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<feed xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"><title>Attention Span History</title><link href="https://blog.trentpalmer.org/" rel="alternate"></link><link href="https://blog.trentpalmer.org/feeds/all.atom.xml" rel="self"></link><id>https://blog.trentpalmer.org/</id><updated>2021-12-09T00:00:00-08:00</updated><entry><title>Xmas</title><link href="https://blog.trentpalmer.org/xmas.html" rel="alternate"></link><published>2021-12-09T00:00:00-08:00</published><updated>2021-12-09T00:00:00-08:00</updated><author><name>Trent Palmer</name></author><id>tag:blog.trentpalmer.org,2021-12-09:/xmas.html</id><summary type="html"><p>Where does the word <strong>Xmas</strong> come from?</p>
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<p>Early Christians used many symbols such as the Chi Rho, the
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Ichthys, the Anchored Cross, and the Sator Square.</p>
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<h3>Chi Rho</h3>
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<p>The
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<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chi_Rho" target="_blank">Chi Rho</a>,
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<span style="font-weight:bold">&#x2627;</span>
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as explained in this
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUZdV7xL_Ds&amp;t=594s" target="_blank">YouTube Video</a>,
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is a symbol composed by overlaying Chi and Rho, the first two Greek …</p></summary><content type="html"><p>Where does the word <strong>Xmas</strong> come from?</p>
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<p>Early Christians used many symbols such as the Chi Rho, the
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Ichthys, the Anchored Cross, and the Sator Square.</p>
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<h3>Chi Rho</h3>
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<p>The
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<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chi_Rho" target="_blank">Chi Rho</a>,
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<span style="font-weight:bold">&#x2627;</span>
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as explained in this
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUZdV7xL_Ds&amp;t=594s" target="_blank">YouTube Video</a>,
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is a symbol composed by overlaying Chi and Rho, the first two Greek
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Letters in the word <em>Christ</em>. And well, it kind of looks like an
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<strong>X</strong> doesn't it? This is where the word <em>Xmas</em> comes from.</p>
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<h3>Anchored Cross</h3>
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<p>Early Christians also drew the
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<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anchored_cross" target="_blank">Anchored Cross</a>,
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<span style="font-weight:bold">&#x2693;</span>
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as explained in this
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUZdV7xL_Ds&amp;t=628s" target="_blank">YouTube Video</a>,
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because it contains a cross.</p>
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<h3>Ichthys</h3>
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<p>The
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<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ichthys" target="_blank">Ichthys <span style="font-weight:bold">&#x221D;</span></a>,
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otherwise known as <em>The Christian Fish Symbol</em>, as explained in this
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUZdV7xL_Ds&amp;t=544s" target="_blank">YouTube Video</a>,
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which early Christians used as a secret sign with which to identify
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each other, because Christ told several of his Disciples that
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he would make them <em>Fishers of Men</em>.</p>
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<h3>Sator Square</h3>
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<p>The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sator_Square" target="_blank">Sator Square</a>,
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as explained in this
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<a href="https://www.youtube/watch?v=qUZdV7xL_Ds&amp;t=203s" target="_blank">YouTube Video</a>,
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is a mysterious square of 5 Latin words which mirror each other forwards and backward,
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both vertically and horizontally.</p>
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<p>A translation, derived from the nominal translations of the individual words
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in the context of the <em>rotatability</em> of their arrangement, would
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presumable be something like <em>AS YE SOW, SO SHALL YE IN TURN REAP</em>.</p>
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<div style="font-family:monospace;font-size:2em;text-align:center">
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R&nbsp;&nbsp;O&nbsp;&nbsp;T&nbsp;&nbsp;A&nbsp;&nbsp;S</br>
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O&nbsp;&nbsp;P&nbsp;&nbsp;E&nbsp;&nbsp;R&nbsp;&nbsp;A</br>
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T&nbsp;&nbsp;E&nbsp;&nbsp;N&nbsp;&nbsp;E&nbsp;&nbsp;T</br>
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A&nbsp;&nbsp;R&nbsp;&nbsp;E&nbsp;&nbsp;P&nbsp;&nbsp;O</br>
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S&nbsp;&nbsp;A&nbsp;&nbsp;T&nbsp;&nbsp;O&nbsp;&nbsp;R</br></br>
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</div>
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<p>You can rearrange the letters into a cross contructed from the word
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<em>PATERNOSTER</em>, which translates to <em>Our Father</em>, decorated with the
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symbolic first and last letters of the Greek alphabet,
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<em>Alpha</em> and <em>Omega</em>, a title ascribed to God
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in Revelations, meaning <em>The Beginning And The End</em>.</p>
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<div style="font-family:monospace;font-size:2em;text-align:center">
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P</br>
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A</br>
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T</br>
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A&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;E&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;O</br>
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R</br>
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P&nbsp;A&nbsp;T&nbsp;E&nbsp;R&nbsp;N&nbsp;O&nbsp;S&nbsp;T&nbsp;E&nbsp;R</br>
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O</br>
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O&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;S&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A</br>
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T</br>
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E</br>
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R</br>
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</div>
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<h3>Recommended</h3>
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<p>I recommend watching the entire video because it is fantastic.</p>
