Elizabeth II: Life of a Monarch

From Goodreads

Elizabeth II: Life of a Monarch
Ruth Cowen

As a nice, short biography this Audible freebie works. It has enough history and anecdotes to be informative and entertaining without a gross tabloid aftertaste. While I don't see myself going out to grab a more authoritative biography on the queen I enjoyed listening to the book on our way home from Memphis.

England & The Hundred Years' War

From Goodreads

England and The Hundred Years' War (1327 - 1485)
Charles William Chadwick Oman

As far as history books go this one lands firmly in the middle. It's a little dry and covers a lot of ground in a short space. It's a good introduction to the Hundred Years War as told through the English perspective. I think that the French perspective might be a bit more interesting to read as that seems to be where the action was at. Also, because it covered so much ground so quickly it glosses over some of the important things a bit too quickly. That being said, it's probably a good introduction piece for anyone looking to learn a bit more about this war.

Beowulf

From Goodreads

Beowulf
Translated by Seamus Heaney

Beowulf has a special place in my heart. This translation was a whole lot easier once I realized I was reading the original version. For the first few pages I was like, this isn't even in English!

Jokes aside, this is a great translation. Seamus Heaney does a great job of making a classic text accessible to modern readers. I have enjoyed Beowulf since the first time I read it, probably for school. It sparked my interest in history and myth. That is the reason it holds a special place in my heart. Compared to other epic works though, Beowulf is not my favorite. It lacks some of the panache of Homer, doesn't flow like Ovid or Virgil and isn't as interesting as some of the Viking Sagas. That said, it gets four stars because it is still phenomenal.

Day 6 of London

(Originally Written April 8, 2015)


Day six of London was a feast of English history! It started out with a tour of Saint Paul's Cathedral, inside and out. The Church is incredible and would've been incredible even without the impressive dome. We toured the crypts to the top of the dome. Among the highlights were a statue that I said looked an awful lot like George Washington, only to comment that I doubt that he would be given a place of honor for wrenching the United States out from England only to find another statue that was of George Washington honoring him for his achievements in life. Also in the crypt I found the inscription, which I'll paraphrase here, on the tomb of Christopher Wren, the architect. Many of the inscriptions were lavish and had statues and other adornments, but Wren's was plain and said to the effect if you want to see the celebration of my life in my tomb, simply look around this whole church. Boom. Up top, the whispering gallery was pretty neat although I had to speak in a soft tone for Erin to hear me across the way. There were too many others in the church to actually hear a whisper. Then the views from the top (after an incredible number of stairs) were pretty breathtaking.

From there we went on to the Tower of London. Seeing the torture rooms, the impressive walls of the fortress and the ravens was pretty excellent. But, seeing the crown jewels was pretty amazing. You see them via a slow moving automated walkway like in the airports (only much, much slower paced). After Erin's second and third pass at seeing the jewels I realized that I would have to start pocketing away as much money as possible to give her something remotely close to those - or pocketing enough money away to purchase a private army to conquer some unsuspecting weak nation that is rich in jewels. Both are as likely to happen as the other though neither is likely at all. But who knows what the future may hold.

After that we went on to the Tower Bridge and gave it a walk. It's very impressive and colorful but after walking it, I felt like I had just walked a bridge. That's not to diminish it at all, but the majesty of the jewels in the Tower of London, its history and a stroll through its armory were a hard act to follow for a bridge.

Then it was on to Westminster Abbey which had me giddy. Seeing the area where Edward the Confessor was laid really reminded me of the age and majesty of the building. Unfortunately, as was the case with St. Paul's cathedral photography was forbidden. But, being the rebel I am I snapped a photo in the whispering gallery of St. Paul's and Erin and I together in the Poet's Corner in Westminster. Luckily we weren't drawn and quartered.

After this we went to Fortnum and Mason where I proceeded to beg to be able to buy a Victorian picnic basket and was mocked mercilessly. I left with a bunch of tea and a basket shaped hole in my heart. Then it was dinner time and we went to the Fryer's Delight for some ... fish and chips. These were the best Fish & Chips I had on my visit, though the mushy peas were not as good as the other pubs. Unfortunately the Fryer's Delight did not serve Cask Ales or any beer at all, but I had managed a couple of pints anyhow in the day, so that wasn't as disappointing as it might have seemed.

