Ever wondered why the largest concentration of medieval fortifications in world...
General Discussions ( Anything Goes )
You are absoloutely correct. Wish someone would remind the pascifist bozos that run the National Eisteddfod of that.Gaz
Forum Activity for @gareth-williams
General Discussions ( Anything Goes )
You are absoloutely correct. Wish someone would remind the pascifist bozos that run the National Eisteddfod of that.Gaz
Ever wondered why the largest concentration of medieval fortifications in world...
General Discussions ( Anything Goes )
WAS HERE? Even the Holy land didnt even come close. For its area and size of population it was unbeleivable. Modern people with a little knowledge may think it might have been overkill. They'd be wrong. The Anglo Normans were nothing if not efficient with money and why would they waste so much money on these things. They were the super carriers or the space wars programme of their day.The combat indicators are all screaming at us 'bunch of lunatic, murdering savages'. You think the Yanks had trouble in Vietnam, the Russians in Afghanistan and now us.What happened to us?What turned a bunch of ruthless guerilla warrior race into pansies in ridicilous Druid costumes, where academics and poetry spoting songsters mince around shouting 'a oes heddwch?'I just dont want Yanks to get some impression of a tamed bunch of quaint ye oldie worldie race when we are so not.What happened is this in a nutshell DIVIDE AND RULE, the classic Celtic failing, ambition and envy among brother Princes, Norman shrewdness to exploit vanity. Then total oppression. Then after failed risings a fairly succesful one that failed to sustain, follow through and evolve.Then, hey presto, we get an Anglesey boy on the throne of England in 1485. Thats kind of like Obama getting in for African Americans if no one minds me using that analogy.Reformation, wanted by a Tudor saved the language, we ditched Rome easily, cos there was money to be made from church land reclaimation.
updated by @gareth-williams: 12/04/15 03:57:45PM
Research into aspects of Welshness throughout history
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Cheers Ceri.Heard of him , schoolboy textbook stories, betrayed and killed by John Lambe etc but would like to know more about his life and stuff.Gaz
Research into aspects of Welshness throughout history
General Discussions ( Anything Goes )
Time management is a massive issue in our lives I know, and this internet is a double edged sword.I'm vastly interested in Welsh mercenaries throughout the ages. I suppose I consider myself to be one in English pay. So far I have learnt loads from this site very quickly. Anyone know of any good books on this? Apparently the Welsh were as highly prced as the Swiss at one point in the carnages of inter state fighting in medieval Italy.I would also like to find out much more about the life and times of Cayo Evans, horse breeder, trainer, soldier, mercenary, jack the lad, scholar and patriot.Anyone out there share these interests and swap knowledge?
updated by @gareth-williams: 12/04/15 03:57:45PM
Hollywood and Owain Glyndwr?
Promoting Wales in the USA
A team of totally objective intergalactic alien observers got assigned to examine this planet.Their brief was to examine the:1. Cultural, racial and national identities based on their history2. The achievements and impacts of each particular grouping upon the modern day planet3. How the groupings perceive themselves and how others perceive them.Xaaang Moliver of the planet DO YOUROWN DOBBI has been assigned to the little heard of and quaint 'Welsh'He,she has summarised that there has to be some kind of conspiracy theory going on to do down this wee nation and ringing in he,she's mind is that old quote of Evelyn Waugh's. That throughout history nearly all of England's misfortunes can be traced back to the Welsh.Haha
Hollywood and Owain Glyndwr?
Promoting Wales in the USA
Ceri and I have thrown this idea about a lot. My personal view is that the Welsh have merged or blended into the background, quietly and industriously. Wheras the Scots and Irish are louder and brasher and had greater strength in numbers going across the big pond.It was a good film but I hated the Welsh stereotyped portrayal in 'The Molly Maguires' with the late great Rich Harris, and Frank Finley as the Uncle Tom foreman Welshman, three bags full sir to the mine owners. Elements of truth in it of course. We'd been exploited so much at home I suppose so this was a fresh start in a new land of opportunity, so if we cant beat the capitalist why not join them attitude must have prevailed. That and our non conformist attitude to work ethic and drink led us not to associate with the wild Irish. The mine owners saw us a soberer lot I guess. And Hollywood was later to punish us for this in that film.Anyways, back to OG. As a soldier who knows minor tactics, the man must stand as one of the top 10 generals in history. He had at his most powerful a battlegroup of no more than 2000 men to play his hand with but to economies of scale he played them as well as Alexander did at various points. So why the Hollywood shyness?Any script that involves English oppressing Micks or Jocks goes down great with their box offices across the water. The Taff bums on cine seats is not as big a dollar I guess. And Hollywood=Dollar not historical accuracy or integrity.POINT TO NOTE: At Wallaces defeat at Falkirk, 10,000 of Longshanks 12,000 infantry were Welsh! And up until the night before, a large part of that force were 50/50 as who to fight for. Longshanks shrewdly delivered 200 barrels of ale into the Welsh camp and as this was well before Calvin and the 'efengylwyr' of the 19th century, we got pissed and kicked some Scots ass in the morning!!!! HOORAY. HA, BLOOD, BEER, HAIRY SCOTTISH WOMEN. Longshanks understood the Welsh male psyche obviously.Gaz