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<div style="text-align:center">
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUZdV7xL_Ds" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">
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<img style="max-width:90vw;height:auto" src="https://img.youtube.com/vi/qUZdV7xL_Ds/0.jpg" alt="Christianity As An Artistic Force (Waldemar Januszczak Documentary) | Perspective"/>
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</a>
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</div>
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<p>In fact I recommend watching the entire playlist for the same reason.</p>
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<p>(You'll have to sign into to watch the video about Paul Rubens).</p>
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<div style="text-align:center">
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WByxidQTk9E&list=PL5JqSuIvtmAOZzE7Eq6Q4uyXgma2zEGj2" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">
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<img style="max-width:90vw;height:auto" src="https://img.youtube.com/vi/WByxidQTk9E/0.jpg" alt="Waldemar Januszczak Documentary | Perspective"/>
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</a>
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</div></content><category term="Christmas"></category><category term="Pompeii"></category><category term="Sator"></category><category term="Ichthys"></category><category term="Chi Rho"></category><category term="Anchored Cross"></category><category term="Symbolism"></category></entry><entry><title>Trebia Trasimene Cannae and Zama</title><link href="https://blog.trentpalmer.org/trebia-trasimene-cannae-and-zama.html" rel="alternate"></link><published>2021-10-18T00:00:00-07:00</published><updated>2021-10-18T00:00:00-07:00</updated><author><name>Trent Palmer</name></author><id>tag:blog.trentpalmer.org,2021-10-18:/trebia-trasimene-cannae-and-zama.html</id><summary type="html"><p>What are the four major Battles of the
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<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Punic_War" target="_blank">Second Punic War</a>?</p>
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<p>If you said, "Trebia, Trasimene, Cannae, and Zama", you are correct!</p>
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<h3>Prologue</h3>
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<p>In 218 BC, Carthaginian General Hannibal, with an army of 40,000
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and more than 30 war elephants, crossed the
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<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyrenees" target="_blank">Pyrenees Mountains</a>,
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then crossed the
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<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rh%C3%B4ne" target="_blank">Rhone River …</a></p></summary><content type="html"><p>What are the four major Battles of the
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<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Punic_War" target="_blank">Second Punic War</a>?</p>
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<p>If you said, "Trebia, Trasimene, Cannae, and Zama", you are correct!</p>
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<h3>Prologue</h3>
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<p>In 218 BC, Carthaginian General Hannibal, with an army of 40,000
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and more than 30 war elephants, crossed the
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<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyrenees" target="_blank">Pyrenees Mountains</a>,
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then crossed the
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<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rh%C3%B4ne" target="_blank">Rhone River</a>,
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and then crossed
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<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alps" target="_blank">The Alps</a> in winter,
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and invaded Northern Italy, otherwise known as
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<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cisalpine_Gaul" target="_blank">Cisalpine Gaul</a>.</p>
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<h3>Trebia River</h3>
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<p>In December, on a floodplain of the
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<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Trebia" target="_blank">Trebia River</a>,
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Hannibal decisively defeated a Roman Army led by
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<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiberius_Sempronius_Longus_(consul_218_BC)" target="_blank">Roman Consul Tiberius Sempronius Longus</a>.</p>
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<p>Hannibal's <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Numidian_cavalry" target="_blank">Numidian Cavalry</a>
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were instrumental in victory, and the Carthaginian Light Infantry out-flanked the Roman
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Infantry. But the battle was decided when a hidden Carthaginian unit ambushed the
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Roman Army from behind while they were engaged.</p>
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<h3>Lake Trasimene</h3>
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<p>In the Spring of 217 BC, Hannibal crossed the
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<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apennine_Mountains" target="_blank">Apennine Mountains</a>,
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marched for four days through the swamps near the mouth of the
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<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arno" target="_blank">Arno River</a>
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(which flows through modern Florence and Pisa), and ambushed a Roman Army which was led by
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<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaius_Flaminius_(consul_223_BC)" target="_blank">Roman Consul Gaius Flaminius</a>,
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as it marched along the shore of
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<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Lake_Trasimene" target="_blank">Lake Trasimene</a>.</p>
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<p>This was (and still is), the greatest ambush in human military history. And once again
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the Roman Army was wiped out.</p>
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<h3>Cannae</h3>
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<p>Rome scrambled to rebuild it's army, and once again on August 2 216 BC, met Hannibal at the
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<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Cannae" target="_blank">Battle of Cannae</a>. This time the
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Roman Army was led by both <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_consul" target="_blank">Consuls</a>:
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<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaius_Terentius_Varro" target="_blank">Gaius Terentius Varro</a>, and
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<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucius_Aemilius_Paullus_(consul_219_BC)" target="_blank">Lucius Aemilius Paullus</a>.</p>
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<p>Once again, Hannibal had more and better Cavalry.