Of course now that I've mentioned the Taboo photographs I can't find them, but I did snap this photo near the London Bridge and while in hindsight it probably had something to do with a medical condition at the moment I just thought it was odd...

Day 5 of London

(Originally Written April 7, 2015)

This was our first of two excursions from London on our trip. We left the hotel to get to the Travel Company in route to Bath, Lacock & Stonehenge. First, off we saw this, which was utterly disappointing and an indictment of today's culture. The line on the left hand side is a line for the Harry Potter WB studios tour and is filled to capacity. Two busloads of tourists would be going to this tour in the hour and two more in the next. The line on the right (two people) would be going to Stonehenge. That said, there was only about 25-30 travelers with us on the trip so we had the place basically to ourselves which was very cool.

The first stop on the tour was the Roman Baths at Bath. We toured the ruins, checked out the Abbey at Bath and sort of quick walked a little bit of the town. There were a lot of cool sites to see in the area. The statues surrounding the bath were pretty amazing, some of which were very well preserved. The main "bath" area however was a odd green color and we were instructed not to touch it for health and safety reasons. For once I suspect that this was not overkill as the greenness of the pool looked rather menacing. At the end of the tour though we were able to drink the water from the natural

Note the green water...

spring and it tasted a lot like mineral water because it was in fact, mineral water. Our tour guide was very informative and had a good delivery. She also had a dry enough sense of humor to suck all the moisture out of the room. One of the most interesting facts that I learned about why the baths seemed to have such great healing powers in them was how the minerals interacted with the Roman Britons and Medieval British drinking habits. Everyone always seemed to get sick back then and the likely cause was the fact that their drinking vessels and storing vessels for their wine were led-lined. So it's likely that they always had a mild case of led poisoning. The minerals in the hot spring seemed to suck the led out of the body when they bathed in it, so the people would feel much refreshed out of the bath. Unfortunately, they would go home and have some wine and once again give themselves minor led poisoning and have a need for another bath.

After Bath, was the village of Lacock. It was interesting, a good look at Medieval England, but we were only there for 40 minutes and I could've spent some more time exploring Bath and had another pint of Cask Ale.

The highlight of the day and probably the trip though was the trip to Stonehenge and the inner circle. Just coming up on it was incredible, though the landscape was blotted somewhat by the new Stonehenge Welcome Center and its hideous architecture. We arrived at Stonehenge close to sunset and to watch the sun go down over the horizon from the middle of Stonehenge was an incredible feeling. However, when I was asked if it was a "spiritual" experience I had to say "no". Being inside either Saint Paul's or Westminster Abbey or the Abbey at Bath was much more of a spiritual sensation than being in the middle of some rocks arranged in circular fashion, but then again I'm not much of an animist, shamanist, neo-druid or have much sympathy for reconstructed modern paganism either. In spite of the lack of spirituality at the site it was an incredible thing to behold.

Notes on The Mabinogion (D)

(Originally Written September 14, 2009 in the Journal)

Culwch Won Olwen

Culwch, Arthur's first cousin, was the son of Kilydd, ruler of Kelyddon. Culwch's mother was dying and went to her husband giving him her blessing to remarry but only after a double sided thorn appeared on her grave. She went to her confessor and asked him to prune her grave so nothing grew there, which he did until he neglected it after seven years.

Kilydd then went for advice on a new wife. They killed Doged, stole his lands and Kilydd took his wife as his own. This woman had a daughter, Olwan. Olwan swore that Culwch had to win her as his bride.

The Dream of Rhonabwy

I want to use Kei as a character.

The Mabinogion was interesting for what it was. I enjoyed the classical prose much more however, but the characters of the Mabinogion will match more with my story.

