Category: Military history

The Commons in the Wars of the Roses, 15th Century History, Medieval, Military history

John, Lord Clifford, ‘the butcher’ and the killing of Edmund, earl of Rutland, at the battle of Wakefield, 30 December 1460

In the 15th Century, the killing of rival faction leaders were commonplace, especially throughout the Wars of the Roses. However, as Dr Simon Payling from our Commons 1461-1504 project investigates, one Lancastrian commander in particular garnered a reputation for brutality, going above the limits of accepted violence… The Wars of the Roses, to state the obvious, were a series of battles, but they are equally … Continue reading John, Lord Clifford, ‘the butcher’ and the killing of Edmund, earl of Rutland, at the battle of Wakefield, 30 December 1460

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Georgian Elections Project, 18th Century history, 19th Century history, Elections, Factions, Local History, Military history, Parties, Social history

Election Chairing Ballads: The Songs and Music of Electoral Victory from Handel to ‘Things Can Only Get Better’

In today’s blog for the Georgian Elections Project, Dr Kendra Packham (Institute of English Studies, University of London and Newcastle University) tells us about her research on eighteenth-century election ballads, and finds in the forgotten election ‘chairing’ song points of comparison with the campaign for the 2024 UK general election. In the eighteenth century, when the ability and opportunity to vote was heavily restricted, songs … Continue reading Election Chairing Ballads: The Songs and Music of Electoral Victory from Handel to ‘Things Can Only Get Better’

History of Parliament
The First Elizabethan Age, 16th Century history, Military history, Tudor

A prisoner in the Lords: the curious case of William Grey, 13th Lord Grey of Wilton

The first Elizabethan Parliament (1559) famously witnessed the restoration of the royal supremacy and paved the way for the reintroduction of Protestantism. It also saw the House of Lords briefly become the main focus of parliamentary opposition to royal policy, a radical departure. However, this Parliament boasts another unusual feature, as Dr Andrew Thrush, the editor of our Elizabethan House of Lords section, explains… It … Continue reading A prisoner in the Lords: the curious case of William Grey, 13th Lord Grey of Wilton

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Georgian Lords, 18th Century history, Factions, Georgian, Legal history, Military history, Parties, Slavery, Social history

The earl of Abingdon and the treatment of American prisoners of war

In the latest post for the Georgian Lords, Dr Robin Eagles highlights the career of one of the House’s more eccentric orators: Willoughby Bertie, 4th earl of Abingdon: musician, breeder of champion race-horses and radical politician concerned about corruption at the top and the treatment of prisoners. The 4th earl of Abingdon, is probably best known as one of the 18th century’s more talented amateur … Continue reading The earl of Abingdon and the treatment of American prisoners of war

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Georgian Lords, 18th Century history, Factions, Georgian, Local History, Military history, Social history

Loud enough to wake the dead? Fireworks and celebration in the mid-18th century

With Guy Fawkes night almost upon us, we can expect to see and hear fireworks going off all across the country. A previous blog showed how throughout the late 17th century, fireworks and bonfires were used to mark the momentous events of the Glorious Revolution and William III’s wars with France. [Making ‘night like day’] As Dr Charles Littleton shows, that tradition continued into the … Continue reading Loud enough to wake the dead? Fireworks and celebration in the mid-18th century

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Commons in the Civil Wars, 17th Century history, Military history, Stuart

Changing sides: ‘turncoats’ in the English Civil Wars

Throughout the English Civil Wars, it was common for people to switch sides between Parliamentarians and Royalists; these people earned the nickname ‘turncoat’. Dr Patrick Little from our Lords 1640-1660 project explores two obscure figures in the Civil Wars and why they became turncoats. The English Civil War divided communities along religious and political lines. But those divisions did not always extend to social networks, the … Continue reading Changing sides: ‘turncoats’ in the English Civil Wars

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Georgian Lords, 18th Century history, Buildings and Architecture, Legal history, Military history, Scottish History

“Take care, or you will break my shins with this damned axe”: The trials of Lords Balmerino, Cromartie and Kilmarnock (Summer 1746)

The summer is normally a period for Parliament to go into recess, and for MPs and members of the Lords to take some time off. On extraordinary occasions, though, Parliament has been known to sit through the summer. As Dr Robin Eagles explains, this was true of 1746 as the government got on with the task of mopping up after the ‘45. Charles Edward Stuart … Continue reading “Take care, or you will break my shins with this damned axe”: The trials of Lords Balmerino, Cromartie and Kilmarnock (Summer 1746)

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The Commons in the Wars of the Roses, 15th Century History, Henry VI, Local History, Medieval, Military history

‘No deed of shame so foul’: the treachery of Edmund, Lord Grey of Ruthin, and the battle of Northampton, 10 July 1460

On 10 July 1460 the Battle of Northampton was fought. This was a major battle in the Wars of the Roses and saw the Yorkist army reverse their previous misfortune. Simon Payling from our Commons 1461-1504 project discusses this dramatic battle. The ‘Wars of the Roses’ were notable for their striking reversals of fortune, but perhaps none was so extreme as that which occurred between the rout of … Continue reading ‘No deed of shame so foul’: the treachery of Edmund, Lord Grey of Ruthin, and the battle of Northampton, 10 July 1460

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Georgian Lords, 18th Century history, Art, Fashion and Material Culture, Local History, Military history

Hogarth in Derby

From 10 March to 4 June 2023 Derby Museum and Art Gallery hosted an exhibition Hogarth’s Britons. Succession, Patriotism and the Jacobite Rebellion. Dr Stuart Handley reports back on a rich exhibition detailing Derby’s connexion to a pivotal moment in 18th-century British history. Derby has many claims to be a quintessential 18th-century town – at least when it comes to History. It claims the first … Continue reading Hogarth in Derby

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Modern, 20th century history, David Lloyd George, Military history, Welsh History

A War for ‘Small Nations’: Wales and Empire from the Boer War to the Great War, 1899-1918

In today’s blog we hear from Robert Crosby, formerly of the London School of Economics, winner of the History of Parliament Undergraduate Dissertation Competition 2022. Here Robert has adapted his winning essay, exploring how those in Wales viewed themselves and their position in the British Empire during the early 20th century. The History of Parliament’s 2023 Undergraduate Dissertation Competition is open for entries until 29 September. Find all the … Continue reading A War for ‘Small Nations’: Wales and Empire from the Boer War to the Great War, 1899-1918

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