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However the Carthaginian Army was outnumbered by the Roman Army nearly two to one. But
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through clever and deceptive battle-field deployment and maneuver, Hannibal's more-experienced infantry
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managed to completely surround the Roman Infantry, which consequently fell-in on itself, and unable to fight or maneuver,
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was almost completely wiped out.</p>
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<p>The Battle of Cannae was (and still is), one of the bloodiest days in human history with perhaps 50,000 - 70,000
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casualties in the span of just a few hours.</p>
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<h3>Zama</h3>
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<p>By waging war against <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carthage" target="_blank">Carthage</a>,
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Roman General
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<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scipio_Africanus" target="_blank">Publius Cornelius Scipio</a>
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compelled Hannibal to return with his Army to Africa, where the two met in 202 BC at the
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<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Zama" target="_blank">Battle of Zama</a>.</p>
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<p>This time Rome had the superior Cavalry as Numidia was now allied with Rome. Hannibal's 80 war
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elephants spooked and were inneffective.</p>
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<p>At first, the Carthaginian Cavalry attempted to lure the Roman Cavalry away from the Battle Field
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by fleeing. However, Hannibal's tactic of placing his veterans in the rear back-fired, because about the
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time that the first two lines of Carthaginian Infantry were wiped out and the third line was engaged,
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the Roman Cavalry returned to the Battle Field and rolled-up the Carthaginians from behind.</p>
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<p>Carthage was routed from the Battle Field and the fleeing troops were easily pursued and killed by the
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Roman Cavalry in the flat terrain. On the Ancient Battle Field, you were a winner ... until you were not.</p>
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<p>Hannibal would regret not having attacked the City of Rome following the Battle of Cannae.</p>
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<p>The Second Punic War earned for Rome the reputation of refusing to give up and refusing to accept defeat.</p></content><category term="Rome"></category><category term="Carthage"></category><category term="Hannibal"></category><category term="Elephants"></category></entry><entry><title>Hillbillies</title><link href="https://blog.trentpalmer.org/hillbillies.html" rel="alternate"></link><published>2021-09-01T00:00:00-07:00</published><updated>2021-09-01T00:00:00-07:00</updated><author><name>Trent Palmer</name></author><id>tag:blog.trentpalmer.org,2021-09-01:/hillbillies.html</id><summary type="html"><p><em><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hillbilly" target="_blank">Hillbillies</a></em>
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are so called because their
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<em><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulster_Scots_people" target="_blank">Ulster-Scots</a></em>
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Ancestors supported King William III during the Williamite War.</p>
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<h3>Ulster</h3>
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<p>You may be familiar with current events in Northern Ireland. This history goes back to
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a time when Scots from Southern Scotland and Northern England colonized
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<em><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulster" target="_blank">Ulster</a></em>
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which is Northern Ireland.</p>
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<h3>Scottish Marches …</h3></summary><content type="html"><p><em><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hillbilly" target="_blank">Hillbillies</a></em>
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are so called because their
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<em><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulster_Scots_people" target="_blank">Ulster-Scots</a></em>
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Ancestors supported King William III during the Williamite War.</p>
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<h3>Ulster</h3>
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<p>You may be familiar with current events in Northern Ireland. This history goes back to
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a time when Scots from Southern Scotland and Northern England colonized
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<em><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulster" target="_blank">Ulster</a></em>
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which is Northern Ireland.</p>
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<h3>Scottish Marches</h3>
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<p>But why did the Ulster-Scots migrate from the
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<em><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_Marches" target="_blank">Scottish Marches</a></em>
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to Northern Ireland?</p>
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<p>There is an oft-repeated scenario in Medievel Europe involving something called a
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<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_(territory)" target="_blank">March</a>.