Notes on The Mabinogion (C)

(Originally written September 13, 2009 in the Journal)

Notes on The Mabinogion

Math, Son of Mathonwy

Math was a lord of Northern Wales and used to rest his feet in virgin's laps except when he was at war. His virgin was named Goewin. Math had two nephews, Gilvaethwy and Gwydyon, who were sons of the goddess Don.

Gilvaethwy fell in love with Goewin and became sick in his love for her. When Gwydyon learned of this he devised a plan for Gilvaethwy to sleep with Goewin.

Gwydyon went to Math to get his permission to obtain Pyderi's pigs. Math gave his consent so Gwydyon headed south, disguised as a bard. After entertaining Pyderi, Gwydyon asked for a pig. Pyderi refused because he had sworn an oath not to give or sell a pig until the herd had doubled in size.

Gwydyon then devised a plan to transform objects into twelve horses with golden bits and saddles and twelve greyhounds to trade for the pigs. After council Pyderi accepted the offer. Gwydyon fled with the pigs and traveled from town to town, heading northwards. After a day the horses and greyhounds transformed back and Pyderi gave chase to Gwydyon. Gwydyon traveled slowly so that Pyderi could muster a large army so that Math would have to set out for war.

When Math gathered his forces and went to battle Gilvaethwy raped Goewin. When Math learned of this he made Goewin his wife to protect her honor. To punish Gilvaethwy and Gwydyon (he could not kill them as they were his sister's sons) he transformed them into deer, one male and one female. He gave them the nature of deer and told them to reproduce and come back one year later. They came back with a sow and were transformed into pigs and told to go out again. They came back with another son and were transformed into wolves and sent back out with the same task. They came back with a third son and were restored to their original state. Thus, Gilvaethwy and Gwydyon were punished for their crimes and gave birth to three sons; Bleiddwn, Hyddwn, and Hychdwn the Tall.

After they were restored Math asked them to advise him on choosing a new virgin. They offered Aranrhod, their sister, daughter of Don. Math asked Aronrhod if she was a virgin, to which she lied and said yes. Math tested her with his magic wand. A boy fell out of her and she ran away, but before she got out of the door another boy fell out.

Math named the first boy Dylan and had him baptized. He grew strong and became a master of the sea. He was killed by his uncle Govannon, the blacksmith of the gods.

Gwydyon found the other boy in a chest at the foot of his bed. The boy grew strong and tall. One day when he was four he went with Gwydyon to see Aranrhod, his mother. When Aronrhod learned that Gwydyon had saved the child and prolonged her shame she became enraged and cursed the child to be nameless until she gave him a name.

Gwydyon then made a ship out of seaweed with his magic and began to make shoes. He also had disguised himself and the boy. When Aronrhod learned that a cobbler of skill had landed on her shore she had herself measured and sent the measurements to have a shoe made. Gwydyon made a beautiful shoe that was too large. Aronrhod paid for it but asked for a smaller size. This time Gwydyon made it too small. Gwydyon then refused to make a shoe for her without measuring the foot himself.

Aranrhod went down to the ship to see the cobbler. When she came down the boy hit a wren and Aranrhod laughed saying, "God knows, the light haired one hit it with a skillful hand". Gwydyon agreed and cursed Aranrhod and revealed the deception because unwittingly Aranrhod had named the boy, Lleu (shining) Skillful Hand.

Aranrhod became angry and cursed the boy again stating the he shall have no weapons unless she herself armed him. Lleu and Gwydyon returned back to the estate of Math where Gwydyon taught Lleu how to become a skillful rider.

Gwydyon then took Lleu back to Aranrhod as they were both disguised as bards. They entertained Aranrhod and were given a room to sleep. When dawn was braking Gwydyon used his magic to make it seem as if Aranrhod's castle was being attacked. Aranrhod came to them for advise and Gwydon said to arm all the men. Gwydyon received help from two young girls while Aranrhod armed Lleu herself. Thus, Gwydyon had tricked Aranrhod yet again. Aranrhod cursed the boy, denying him a wife of this world.

When Lleu and Gwydyon returned to Math's estate Math and Gwydyon fashioned a wife for Lleu out of flowers and named her Blodeuedd. Lleu and Blodeuedd were married and Math gave Lleu the Contrev of Dinoding to lord over.

