THE VERY BEST OF BRITISH

BY PHILLIP E JONES

24 OF THE MOST NOTABLE AND INFLUENTIAL BRITONS WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THIS COUNTRY'S HISTORIC REPUTATION.

1. ALFRED THE GREAT 

WHEN HE DIED ON 25TH OCTOBER 899 KING ALFRED OF WESSEX LEFT BEHIND A LARGELY DIVIDED COUNTRY, WHICH WAS RULED OVER BY HIS ANGLO SAXON SUCCESSORS AND THE DANISH INVADERS WHO CONTROLLED LARGE SWATHES OF EASTERN AND NORTHERN ENGLAND COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE DANELAW.

THE YOUNGEST SON OF AETHELWULF THE ANGLO SAXON RULER OF WESSEX, ALFRED SUCCEEDED HIS OLDER BROTHER ETHELRED TO THE THRONE AT A TIME OF GREAT UPHEAVAL AND DIVISION, DURING WHICH THE REGIONS OF BRITAIN WERE BEING CONSTANTLY INFILTRATED AND CONQUERED BY DANISH INVADERS. HE WAS REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN BORN AT WANTAGE IN AROUND 848AD AND WAS SAID TO HAVE BEEN CROWNED AT WINCHESTER IN 871AD. 2 YEARS EARLIER HE WAS THOUGHT TO HAVE MARRIED EAHLSWITH, THE DAUGHTER OF ALDERMAN ETHELRED FROM GAINSBOROUGH, WHO WAS KNOWN TO HAVE OUTLIVED ALFRED BY SOME 5 YEARS OR SO, HAVING SPENT HER FINAL YEARS LIVING AS A NUN AT HYDE ABBEY.

TOGETHER, ALFRED AND EAHLSWITH WERE THOUGHT TO HAVE HAD 5 CHILDREN, EDWARD, ETHELWARD, ETHELFLAEDA, ETHELSWITHE AND ETHELGIVA. THEIR FIRST BORN AND ELDEST SON EDWARD, WOULD LATER SUCCEED HIS FATHER TO THE THRONE IN 899AD AND BECOME COMMONLY KNOWN AS EDWARD THE ELDER. THE SECOND OF ALFRED'S SONS WAS ETHELWARD WAS REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN BORN AROUND 880AD AND DIED ABOUT 922AD LEAVING BEHIND HIM 3 SONS. THE ELDEST DAUGHTER, ETHELFLAEDA (AETHELFLAEDA) WAS KNOWN TO HAVE MARRIED EARL ETHELRED OF MERCIA AND FOLLOWING HIS DEATH BECAME COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE "LADY OF THE MERCIANS". THE 4TH CHILD OF ALFRED, ETHELSWITHE, WAS THOUGHT TO HAVE MARRIED THE COUNT OF FLANDERS AND HER YOUNGER SISTER, THE 5TH AND FINAL LEGITIMATE CHILD OF THE GREAT KING, ETHELGIVA, WAS SAID TO HAVE TAKEN HOLY ORDERS AND BECAME THE ABBESS OF THE CONVENT AT SHAFTSBURY.

ACCORDING TO THE ANGLO SAXON CHRONICLES, KING ETHELRED OF WESSEX, SUCCEEDED HIS FATHER TO THE THRONE IN 866AD AND FOR THE NEXT 5 YEARS WERE SAID TO HAVE BEEN CONSTANTLY ENGAGED IN FIGHTING THE VIKING HORDES WHO WERE SAID TO HAVE ORIGINALLY LANDED IN EAST ANGLIA, QUICKLY SPREADING THROUGHOUT THE SURROUNDING COUNTRYSIDE AND TAKING MILITARY CONTROL OF LARGE SWATHES OF BRITAIN.

BRITISH OR ANGLO SAXON RESISTANCE TO THE VIKINGS WAS IRREGULAR AND WITHIN THE NEXT FEW YEARS LARGE SECTIONS OF EASTERN BRITAIN FELL UNDER THEIR CONTROL, INCLUDING THE LARGE POPULATION SETTLEMENTS LIKE NOTTINGHAM AND NOTABLY THE FORMER ROMAN FORTRESS AT YORK IN THE NORTH OF THE COUNTRY WHICH WOULD EVENTUALLY BECOME THEIR TRIBAL CAPITAL IN BRITAIN.

THE ONGOING MILITARY STRUGGLE BETWEEN THE RESIDENT ANGLO SAXON PEOPLE'S OF BRITAIN AND THE INVADING DANES WAS REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN AT ITS FIERCEST IN 871AD, WHEN THERE WAS AT LEAST 4 MAJOR ENGAGEMENTS BETWEEN THE 2 OPPOSING SIDES. THE FIRST WAS SAID TO HAVE BEEN AT READING, WHERE THE VIKING ARMY OBTAINED A VICTORY OVER ETHELRED'S TROOPS, BUT NOT A DECISIVE ONE. DAYS LATER, THE 2 SIDES MET AGAIN, THIS TIME AT ASHDOWN, WITH THE NATIVE FORCES REPORTEDLY TAKING THE FIELD AND LEAVING THOUSANDS DEAD ON EITHER SIDE.