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Please click through to the Wikipedia Article to see the long list of Marches
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all over Europe!</p>
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<p>To summarize, a March is a border region or frontier
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region where the Presiding Lord, often titled a
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<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marquess" target="_blank">Marquise</a>
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was allowed additional fortifications and military capability above and
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beyond that allowed ordinary Nobility.</p>
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<p>And so this oft-repeated scenario was that in a border region or March,
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the local Nobility would have the means to enrich themselves with repeated
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cross-border raids. But this unfortunately always came at the expense of
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the local population, thus the motivation to flee to Ulster.</p>
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<h3>King William III</h3>
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<p>So let's circle back.</p>
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<p>Hillbillies were so called because their
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Ulster-Scots Ancestors supported
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<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_III_of_England" target="_blank">King Billy</a>
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during the
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<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Williamite_War_in_Ireland" target="_blank">Williamite War</a>.</p>
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<p>Also known as <em>William of Orange</em>, he was installed
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as King of England during a coup known as the
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<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glorious_Revolution" target="_blank">Glorious Revolution</a>
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in 1688, in which
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<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glorious_Revolution" target="_blank">King James II</a> was deposed.</p>
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<h3>King James II (and VII)</h3>
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<p>So what was King James' problem?</p>
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<p>King James II was thown out of office because he
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was Catholic, because his second wife
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<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_of_Modena" target="_blank">Mary of Modena</a>
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was also Catholic, and because together they parented
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<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Francis_Edward_Stuart" target="_blank">James Francis Edward</a>
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and raised him as a Catholic.</p>
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<h3>Williamite War</h3>
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<p>Ok, let's circle back to the Williamite War in 1689.</p>
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<p>It turns out that while King James II was deposed as King of England, Ireland, and Scotland,
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he still had an armed force in Ireland with which he fought a war against, and
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was defeated by, King William III in Northern Ireland. This is when the Ulster-Scots
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became known as supporters of King Billy.</p>
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<h3>Anglo-Dutch Wars</h3>
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<p>But why was William of Orange installed as King?
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I am not going to answer this question.</p>
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<p>But it should be noted that William of Orange was also the ruler
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of Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and the Dutch Republic.
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And the context for this is that throughout the 17th Century,
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England and the Netherlands had been fighting a series of
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disastrous and expensive wars against
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each other known collectively as the
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<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglo-Dutch_Wars" target="_blank">Anglo-Dutch Wars</a>.</p>
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<p>Indeed it was just prior to the Second Anglo-Dutch War
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that New Amsterdam became New York.</p>
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<p>The purpose of the Anglo-Dutch Wars was to establish control
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of International Colonial Trade, but it was believed that
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having a single King and Ruler of both England and several
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countries in the Lowlands would create peace.</p>
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<h3>Principality of Orange</h3>
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<p>As an interesting aside, let's just point out that the
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<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Principality_of_Orange" target="_blank">Principality of Orange</a>
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came into existence in 1163 per Holy Roman Emperor
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<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_I,_Holy_Roman_Emperor" target="_blank">Frederick Barbarossa</a>
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in order to serve as a March in the context of his
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conflict with the Papacy.</p>
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<h3>Recommended</h3>
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<p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Born_Fighting" target="_blank">Born Fighting</a> is a
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Born-Fighting-Scots-Irish-Shaped-America/dp/0767916891" target="_blank">Book</a>
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written by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Webb" target="_blank">Senator James Webb</a>.</p>
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<p>While I have not read the book, the Television Series Born Fighting
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from the Smithsonian Channel is also narrated by Senator James Webb
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and is very fun and interesting to watch.</p></content><category term="Appalachia"></category><category term="Hillbillies"></category><category term="Ulster"></category><category term="Scots-Irish"></category><category term="King William III"></category></entry><entry><title>Veneti</title><link href="https://blog.trentpalmer.org/veneti.html" rel="alternate"></link><published>2021-08-07T00:00:00-07:00</published><updated>2021-08-07T00:00:00-07:00</updated><author><name>Trent Palmer</name></author><id>tag:blog.trentpalmer.org,2021-08-07:/veneti.html</id><summary type="html"><p>Who were the Veneti? This is not an easy question to answer.</p>
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<h3>Baltic Veneti</h3>
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<p>The <em><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vistula_Veneti" target="_blank">Vistula Veneti</a></em>
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were called <em><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wends" target="_blank">Wends</a></em>,
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by German-speaking people. But another theory is that <em>Veneti</em> is a diminutization
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of <em>venus</em>, as per Latin origins. And for further confusion, Slavs living
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near Germanic settlements were also called …</p></summary><content type="html"><p>Who were the Veneti? This is not an easy question to answer.</p>
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<h3>Baltic Veneti</h3>
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<p>The <em><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vistula_Veneti" target="_blank">Vistula Veneti</a></em>
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were called <em><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wends" target="_blank">Wends</a></em>,
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by German-speaking people. But another theory is that <em>Veneti</em> is a diminutization
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of <em>venus</em>, as per Latin origins. And for further confusion, Slavs living
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near Germanic settlements were also called <em>Wends</em>.</p>
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<p>The <em>Vistula Veneti</em> hailed from Eastern Poland.</p>
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<h3>Adriatic Veneti</h3>
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<p>The <em><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adriatic_Veneti" target="_blank">Adriatic Veneti</a></em>
|
|
lived in a region that we now identify as "the area around Venice".