One day Lleu left Dinoding to visit Math when a hunting party passed by Lleu's fortress. When Blodeuedd learned that it was Goronwy, Lord of Penllyn she invited him in to stay for the night. Goronwy and Blodeuedd were overcome by passion for one another and slept together. They devised a plan to have Lleu tell Blodeuedd how he may die so that the two lovers could married.

When Lleu returned Blodeuedd enticed her husband to tell how he could be killed by proclaiming her worries over it. Lleu explained that he could only be killed by a spear crafted over a year's time and thrown at him while he was standing with one foot on the edge of a bath and one foot on a goat. After a year, Goronwy had crafted the spear.

Blodeuedd came to Lleu and tricked him into getting into the position he could be killed. Goronwy threw the spear and pierced Lleu in the side. Lleu transformed himself into an eagle and flew away. Goronwy took Blodeuedd as his wife and stole Lleu's lands.

Math and Gwydyon mourned the loss of Lleu and Gwydyon went out to search for him. He found an eagle being eaten by a pig so he transformed it back into Lleu's human form. Gwydyon took Lleu back to the castle where he recovered from his wound.

After healing Lleu sought out his revenge. He went after Goronwy while Gwydyon went after Blodeuedd. Gwydyon cursed Blodeuedd and turned her into an owl. Lleu refused any payment or bribe and took out his revenge on Goronwy. Lleu threw a spear at Goronwy and killed him, turning him into stone.

The four branches of the Mabinogi are Pwyll, Lord of Dyved; Branwen, Daughter of Llyr; Manawydan, Son of Llyr; and Math, son of Mathonwy.

The Dream of Maxen & Llud and Llevelys were fairly uneventful except for maybe the plagues in Llevelys. But, I should purchase Geoffrey's Historia.

Notes on The Mabinogion (B)

(Originally Written September 12, 2009 in the Journal)

Notes on The Mabinogion

Manawydan was grieved that his uncle had stolen the throne of England after Manawydan's brother Bran had died. Pryderi offered his friendship by offering his mother Rhiannon as wife for Manawydan.

Manawydan and Rhiannon were married. The newlyweds and Pryderi and his wife, Kigva went and set on a mound. A mist came over them and when it lifted the four were alone. They spent two years like this and then left for England.

They settled in Hereford and became saddle makers. Soons everyone bought their saddles from these four. The other saddle makers plotted to kill them so they set out for another city where they took up shield making. The same thing happened again and they went to another town where they took up shoemaking. They again became so successful that their lives became endangered. Then they returned home to Dyved.

In Dyved they went hunting again. On a hunt they spotted a white boar which ran into a strange fortress. Pryderi went after it to retrieve his dogs against the advice of Manawydan. In the fortress there was neither the boar nor his dogs but a marble fountain with a golden bowl. He walked up to it and touched it, becoming stuck to it and mute. After waiting Manawydan returned home and broke the news to Rhiannon. Rhiannon then went out to find her son. She entered the fortress and also became stuck to the fountain. A mist fell and the fortress disappeared.

Manawydan and Kigua, Pryderi's wife left for England where Manawydan took up shoemaking again. After a year's time Manawydan became so successful that all the other shoemakers became envious and plotted against his life. They left England to go back to Dyved but this time with wheat to plant.

Manawydan sowed three crofts of wheat. When it was time to harves the first two crofts appeared naked, only stalks. The third one Manawydan then guarded. A hoard of mice came upon the croft and made off with the wheat but Manawydan managed to catch one.

Manawydan set out to hang the mouse he had caught. A scholar came to the spot where Manawydan was to hang the mouse. This was the first person he had seen in Dyved in seven years other than his three companions, two of which were lost. The scholar attempted to buy the mouse to spare its life. Manawydan refused the offer. Then a priest came upon Manawydan. The priest tried to buy the mouse but was again rebuffed. Next a bishop came. The bishop offered to buy the mouse but was refused. Finally a deal was struck because the bishop was actually Llywd who was a friend to Wawl, who had been mistreated by Pwyll, the father of Pryderi. Eventually the mouse, who was actually Llywd's wife was released to Llywd in exchange for Pryderi and Rhiannon and no more mischief from Llywd.