SOME TWO WEEKS LATER A THIRD BATTLE WAS FOUGHT AND THIS TIME THE DANISH INVADERS WERE SAID TO HAVE REVERSED THEIR MISFORTUNE AT ASHDOWN AND FORCED THE ANGLO SAXON ARMY FROM THE FIELD. HOWEVER, RALLYING HIS REMAINING FORCES, ETHELRED WAS THOUGHT TO HAVE ENGAGED THE DANES ONCE AGAIN, THIS TIME AT MARDEN, WHERE ONCE AGAIN THE VIKING FORCE GAINED A VICTORY OVER THE ANGLO SAXONS AND FORCING THE REMNANTS OF ETHELRED'S ARMY TO WITHDRAW. THIS BATTLE IS THOUGHT TO HAVE BEEN KING ETHELRED'S FINAL MILITARY ENGAGEMENT AND AROUND THE END OF 871AD HE WAS REPORTED TO HAVE DIED, LEAVING HIS ENDANGERED KINGDOM IN THE HANDS OF HIS YOUNGER BROTHER, ALFRED.

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2. SIR ARTHUR WELLESLEY - THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON

BORN ON 29TH APRIL 1769 AT 24 UPPER MERRION STREET IN DUBLIN, ARTHUR WELLESLEY WAS THE 4TH SON OF GARRETT WELLESLEY, THE 1ST EARL OF MORNINGTON AND HIS WIFE ANNE, THE ELDEST DAUGHTER OF ARTHUR HILL, THE VISCOUNT DUGANNON. HE WAS REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN EDUCATED AT BROWN'S PREPARATORY SCHOOL IN CHELSEA AND LATER ATTENDED EATON, BUT WAS SAID TO HAVE BEEN WITHDRAWN IN 1781, FOLLOWING THE UNTIMELY DEATH OF HIS FATHER.

HIS MOTHER WAS REPORTED TO HAVE MOVED TO BRUSSELS, TAKING THE YOUNG ARTHUR WITH HER AND IN 1786 HE WAS SAID TO HAVE BEEN ENROLLED AT THE PIGNEROL MILITARY ACADEMY, WHERE HE WAS THOUGHT TO HAVE BEEN A RELATIVELY POOR STUDENT. (IT IS OFTEN NOTABLE, THAT A NUMBER OF LEADING MILITARY AND POLITICAL FIGURES HAVE APPEARED TO DISPLAY A VERY POOR APTITUDE OR APPETITE FOR REGULAR MAINSTREAM EDUCATION, YET ARE STILL GENERALLY REGARDED AS INDIVIDUALLY BRILLIANT INDIVIDUALS IN THEIR OWN RIGHT EG: WINSTON CHURCHILL

HIS TIME IN BRUSSELS WAS WELL SPENT, IN THAT HE DEVELOPED BOTH A WORKING KNOWLEDGE AND USE OF THE FRENCH LANGUAGE, SOMETHING THAT WOULD PROVE IMMENSELY USEFUL IN THE YEARS TO COME. HIS EARLY MILITARY CAREER SAW WELLESLEY ENLISTED AS AN ENSIGN WITH THE 73RD HIGHLAND REGIMENT IN 1787, BUT HE WAS THOUGHT TO HAVE TRANSFERRED FAIRLY QUICKLY TO THE 76TH HIGHLAND REGIMENT AS A LOWLY LIEUTENANT. THE FOLLOWING YEAR HE WAS SAID TO HAVE MOVED FOR A THIRD TIME, TO THE 41ST REGIMENT AND IN JULY OF THAT SAME YEAR TRANSFERRED ONCE AGAIN, THIS TIME TO THE 12TH LIGHT DRAGOONS.

SOME 2 YEARS OR SO LATER IN 1791, HE WAS REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN A MEMBER OF THE 58TH REGIMENT OF FOOT WHERE HE WAS EMPLOYED AS A COMPANY COMMANDER WITHIN THE REGIMENT. 12 MONTHS LATER HOWEVER, HE WAS SAID TO HAVE TRANSFERRED YET AGAIN, THIS TIME TO THE 18TH LIGHT DRAGOONS.