|
|
Indeed, this area is known by the name
|
|
<em><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veneto" target="_blank">Veneto</a></em>,
|
|
or <em>Venetia</em>.</p>
|
|
<p>Strabo, the Greek historian, conjectures that the <em>Adriatic Veneti</em> are
|
|
related to the Veneti of Brittany.</p>
|
|
<h3>Breton Veneti</h3>
|
|
<p>The <em><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veneti_(Gaul)" target="_blank">Veneti</a></em>
|
|
of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brittany" target="_blank">Breton Peninsula</a>,
|
|
were a tribe of Gauls which were defeated by
|
|
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decimus_Junius_Brutus_Albinus" target="_blank">Julius Brunus Albinus</a>,
|
|
in a
|
|
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decimus_Junius_Brutus_Albinus#During_the_Wars" target="_blank">naval battle in 56 BC</a>,
|
|
as part of Julius
|
|
Caesar's campaign to pacify Gaul.</p>
|
|
<p>Part of the drama here was that the
|
|
Veneti were experienced in operating on the ocean, whereas the Romans
|
|
would have only ever known the waters of the Mediterranean Sea.
|
|
In particular, ships sailed by the Veneti were faster than the Roman ships.</p>
|
|
<h3>Recommended</h3>
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li><a href="https://play.acast.com/s/historyofgermany/040-wends-sorbs-andotherslavs" target="_blank">Wends, Sorbs, and Other Slavs - History of Germany Podcast 40</a></li>
|
|
<li><a href="https://www.dancarlin.com/product/hardcore-history-60-the-celtic-holocaust/" target="_blank">The Celtic Holocaust - Hardcore History 60</a></li>
|
|
<li><a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/10657" target="_blank">"De Bello Gallico" and Other Commentaries by Julius Caesar</a></li>
|
|
</ul></content><category term="Wends"></category><category term="Veneti"></category><category term="Brittany"></category><category term="Italy"></category></entry><entry><title>Guideschi You Guys</title><link href="https://blog.trentpalmer.org/guideschi-you-guys.html" rel="alternate"></link><published>2021-08-06T00:00:00-07:00</published><updated>2021-08-06T00:00:00-07:00</updated><author><name>Trent Palmer</name></author><id>tag:blog.trentpalmer.org,2021-08-06:/guideschi-you-guys.html</id><summary type="html"><p>"You Guys!" was an insult. But this expression was transformed into a term
|
|
of endearment, in America, by the working class. Because that is what the
|
|
working class do.</p>
|
|
<h3>Gunpowder Plot</h3>
|
|
<p>You are probably familiar with the
|
|
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gunpowder_Plot" target="_blank">Gunpowder Plot</a>,
|
|
in which <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Fawkes" target="_blank">Guy Fawkes</a>,
|
|
attempted to blow up Parliament on 5 …</p></summary><content type="html"><p>"You Guys!" was an insult. But this expression was transformed into a term
|
|
of endearment, in America, by the working class. Because that is what the
|
|
working class do.</p>
|
|
<h3>Gunpowder Plot</h3>
|
|
<p>You are probably familiar with the
|
|
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gunpowder_Plot" target="_blank">Gunpowder Plot</a>,
|
|
in which <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Fawkes" target="_blank">Guy Fawkes</a>,
|
|
attempted to blow up Parliament on 5 November 1605.</p>
|
|
<p>And thus, because Guy Fawkes was reviled for his crime, the expression "You Guys" emerged
|
|
as an insult.</p>
|
|
<h3>Norman Conquest</h3>
|
|
<p>But how did an Englishman come by the names "Guy", and "Fawkes"?