Notes on the Mabinogion (A)

(Originally Written September 11, 2009 in the Journal)

I think it might have been a mistake to move from the language rich work of Virgil to a compiling of Welsh folklore in The Mabinogion. Jeffery Gantz, the translator, even mentions the rough around the edges stuff in the introduction. But, as it is mythology and of a pseudohistorical nature I'm sure I'll enjoy it - though maybe not as much as The Aeneid.

Pwyll Lord of Dyved

Further Reading for Comparison : The Wasting Sickness of Cu Chulaind

Pwyll, a king, is asked by Arawn, a king of the otherworld, to defeat another otherworld king in battle to secure friendship. He does so and forms an alliance.

Pwyll then meets a woman in a vision named Rhiannon. Rhiannon requests that Pwyll marry her so that she does not have to wed a man she does not wish to. During a feast Pwyll gives his word to Gwawl, son of Clud to grant him his wish. Unfortunately, Gwawl is the man Rhiannon is to marry and because of chivalry Pwyll agrees to the terms. Meanwhile Pwyll and Rhiannon devise a plan to trick Gwawl out of his marriage rite, which succeeds.

Pwyll and Rhiannon are married but produce no heir. Pwyll's friends call Pwyll to take another wife but he asks for one more year's time. Rhiannon bears a son within the year but the child mysteriously disappears. The maidens to Rhiannon devise a scheme to kill a foal and put it in the room and blame Rhiannon for killing her own son. Rhiannon is punished. Meanwhile, Teirnon, a former man of Pwyll, has a great horse. But every time the horse gives birth its foal disappears. This time Teirnon watches over the foal and a giant eagle claw comes and smothers it up.

Tiernon cuts off the claw and saves the foal. Tiernon then finds a boy and gives it to his wife. They name the boy Gwri Golden Hair. They raise him and he grows up to be supernaturally strong. One day Tiernon hears of the punishment of Rhiannon and looks at Gwri and realizes it is the son of his friend Pwyll. They take Gwri to Pwyll and Rhiannon where they rename him Pryderi. Pwyll dies and Pryderi becomes king and rules justly and expands the territory.

Branwen, Daughter of Llyr

Lord Mallolwch, King of Ireland, came to Wales to seek an alliance with Bran, King of the Island of the Mighty. Mallolwch sought the hand of Branwen, daughter of Llyr. Bran agreed and there was a feast.

Evnissyens, the brother of Branwen was outraged at his sister being married off without his permission so he disfigured Mallolwch's horses, thus insulting him. Mallolwch set out for vengeance but Bran appeased him with gifts, including a magic cauldron. This magic cauldron was a gift from a giant to Bran. When a man died he could be placed in the cauldron and boiled. The next day he would be alive again, but could not speak.

Mallolwch left with his bride for Ireland. She bore him a son named Gwern. After a year Mallolwch's men mocked him for the insult on the horses until he could take no more and disgraced Branwen, sister of Evnissyen. Branwen trained a bird to carry a letter to her other brother Bran, the king of the Island of the Mighty telling of her disgrace.

Bran armed his men and went to Ireland. Bran was a giant and laid across a river so his men could pass. When the Irish saw this they tried to appease the army.

The built Bran a house, which because of his size, he had never had a house big enough for him. In the house hid 200 Irish warriors, but Evnissyen squeezed their heads until they died. There was a feast where Gwern, son of Mallolwch and Branwen met Bran. Bran received the boy well, but Evnissyen through the boy in the fire.

A battle began and the Irish kept respawning every night until Evnissyen, saddened by the grief he caused sacrificed himself and destroyed the cauldron. At the end of the battle all the Irish had been killed except for five pregnant women. Only seven of the Island of the Mighty survived.

