Pope Benedict XVI at 93

This seems to be the season for monarch’s birthdays, with the King of the Belgians turning 60 yesterday, the Queen of Denmark being 80 today and next week will see the 94th birthday of the Queen here, as well as today being the 93rd birthday of Pope Benedict XVI. 

As with the others any public or even private celebrations are curtailed by the restrictions consequent upon the pandemic and so Zenit in its feature about Pope Benedict looks back to its report on his 90th birthday and which can be seen here

In all four cases may I humbly offer my good wishes to and prayers for these four monarchs and servants of their people.

The Queen of Denmark at 80

Today is the 80th birthday of the very splendid Queen of Denmark. She is not only an exemplary monarch but also a talented artist with a degree in archaeology and robustly stands by her beliefs and habits.

As with yesterday’s birthday of the King of the Belgians I am copying and sharing the post from Royal Central about the Queen and her birthday:

Happy Birthday Queen Margrethe!

The Queen of Denmark turns 80   Margrethe II, Queen of Denmark, marks her 80th birthday on April 16th 2020. Royal Central has been celebrating and looking back at some of the milestone moments in her historic reign.   Touching tributes to 'dear Daisy' from Europe's royals   Find out just how much Margrethe means to her royal relatives as they share their birthday wishes. And there was music for this artistic queen - see how she reacted to a special serenade.

Portraits of a Queen   The Danish Royal Family has shared lots of new portraits to mark Queen Margrethe's special birthday. They've included touching personal links as well as historic images of a monarch and her heirs. They were all taken by Per Morten Abrahamsen - you can enjoy the birthday photos here.

Margrethe's grandchildren send sweet messages   They couldn't be with Margrethe because of the coronavirus pandemic but her grandchildren still celebrated in style. The Danish queen is a doting granny - enjoy our gallery of the family through the years.   Celebrating the Queen they call Daisy   From unexpected heir to hugely popular monarch, Margrethe's story continues to fascinate. Why not listen to our podcast about the Queen they call Daisy and read our special features on Margrethe.

The History of Gin and Tonic

Those who know me at all well can testify to my fondness for a “g and t”, or two or more. In the current ‘lockdown’ securing a reserve supply to have at home was a serious consideration, and happily facilitated by friends. Indeed I have been known to opine that gin and tonic is an argument for the existence of the Deity, It was not one of the proofs ( pun partly intended ) known to St Thomas Aquinas in that matter, but then that was the thirteenth century and gin and tonic did not appear until the nineteenth century. Much more than that I did not know of its history other than it being a legacy of Empire and a means of making quinine palatable in India. However everything you ever wanted to know or were afraid to ask about the history of gin and tonic is answered in an article in the latest copy of that splendid journal “Country Life”. It can be read at 

Curious Questions: Who invented the gin and tonic?

The King of the Belgians at 60

Today is the sixtieth birthday of the King  of the Belgians and to mark that I have copied todays posts from Royal Central:   The Most Unexpected King?   He's a popular and successful monarch but King Philippe was never expected to reign. Find out how this shy prince found himself on the path to a throne in our special features.   Philippe - a life in images   Born on April 15th 1960, Philippe Leopold Louis Marie has ruled Belgium since July 2013. Royal Central shares some of the best image of the kingthrough his life.

The Best Family Photos of Philippe and family   The king celebrated his birthday with a heartfelt message - read it here. There was a new photo, too, to add to the gorgeous collection shared to mark another big birthday in Belgium.

Philippe and Mathilde - a love story   Philippe made royal history when he married Mathilde in December 1999. The Belgian queen is credited with helping turn his reign into a resounding success as her popularity goes from strength to strength.   Elisabeth, heiress to the Belgian throne   Philippe is the first Belgian monarch to see a daughter become heir to the throne. And Princess Elisabeth's recent 18th birthday celebrationsunderlined the secure footing the king has put his monarchy on.

The Battle of Formigny 1450

On this day in 1450, 570 years ago, there was fought the battle of Formigny in lower Normandy. It was to be one of the last battles of the Hundred Years War and marked the virtual end of English rule in Normandy, which had crumbled under French attack over the preceding nine months. As a result it is one of those battles which the English have forgotten and which the French commemorate. Since 2017 the new commune of which it is part has been known as Formigny La Battaile...

There is a decent account of the background to the campaign and of the battle itself on Wikipedia, which has links to other relevant entries. There are also  pictures of the village today showing memorials to the battle and slain. The article can be viewed at Battle_of_Formigny.

As the account shows things did not start too badly for the English in their defensive position, and it was only when they ventured or were coaxed out that it turned disastrous for them with heavy casualties. Two months later Caen fell and two months after that the last English base of Cherbourg surrendered. English rule over the mainland Duchy of Normandy, held since 1417-19, was finally lost.

Travelling west along the road from Bayeux towards Carentan and Cherbourg in 1992 on an historical study holiday our coach came through Formigny and, realising where I was, I looked around to take in the surroundings. At one level it was just another attractive French village with a river crossing. At another it was a place  charged with past events which resonated through the history of that Anglo-French conflict and process of self-definition.