|
|
According to Wikipedia,
|
|
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fawkes" target="_blank">Fawkes is a name of Norman-French origin</a>.</p>
|
|
<p>Well now. It just so happens that the
|
|
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Conquest" target="_blank">Normans invaded and conquered England in 1066</a>,
|
|
an event from which the history of English Nobility ever since can be traced.</p>
|
|
<h3>Guy of Nantes</h3>
|
|
<p>And yet more than a half century before the Normans even
|
|
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normandy#Viking_period" target="_blank">settled in Normandy</a>,
|
|
which they would not do until the middle of the 9th Century,
|
|
(from where they would later sail across the English Channel and conquer England),
|
|
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_of_Nantes" target="_blank">Guy of Nantes</a>
|
|
was Count of Nantes, as of 778, which was of course the late 8th Century,
|
|
the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/County_of_Nantes" target="_blank">County of Nantes</a>
|
|
being located next door to what was not yet Normandy nor inhabited by Normans,
|
|
and Guy (of the Guideschi Family), not being Norman but Frankish of descent.</p>
|
|
<p>Well, that was awkward.</p>
|
|
<h3>Breton Peninsula Geography</h3>
|
|
<p>So who was Guy, who were the Guideschi, and why were they occupying a small principality
|
|
in between what are today Normandy and Brittany in the NorthWest corner of France?</p>
|
|
<p>If you will recall that Charlemagne became King of the Franks in 768, but he was never able
|
|
to conquer the
|
|
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brittany" target="_blank">Breton Peninsula</a>,
|
|
because the terrain was too rough. Thus he appointed
|
|
Guy's father <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roland" target="_blank">Roland</a> as
|
|
Count of Nantes, intending for the County of Nantes to be a buffer zone of containment
|
|
protecting the Carolingian Empire from the inhabitants of the Breton Peninsula, (who
|
|
could not be conquered on account of the rough terrain).</p>
|
|
<h3>Excile to Italy</h3>
|
|
<p>Anyway, one thing led to another. Guy's son
|
|
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lambert_I_of_Nantes" target="_blank">Lambert</a>
|
|
had a falling-out with Charlemagne's son
|
|
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_the_Pious" target="_blank">Louis the Pious</a>,
|
|
which resulted in the Guideschi Family being exciled to Italy.</p>
|
|
<p>And then in 834 Lambert was given the
|
|
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duchy_of_Spoleto" target="_blank">Duchy of Spoleto</a>,
|
|
even though he was exciled, and the Guideschis firmly ensconsed themselves in the
|
|
chaos and intrigue of what at that time passed for statecraft in Italy.</p>
|
|
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
|
|
<p>In conclusion I really have no idea where I was going with all this, but
|
|
thanks for reading all the way to the end, you guys!</p>
|
|
<p>Here's a
|
|
<a href="https://wittenbergtowestphaliapodcast.weebly.com/blog/episode-16-hey-guy" target="_blank">podcast about the Guideshi</a>.</p></content><category term="Insults"></category><category term="Guideschi"></category><category term="Brittany"></category><category term="Italy"></category></entry><entry><title>Lohengrin</title><link href="https://blog.trentpalmer.org/lohengrin.html" rel="alternate"></link><published>2021-07-29T00:00:00-07:00</published><updated>2021-07-29T00:00:00-07:00</updated><author><name>Trent Palmer</name></author><id>tag:blog.trentpalmer.org,2021-07-29:/lohengrin.html</id><summary type="html"><p>Have you heard of <a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/3NtcDdgDLlnptu72CWBxWM" target="_blank">Lohengrin</a>?
|
|
It is a German Opera written and composed by
|
|
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Wagner" target="_blank">Richard Wagner</a>
|
|
in 1850. I happen to think that German Opera is more
|
|
entertaining than Italian Opera, but enough about me.</p>
|
|
<h3>King Ludwig II</h3>
|
|
<p>Which brings me to
|
|
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludwig_II_of_Bavaria" target="_blank">King Ludwig II of Bavaria</a>.
|
|
If I understand …</p></summary><content type="html"><p>Have you heard of <a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/3NtcDdgDLlnptu72CWBxWM" target="_blank">Lohengrin</a>?
|
|
It is a German Opera written and composed by
|
|
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Wagner" target="_blank">Richard Wagner</a>
|
|
in 1850. I happen to think that German Opera is more
|
|
entertaining than Italian Opera, but enough about me.</p>
|
|
<h3>King Ludwig II</h3>
|
|
<p>Which brings me to
|
|
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludwig_II_of_Bavaria" target="_blank">King Ludwig II of Bavaria</a>.
