October 31st - November 6th
“Time to celebrate both Halloween and Bonfire Night in the same week....”
On 31st October…
Richard II marries 6-year old Isabella of Valois for political alliance
1396 - King Richard II married Isabella of Valois. He was 29 years old, and she was only 6 years. Their marriage was made for a political alliance with France and King Richard treated Isabella as if she was his daughter. He died four years later leaving Isabella a widow at the age of 10 years.
Halloween
Halloween - Halloween began in the Celtic festival of Samhain in ancient Britain and Ireland. It was considered to be the last day of the year, the end of the harvest season and the beginning of the dark winter months. It was the time of year when doorways between this world and the Other-world or Afterlife were at their thinnest. It was when the souls of people who had died were believed to return to visit their homes, and the souls of those who had died during the year were able to journey to the other world. To celebrate the festival people lit huge bonfires and brought harvest foods and sacrificed animals to share in a communal feast. They would then use the bonfire to light their home fires for the winter and to frighten away any evil spirits. They often wore animal heads and skins at the festival, some people say this was to avoid being recognised by the ghosts. When Christianity came to Britain the day became known as All Hallow’s Eve which in turn became Halloween.
On 1st November…
Shakespeare’s plays premiere 7 years apart
On this day, seven years apart, two of William Shakespeare’s plays were first shown at the Royal Banqueting House in Whitehall, London, to an audience which included King James VI (of Scotland) & I (of England).
1604 - Othello was performed. It is a play about an African General who is duped into believing his Italian wife is betraying him. Eventually Othello kills his wife and then commits suicide when he finds out that she was faithful the entire time.
1611 - The Tempest was shown. It is a play about a storm, an island, a shipwreck and magic.
1762 - Spencer Perceval, the only British Prime Minister to be assassinated, was born in London.
1848 - W.H. Smith opened the first ever travel retail store when his railway bookstall began trading in Euston Station, London. He already had a newspaper shop in Grosvenor Street, London, which he had taken over from his parents in 1828.
1887 - The British artist L.S. Lowry was born in Greater Manchester, England. He is famous for painting industrial scenes with thin, matchstick looking people.
On 2nd November…
Edward V is born in Westminster Abbey
1470 - King Edward V of England was born in the safety of Westminster Abbey whilst he dad was seeking sanctuary abroad. He was the son of King Edward IV and at the age of 12 years was declared king on the death of his father, King Edward IV. Edward V reigned for just over two months before Parliament declared him an illegitimate son and therefore not eligible to be king. His uncle Richard was proclaimed King Richard III and Edward was sent to the Tower of London with his brother for safety. The two boys disappeared shortly afterwards, possibly murdered and their story has become known as the Princes in the Tower.
On 3rd November…
Henry VIII becomes Head of the Church of England
1534 - The first Act of Supremacy was passed by English Parliament. This meant that King Henry VIII and all subsequent monarchs of England became Head of the Church of England. The Act confirmed King Henry VIII was now Head of the Church in England and that the Pope no longer held authority
1957 - The Soviet Union (now Russia) launched the first animal in space. Laika, the dog was aboard the spacecraft Sputnik 2. Unfortunately, no provisions had been put into place for Laika’s return to Earth and the dog died in space. The spacecraft finally re-entered Earth’s atmosphere the following April but burned up when re-entering.
On 4th November…
Cardinal Wolsey arrested for treason
1529 - Cardinal Thomas Wolsey was arrested on charges of treason against King Henry VIII. He was a once trusted minister of Henry who worked closely by his side. His downfall can be blamed partly upon his inability to get the Pope to grant Henry a divorce from Catherine of Aragon. Thomas Wolsey died on his way to London to face his trial.
On 5th November…
Guy Fawkes is arrested
1605 - Guy Fawkes was arrested for his part in the Gunpowder Plot after barrels of gunpowder camouflaged with coal were discovered under the Houses of Parliament. The Plot aimed to blow up the Protestant Parliament along with King James VI & I and replace both Government and the king with Catholics.
Today we remember this episode of history with Bonfire Night or Guy Fawkes Night celebrated on 5th November with bonfires, fireworks and sparklers. Sometimes a dummy called a ‘Guy’ is burnt on the bonfire representing Guy Fawkes. Ever since the Gunpowder Plot, whenever a king or queen visits Parliament, royal guards search beneath the Houses of Parliament just in case there are any plotters or explosives lurking in the cellars.
The Glorious Revolution
1688 - The Glorious Revolution began when Prince William of Orange and his army landed near Torquay in the south of England. This was when he and his wife Mary had been invited by English Parliament to overthrow King James VII & II and take the throne of England. Parliament was unhappy with the king and his reign.
It was called the Glorious Revolution because it was done peacefully and without a drop of blood being spilt.
On 6th November…
Coronation of King Henry VI
1429 - King Henry VI was crowned King of England at Westminster Abbey. He had been king since the age of nine months when his father Henry V died in 1422. The later years of his reign were marred by the Wars of the Roses and battles with House York over the right to the throne. Henry VI was deposed in 1461 but restored to the throne again for a very short time in 1470 before being replaced again by King Edward IV.