of Scotland, as well as pretty much the entirety of the government.
But why, exactly, did Robert Catesby, Guy Fawkes and the other conspirators aspire to commit such a diabolical act?
Late 16th and early 17th century Europe was a veritable powder keg of religious frictions (please pardon the pun). Corruption within the Catholic Church had led to the rise of Protestant ideals even before Henry VIII upended the religious situation in England by divorcing Catherine of Aragon and declaring himself as Supreme Head of the Church of England in the 1530s.
Henry was succeeded on the throne by his son Edward (a Protestant), Mary (a Catholic) and eventually Elizabeth I (a Protestant again). Under her reign, England eventually became the leading Protestant power in Europe – but that led to rising tensions with a number of Catholic countries, most notably Spain.
The execution of Elizabeth’s cousin Mary Queen of Scots in 1587 and the failed invasion of the Spanish Armada the following year were huge events that shaped the political and religious climate at the time. Many Catholics were persecuted (around 100 priests were executed during Elizabeth’s reign) and religious intolerance was rife.
When Elizabeth I died without children, the Scottish King James VI came to London to assume the English throne as James I in 1603. Given that he was the son on Mary Queen of Scots (a devout Catholic), and that his wife Anne of Denmark was also Catholic, there were high hopes that he would take a more lenient view.
https://www.history.co.uk/articles/why-did-they-try-to-blow-up-the-houses-of-parliament
A fascinating plot and worthy of a look.
If any of my British visitors have anything to add please give me and my readers the heads up.
I am so tired of the voices of the candidates and their surrogates that my ears want to bleed….time to get on with it and let the chips fall where they may.
As you go out to vote please be careful and be safe.
I Read, I Write, You Know
“lego ergo scribo”
A nice history lesson my friend. Nov 5th is always Bonfire night in the UK where an effigy of Guy Fawkes is burnt on top of the fire.Maybe not as much fun as Halloween and certainly less sweet, but a tradition that’s gone on for years. I think this year, many effigies will be wearing a Trump mask. He’s not at all popular here so I hope the vote over there goes solid Blue this time. Hugs
Thanx David……I have always thought, at times, that the conspirators were on to something…..we will see today just how ignorant the American voter can be. chuq
The 5th of November has various names here. Guy Fawkes’ Night, Bonfire Night, Firework Night, and so on. It is less popular now than when I was a child, because Halloween celebrations overshadow it these days, and fireworks are seriously expensive. In essence it is an anti-Catholic celebration stemming from hatred of Papists and a desire to burn them. But very few people here under 50 could tell you the real history behind it.
Best wishes, Pete.
Kinda like the history here as well….thanx for your input chuq
Henry VIII and Elizabeth considered themselves Protestants. But they were Portestants in only a political sense being non Catholic discarding papal governance. They were not Protestants because they never followed Calvin, Luther and Knox et al. Anglicans think they are Protestants too but really are not for the same reason.
Right about that. They did not follow Luther’s protest movement toward the Catholic Church. They broke off later for different reason. Methodists branched off of the church of England snd would not be protestants either by that definition. Few people use that definition any more. Meanings of words change over time.
Thanx for the religious history lesson….but it is like that with just about every religion. chuq
Defend democracy and a more positive, less hateful version of these “united” states…no matter what state you go to, we should be proud of what we’ve accomplished when united and what still needs to be done. No one has a solution to 100% of our problems, but working together is far better than tearing each other down
I totally agree…..but that is becoming more and more elusive. chuq
I truly believe that this spell of madness will be broken…when I was very young, the country was embroiled in anti-war protests then Watergate – followed by disco because people just got tired of fighting and just wanted to dance! #doingmybesttothinkpositive
I am not so certain….I have given the voter the benefit of doubt in the past but that is sliding away. chuq
Yep you called it
So sad just how ignorant they have become. chuq