|
|
If I understand correctly,
|
|
King Ludwig was very fond of Lohengrin, and built
|
|
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuschwanstein_Castle" target="_blank">Neuschwanstein Castle</a>
|
|
as a private world for himself where he could live alone in a fantasy
|
|
inspired by the
|
|
<em><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knight_of_the_Swan" target="_blank">Knight of the Swan Legend</a></em>,
|
|
on which Lohengrin is based.</p>
|
|
<p>But don't judge King Ludwig II too harshly: he was after all a cigar connoisseur,
|
|
drove a smoking-hot golden carriage, and Neuschwanstein Castle is
|
|
an excellent place to take selfies. You really should visit the
|
|
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marstallmuseum" target="_blank">Marstallmuseum</a>
|
|
at <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nymphenburg_Palace" target="_blank">Nymphenburg Palace in Munich</a> and see the
|
|
<a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:New_Dress_Coach_of_King_Ludwig_II.jpg" target="_blank">golden carriage</a>.</p>
|
|
<p>Needless to say, Lohengrin is quite different from the
|
|
<a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/2g12QZ0wXFoyOyDo8nUUsM" target="_blank">Strauss Operas</a>
|
|
that your great-great-great Grandmother used to listen to on
|
|
her smartphone in the bathtub.</p>
|
|
<h3>Lohengrin</h3>
|
|
<p>So what happens in Lohengrin?
|
|
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_the_Fowler" target="_blank">King Henry the Fowler</a>
|
|
fights the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hungarians" target="_blank">Magyars</a>.
|
|
This means we have to talk about the Magyars, King Henry's Son
|
|
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otto_I,_Holy_Roman_Emperor" target="_blank">King Otto I</a>,
|
|
the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Lechfeld" target="_blank">Battle of Augsburg</a>
|
|
which is sometimes called the Battle of Lechfeld,
|
|
and the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mongols" target="_blank">Mongols</a>!</p>
|
|
<h3>Magyars</h3>
|
|
<p>Ok, the Magyars are descended from a nomadic-steppe-people who settled on
|
|
the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Hungarian_Plain" target="_blank">Hungarian Plain</a>,
|
|
which is sometimes called the Carpathian Plain.</p>
|
|
<p>Unfortunately for them, the Hungarian Plain was not quite vast
|
|
enough to support a prosperous nomadic lifestyle. And so for some hundreds
|
|
of years, the Magyars raided and pillaged all over Europe. It should be noted that
|
|
Hungary considers 1896 to be the 1000th anniversary of the Magyars entering the Carpathian Plain,
|
|
and in that year many memorials, monuments, and museums were
|
|
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Budapest#19th_century" target="_blank">built in Budapest</a>.</p>
|
|
<p>As stated above, the Magyars came into conflict with King Henry the Fowler
|
|
who was the King of
|
|
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Francia" target="_blank">East Frankia</a>.
|
|
East Frankia evolved from the Eastern Parts of the
|
|
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carolingian_Empire">Carolingian Empire</a>
|
|
that was originally put together by
|
|
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlemagne" target="_blank">Charlemagne</a>.
|
|
Indeed, there is today a region of Bavaria called
|
|
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franconia" target="_blank">Franconia</a>, which has
|
|
<a href="https://www.vgn.de/en/tickets/all-day-ticket-plus/" target="_blank">excellent regional passenger trains</a>
|
|
connecting innumerable picturesque little cities and towns
|
|
which are perfect for taking <a href="https://photos.app.goo.gl/odqMdaJvpB528WaQ8" target="_blank">selfies</a>
|
|
and <a href="https://photos.app.goo.gl/vLCGa7c8xAqEJ15D8" target="_blank">drinking the local bier</a>.
|
|
But I digress.</p>
|
|
<h3>Battle of Lechfeld</h3>
|
|
<p>The Magyars were finally defeated by King Henry the Fowler's son King Otto I
|
|
near Augsburg in 955, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augsburg" target="_blank">Augsburg</a>
|
|
being an ancient city in Bavaria that goes all
|
|
the way back to the Roman Empire.</p>
|
|
<p>King Otto I of East Frankia was the greatest King since Charlemagne, and the
|
|
Battle of Lechfeld was equal in importance to the
|
|
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Hastings" target="_blank">Battle of Hastings in 1066</a>,
|
|
in the context of European History, but deeper analysis of that is above my
|
|
pay grade. (This is a free blog post)</p>
|
|
<h3>Recommended</h3>
|
|
<p>Anyway, the Magyars gave up their raiding, became Christianized, and adopted
|
|