Interview with Cardinal Pell

A friend has forwarded to me this link to the first full interview given by Cardinal Pell since his conviction was quashed by the Australian High Court and he was released from prison.

The interviewer Andrew Bolt makes clear his position in his introduction - he says he is not Christian but is concerned with being just and with the truth. As he states the national broadcaster ABC, the Victoria police and the Victoria courts all have very serious questions to answer about their conduct in this case.

The interview can be seen in full at 

https://youtu.be/3OX2aUvG51I

Andrew Bolt in his questioning brings up many searching issues for the Australian public authorities that it woulld appear they should not merely reflect upon but actively investigate, as probably should powerful voices in the Vatican. 

Watching it I was struck by how measured Cardinal Pell was in all he said and the tolerant quiet dignity he brought to the whole interview. 

The Collar of the White Eagle of Poland

The Special Correspondent is assiduous in sharing online discoveries and sent me a link to an article about a definite proposal to reinstate the wearing by the President of the Polish Repubic, in his capacity as Grand Master of the Order, of the historic collar of the Order of the White Eagle. This was last done in 1939 by the then President. The Order was founded in 1705 by King Augustus II, was revived and survived under Russian rule for the Congress Kingdom of Poland, and was again re-established for the post-1918 Polish state in 1921. The Order existed, but was dormant under the post-1945 state, but bestowed by the government-in-exile, and is now once more seen as a symbol of the nation. 

The article, about what is referred to as the Jewel of the Commonwealth, i.e. the Conmonwealth of Poland-Lithuania established by the Union of Lublin in 1569, and which slightly irritatingly refers to the collar as a chain, can be viewed at:

https://www.thefirstnews.com/article/jewel-of-the-commonwealth-set-to-make-official-comeback-after-being-locked-away-for-over-80-years-11847

The detailed Wikipedia article in the Order, its history and insignia, and with illustrations and appropriate links, be seen at Order of the White Eagle (Poland)

All things considered it is a something of a wonder that the collar, made for the coronation of King Stanias II Augustus in 1764, ihas survived since the Third Partition and disappearance of the state in 1795. Most of the regalia, including the historic crown itself were destroyed in early nineteenth century Prussia, and the political upheavals of Poland in the nineteenth century and of all of central Europe in the twentieth century so often resulted in the destruction of symbols of the nation.

The use of the collar between 1921 and 1939 and its proposed use again are somewhat reminiscent of the French Presidency and the investing of an incoming President with the collar of the Legion of Honour - although in the case of M. Macron the Bonapartist insignia was hudgedctoo fragile to be remixed from its case and actually worn. Similarly in Brazil the President of the Republic is ex-officious head of the Order of the Southern Cross which can only be bestowed on foreigners: like the White Eagle it is a twentieth century revival of an Order of the monarchy.

In the case of all three countries it would, of course, be better to have a reigning monarch - but the experience of a truly elective monarchy in Poland from 1572 to 1795 should warn against that particular method of choosing a sovereign.

Quite coincidentally I found a fine display of Polish royal heraldry online the other day. The first arms are those of King Augustus II and King Augustus III, and by both by clicking on the Visit link and by scrolling down a rich array of heraldic art is to be found. The site can be accessed  here 

“Braveheart” Revisited

In my recent post about the Declaration of Arbroath I described the film “Braveheart” as being utterly appalling. I have said that consistently. I find from a post and the ensuing comments on Quora that I am far from alone in that view. 

In answer to the question  “Why do some English people have such a problem with the film Braveheart?” David  Wright wrote a reply tailored to the fact that Quora is pitched at people in the USA. His response is as follows:

“ Let me put it this way. I make a movie about the American Civil War, with General Lee as the hero and General Grant as the villain. Naturally, I will entitle it “Stonewall”

.

Lee lives in a tipi, with a totem pole and a birch-bark canoe outside. He is dressed as an Apache. He and his children are filthy and covered in warpaint, but his wife is spotless in a deerskin mini-skirt and eyeshadow. Grant dresses like George Washington and speaks with a Californian accent

Lee defeats Grant at Fredricksburg, which is fought on the Wyoming prairie. He has an affair with Grant’s 18-year-old wife and, in revenge, Grant invades the south and forces all southern brides to have sex with him before they are married.

Eventually, Lee is betrayed to Grant by General Jackson and spends the rest of his life in a northern prison.

That is about as accurate as “Braveheart”. What do you think Americans would think of it? “

 

A reader added the comment that “To add more historic “accuracy” Lee's troops should be wearing Aztec head dress and WW1 fatigues to combat.”

David Wright adds later on in the discussion that Mel Gibson is to history what Attila the Hun is to baby-sitting. Now that’s a comment to remember and adapt to circumstances.

Now if you are tempted to say “But it’s only a film!” think of its impact on some in the Scottish nationalist community and, in consequence, as an obvious example, their embarrassing willingness to daub themselves in blue and while body paint on pro-independence marches and demonstrations. Bad history in the cause of any form of nationalism is deeply dangerous, and too easily leads to bad politics and bad decisions. Oh sorry, that is a conclusion from History, not Hollywood.