Bran, as he was dying, prophesied to his men, ordering them to cut off his head and bury it in London. When the men returned to England, Branwen died of a broken heart at the grief she had caused both islands. The men eventually came to London where they learned another king had taken rule. They buried the head of Bran and so long as it was buried there, there were no plagues in England.

The Avignon Papacy & Investiture Crises

(Originally written March 17, 2006 in 3 Subject Book)

European Religious History

Struggles between kings and popes

Investiture Contest/Controversies
-Henry IV of German vs. Pope Gregory VII

Kings vs. Popes

1) Over Investiture
John of England (1199-1216)
-lost Normandy to the French King, Philip Augustus (1204)
-excommunicated by Pope Innocent III over investiture controversy involving the Archbishop of Canterbury

2) Over Taxation of the Clergy
-Edward I of England (1290's)
-Philip IV (Philip the fair) of France (1285-1314) vs. Pope Boniface VIII (1294-1303)
  - Papal Bull, 1296: the laity cannot tax the clergy
  - Philip IV ignores the bull
  - Pope Boniface VIII backed down, kings now have to ask permission to tax the clergy

3) Over Courts
- Battle between Philip IV & Pope Boniface VIII
- Boniface VIII issued bull, Unam Sanctum
-Philip IV's response:
  -Used lawyers trained in Roman Law
  -Roman Law: king is sovereign in all matters in his territory
  -Philip IV planned to kidnap Boniface VIII and bring him to trial in France
  -Caused the Crisis of the 14th Century (The Avignon Papacy)

The Crisis of the 14th Century

The Avignon Papacy (1305-1378)
-"The Babylonian Captivity of the Church"
-Pope Clement V (1305-1314) through Pope Gregory XI (1370-1378)
-Pope Gregory died in Rome in 1378 bringing an end to the Avignon Papacy
-Led to the Great Schism (1378-1417)

Recovery in England & Germany

(Originally written February 24, 2006 in Book 24)

Class Notes

Recovery and Revival

Western Europe AD 1000 - 1200

Early Middle Ages (AD 500 - 1000)
-Decentralized Government
-Spain: Visigoths
-Gaul: Franks: The highpoint of Frankish kings is Charlemagne; A.D. 800
-Feudalistic government
-Feudalism is threatened by the Scandinavian tribes at the end of the reign of Charlemagne
-Scandinavian tribes convert similarly to the Germanic tribes
-Germanic kings worked hard to consolidate large "kingdoms" through feudalism. After generations of consolidating the Scandinavian invasion causes everyone to break ties to their lords and defend their lords and defend their own land. This causes further political instability and more decentralized of government.
-The Danes (Scandinavian) caused serious problems in Anglo-Saxon Britain. The Norsemen set up a strong kingdom in Normandy (Northern France). Britain suffers constant invasion from the Danes and Normans.
-The Scandinavians completely destroy the stability that Charlemagne created.

Political Recovery of England

End to invasion
-Norse/Viking

Alfred the Great of Wessex
- consolidating rule and fighting vikings 879-896
- brings scholars from the Carolingians

Edgar (959-975)
-Unified Anglo-Saxon monarchy
- Centralization of government, reestablishes stability by conquering the Vikings

Harold Bluetooth

Swein Forkbeard conquered England in 1014, son Cnut followed him in 1016

Last Anglo-Saxon king: Edward the Confessor

-William the Conquerer, a Norman conquered Britain in 1066

Political Recovery of Germany

Political recovery stems from an economic revival (which coincides with the miniature ice age lifting and important technological advancement)

End of Invasions
-Magnus (Hungarian)

Otto I
- Battle of Zechfeld, 955
- Supported missions to Scandinavia and Slavs
- Anskar, bishop of Bremen and Hamburg
- Strong alliance with bishops and abbots
- New bishoprics (diocese) along eastern border: gave bishops authority to collect revenues and call men to arms.
- Bishops in this area answered to the German king.

In 962 the Pope crowns Otto I as the first Holy Roman Emperor since Charlemagne.

Charlemagne's Empire Post-Death

Divided between Charles (France), Lothar, and Louis (Germany)

France expands westward, Germany eastward and squeeze out the Lothar Kingdom.