a more agrarian lifestyle on the Hungarian Plain where they founded the Nation
|
|
of Hungary around the year 1000. In the 13th Century, the Mongols invaded Hungary,
|
|
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Mongol_invasion_of_Hungary" target="_blank">but were never able to advance beyond Hungary into Western Europe</a>.</p>
|
|
<p>For more riveting entertainment about the Mongols, I recommend Dan Carlin's Hardcore
|
|
History Podcast, in particular the subseries <em>Wrath of The Khans</em>.</p>
|
|
<p>Thanks for reading, I'm fresh out of cigars.</p></content><category term="Opera"></category><category term="Franks"></category><category term="Magyars"></category><category term="Mongols"></category></entry><entry><title>Battle In The Middle Ages</title><link href="https://blog.trentpalmer.org/battle-in-the-middle-ages.html" rel="alternate"></link><published>2021-07-27T00:00:00-07:00</published><updated>2021-07-27T00:00:00-07:00</updated><author><name>Trent Palmer</name></author><id>tag:blog.trentpalmer.org,2021-07-27:/battle-in-the-middle-ages.html</id><summary type="html"><p>There were three type of battles in Europe in the Middle Ages:</p>
|
|
<ol>
|
|
<li><a href="#raids">Raids</a></li>
|
|
<li><a href="#sieges">Sieges</a></li>
|
|
<li><a href="#field-battles">Field-Battles</a></li>
|
|
</ol>
|
|
<p>There were two types of soldiers in Europe in the Middle Ages:</p>
|
|
<ol>
|
|
<li>cavalry</li>
|
|
<li>and infantry.</li>
|
|
</ol>
|
|
<h3 id="raids">Raids</h3>
|
|
<p>Infantry tended to not be used in raids, because horses had
|
|
the advantage in speed and mobility.</p>
|
|
<h3 id="sieges">Sieges</h3>
|
|
<p>Cavalry …</p></summary><content type="html"><p>There were three type of battles in Europe in the Middle Ages:</p>
|
|
<ol>
|
|
<li><a href="#raids">Raids</a></li>
|
|
<li><a href="#sieges">Sieges</a></li>
|
|
<li><a href="#field-battles">Field-Battles</a></li>
|
|
</ol>
|
|
<p>There were two types of soldiers in Europe in the Middle Ages:</p>
|
|
<ol>
|
|
<li>cavalry</li>
|
|
<li>and infantry.</li>
|
|
</ol>
|
|
<h3 id="raids">Raids</h3>
|
|
<p>Infantry tended to not be used in raids, because horses had
|
|
the advantage in speed and mobility.</p>
|
|
<h3 id="sieges">Sieges</h3>
|
|
<p>Cavalry were not much use in sieges, but when infantry were not
|
|
available, the cavalry could obviously dismount.</p>
|
|
<p>Later in the Middle Ages, infantry began using CrossBows, which
|
|
were easy to use, and effective in sieges. And so, when infantry
|
|
were available for sieges, they would often use CrossBows, and
|
|
would often be Mercenaries.</p>
|
|
<h3 id="field-battles">Field-Battles</h3>
|
|
<p>In set-piece battles, cavalry and infantry could work together.</p>
|
|
<p>For instance cavalry could not charge infantry that were in tight formation
|
|
with spears. But cavalry were useful for attacking the enemy's flanks,
|
|
and for pursuit in the case of a rout. However, for economic reasons,
|
|
most field battles were fought between cavalry because it was too
|
|
expensive to muster both cavalry and infantry most of the time.</p>
|
|
<h3>Crusades</h3>
|
|
<p>The Crusades demonstrate that although most field battles in
|
|
Europe during the Middle Ages were fought between Cavalry, the warriors
|
|
of that age were capable of more sophisticated tactics.</p>
|
|
<p>Here it should be noted, that because lands to the East tended to
|
|
be more arid, the opponents fighting against the European Crusaders
|
|
were more skilled on horseback and with the bow and arrow. Eastern-style
|
|
fighting was much more cavalry-oriented.</p>
|
|
<p>What tipped the scale in favour of the Crusaders in certain battles
|
|
that they won, was the fact that the CrossBow could outrange the bow-and-arrow.</p>
|
|
<p>So, the Crusaders would line up infantry with edged-weapons in front,
|
|
behind them would be CrossBow Infantry, with Cavalry protecting the flanks.
|
|
The edged-weapon infantry would protect the CrossBowMen, who would shoot
|
|
over the top and protect the edged-weapon infantry from enemy harrassment.</p>
|
|
<h3>Recommended</h3>
|
|
<p>This blog post is inspired by
|
|
<a href="https://wittenbergtowestphaliapodcast.weebly.com/" target="_blank">Wittenberg To Westphalia Podcast</a>, specifically
|
|
<a href="https://wittenbergtowestphaliapodcast.weebly.com/blog/episode-38-warfare-in-the-middle-ages-part-1" target="_blank">Episode 38</a>,
|
|
<a href="https://wittenbergtowestphaliapodcast.weebly.com/blog/episode-39-what-is-war-baby-dont-hurt-me" target="_blank">Episode 39</a>, and
|
|
<a href="https://wittenbergtowestphaliapodcast.weebly.com/blog/episode-40-the-actual-war-bits" target="_blank">Episode 40</a>.</p></content><category term="Battle"></category><category term="CrossBow"></category><category term="Sieges"></category><category term="Raids"></category></entry></feed> |