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Bosworth Blind?
Today was the anniversary of the Battle of Bosworth ( August 22nd ). I waited all day for some reference on the web. I checked the usual suspects; Welsh groups on FB, Welsh political blogs etc. But...not a single mention.
This is perhaps hardly surprising. There are more topical issues and Bosworth's place in Welsh history and national consciousness has always been slightly problematic. Ever since , and indeed before, the Armes Prydain and Geoffrey's History of the Kings of Britain ( a reference work unrivalled for its authority and accuracy until the advent of the Wikipedia ) the Welsh had been waiting for a Mab Darogan/Son of Prophecy who would unite the tribes of Britain to defeat the Saxon invaders and drive them from the land. After a few glorious but spectacular failures ( Owain Lawgoch, Owain Glyndwr ) Henry VII put in a bid for the title.
He was born in Pembroke Castle and had a Welsh speaking nanny so he may well have understood a few words of the language. He began his quest to claim the English throne from Richard III by landing at Mill Bay, Pembrokeshire on Sunday 7th August 1485. The rest as they say, is history. You can follow the plot in outline from the text in the picture below.
It is of course a supreme historical irony that this 'Mab Darogan' went on to found the Tudor dynasty whose major contributions to Welsh autonomy and independence were the Acts of Union of 1535 and 1542.
Anyway I just wanted in closing to draw your attention to an artefact ( see below ) which was gifted to me some years ago and, apparently, purchased in an antique/gift shop in Tenby. It hangs on a wall and gathers dust behind me in my study. I thought today would be a good day to give it an airing.
( For a most eloquent discussion of Bosworth and it's place in Welsh history and consciousness the following poem by R.S. Thomas is highly recommended:- A Welshman At St James' Park )
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Click to Enlarge
Apparently, Richard III has just been found under a Leicester council car park. Poor sod, he's not pleased, he was only looking for the ticket machine! They're going to do tests on the remains. The site used to be a monastery which, of course, was destroyed by Henry VIII during the Reformation.
Naaah, what I meant was that because Henry Tudor won the Battle of Bosworth, he set in train a series of events which would bring us, eventually, Elizabeth I. Didn't make myself clear so I'll give myself a smack on the hand. Not that I have anything against Henry VIII - he had his good points and he did free us from the Pope (if for the wrong reasons) but his very astute brain was too often in his codpiece. It's a pity that Richard III's reputation is so coloured by Shakespeare's (brilliant) play; although I've seen documentaries about him, I don't feel that I know more about him.
@SJ Indeed...how could they !!
@Gaynor Ahhhh the Tudors...still controversial after all these years. last time I said something favourable about Henry VII on here I was immediately accosted by Richard III fans
Because of Henry VII we got Elizabeth I, one of our greatest monarchs (and she had the Bible printed in Welsh!).