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28th August
Western Roman Emperor Magnus Maximus was executed on this day 388.
Magnus Maximus or Macsen Wledig as he was known to the Welsh was born in Gallaecia in modern day Portugal c.335. He first came to Britain in 368, as a junior officer, during the quelling of the Great Conspiracy, when the Roman garrison on Hadrian's Wall rebelled. He was assigned again to Britain in 380, as a general in the Roman Army stationed in Wales, probably Caernarfon and defeated an incursion of the Picts and Scots in 381.
As Roman control over the Western Empire began to break down in the late 4th century, Maximus was chosen by his men as Emperor of Britain & Gaul. Then in 383, he declared himself Western Emperor and stripped all of western and northern Britain of troops and senior administrators to consolidate his bid for imperial power. It is thought that before he left he took various steps to preserve the security of Britain, by organising the peaceful settlement of the Irish Deisi tribe to defend Dyfed and also organising Cunedda and his Votadini tribe from Yr Hen Gogledd (Southern Scotland) to deal with the aggressive Irish Uí Liatháin tribe in North Wales.
For a time, Maximus was recognized as Western Emperor by Theodosius the Eastern Emperor. However in 388, Theodosius campaigned against Maximus and defeated him in the Battle of the Save in modern day Croatia, forcing Maximus to retreat to Aquilea (at the head of the Adriatic), where he surrendered. Although he pleaded for mercy, Maximus was was executed. There is nothing to suggest that any Roman effort was made to regain control of the west or north after 383, and that year is considered the definitive end of the Roman era in Wales.
Traditionally Maximus is said to have been married to Elen, a daughter of the Romano-British ruler Octavius. She is also remembered for having Maximus build roads across the country so that the soldiers could more easily defend it, especially Sarn Helen, the great Roman road running from Caernarfon to south Wales, which is named after her.
We encounter Maximus and Elen's daughter, Sevira, on the Pillar of Eliseg (an early medieval inscribed stone nr Llangollen) which says she was married to Vortigern, king of the Britons, which would give Maximus the role of founding father for the royal dynasties of Powys and Gwent, whose kings would later use the authority of Magnus Maximus as the basis of their inherited political legitimacy.
Born this day 1913 in Cardiff
Hugh Cudlipp, who edited The Daily Mirror in the 50s and 60s, the period in which it sustained its position as one of the best-selling British newspapers. He was was knighted in 1973 and was described by Michael Grade, the then Chairman of the BBC as "one of the giants of British journalism and one of its greatest editors."
Born this day 1930 in Canning Town, London (both his parents were Welsh, from Nant y moel, Ogmore Valley)
Windsor Davies - actor, best known for playing the part of Battery Sergeant Major Williams in the sitcom " It Ain't Half Hot Mum" (1974–81), with his sreamed catchphrase "Shut Up!". He is also remembered for playing Mog in the classic Welsh film Grand Slam and for starring in two Carry on films, Carry on Behind (1975) and Carry on England (1976).
Davies returned to Nant Y Moel with his parents when the Second World War began in 1939, where he worked as a miner, a teacher and did national service in the British Army before deciding to become an actor. He had a surprise number one hit record in the UK in 1975 with "Whispering Grass", a duet with his " It Ain't Half Hot Mum" co-star Don Estelle.
On 28th August 1994, Sunday trading became legal in Wales and England for the first time.
Born on this day 1896 in Cardiff
Pauline Peters - actress , who appeared in over 32 films, during the silent movie era. Peters reached the peak of her career in the 1920s working with actor and director Walter Forde.