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3. FIELD MARSHAL BERNARD MONTGOMERY

4. BOUDICCA

THE ROMAN HISTORIAN DIO CASSIUS RECORDED THE ICENI QUEEN BOUDICCA AS BEING "HUGE OF FRAME, TERRIFYING IN ASPECT AND HARSH OF VOICE. A GREAT MASS OF FLAMING RED HAIR FELL DOWN TO HER KNEES AND SHE WORE A TWISTED GOLDEN TORC AROUND HER NECK. SHE WORE A TUNIC OF MANY COLOURS, OVER WHICH WAS A THICK MANTLE, FASTENED BY A BROOCH. AS SHE GRASPED A SPEAR IN HER HAND, SHE STRUCK FEAR INTO THE HEARTS OF ALL THOSE THAT SAW HER". IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED BY SOME SCHOLARS THAT BOUDICCA MAY WELL HAVE BEEN A MEMBER OF THE TRINOVANTES PEOPLE, ANOTHER NATIVE BRITISH TRIBE, WHO WOULD LATER SUPPORT THE BRITISH QUEENS REBELLION AGAINST THE ROMANS, ALTHOUGH THERE IS LITTLE DEFINITIVE EVIDENCE TO PROVE THIS THEORY EITHER WAY.

BOUDICCA WAS SAID TO HAVE BEEN THE WIFE AND QUEEN OF KING PRASUTAGUS, THE RULER OF THE NATIVE ICENI PEOPLE WHO LIVED IN WHAT IS NOW THE MODERN DAY NORFOLK AND SUFFOLK REGIONS OF BRITAIN. HISTORIANS HAVE SPECULATED THAT THEIR TRIBAL CAPITAL WAS LOCATED AT A PLACE CALLED "GALLOWS HILL" NEAR THETFORD IN NORFOLK AND HAS BEEN SUGGESTED AS A POSSIBLE SITE FOR THEIR CAPITAL, BECAUSE OF ITS CENTRALISED POSITION AND CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE MAIN TRADING ROUTES IN THE AREA, ESPECIALLY THOSE FROM THE SEA. THE ICENI WERE REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN A HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL AND PROSPEROUS PEOPLE, AS BOTH MERCHANTS AND HORSE TRADERS AND WERE KNOWN TO HAVE MINTED THEIR OWN CURRENCY, MUCH OF WHICH FEATURED THE HORSE AS A MOTIF. IN ADDITION TO BOTH BREEDING AND TRADING HORSES, IT HAS ALSO BEEN SUGGESTED THAT THEY MAY WELL HAVE RUSTLED HORSES FROM NEIGHBOURING TRIBES, POSSIBLY A COMMON PRACTICE AT THE TIME. THEY WERE ALSO THOUGHT TO HAVE BEEN SKILLED METAL WORKERS AND LEATHER MANUFACTURERS, TWO TRADES THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH THEIR MORE IMPORTANT EQUINE INTERESTS.

FOLLOWING THE ROMAN INVASION OF BRITAIN, WHICH WAS AUTHORISED BY THE EMPEROR CLAUDIUS, PRASUTAGUS WAS THOUGHT TO HAVE BECOME ONE OF THE FIRST "CLIENT RULER'S" UNDER THE NEW MILITARY ADMINISTRATION, A PRACTICE THE ROMANS HAD EMPLOYED THROUGHOUT MUCH OF THEIR VAST EMPIRE. BY ALLOWING NATIVE LEADERS TO REMAIN IN CHARGE OF THE DAY-TO-DAY RUNNING OF THEIR KINGDOMS REDUCED THE NEED FOR ROMAN MILITARY INVOLVEMENT WITHIN THAT PARTICULAR REGION, YET AT THE SAME TIME GUARANTEEING MUTUAL SECURITY, AS WELL AS PROVIDING REGULAR INCOME INTO THE IMPERIAL COFFERS BY WAY OF NATIVE TRIBUTE.

A PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT WITH THE ICENI WAS ALSO PREFERABLE, GIVEN THAT COLCHESTER, THE SCENE OF EMPEROR CLAUDIUS' TRIUMPHANT ENTRY INTO BRITAIN, LAY CLOSE TO THEIR TRIBAL HOMELANDS AND SO PEACEFUL RELATIONS WITH ALL OF THE NEIGHBOURING BRITISH TRIBES WOULD HAVE BEEN OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE IN THE EARLY YEARS OF THE INVASION. AROUND 47AD HOWEVER, ELEMENTS OF THE ICENI WERE REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN A MINOR UPRISING AGAINST THE ROMAN FORCES, FOLLOWING THE LEGIONARY COMMANDERS DECISION TO DISARM MANY OF THE NATIVE BRITISH TRIBES, FEARING THAT THEY REPRESENTED A POTENTIAL MILITARY THREAT TO THEIR OWN FORCES. THIS PARTICULAR REVOLT WAS SAID TO HAVE BEEN RELATIVELY SHORT LIVED HOWEVER AND NEITHER THE KING PRASUTAGUS OR HIS WIFE BOUDICCA WERE THOUGHT TO HAVE BEEN IMPLICATED IN THE REBELLION.

THE LATER, MUCH MORE SERIOUS UPRISING WHICH WAS LED BY BOUDICCA IN 60AD WAS THOUGHT TO HAVE HAD ITS ROOTS IN THE UNTIMELY AND HIGHLY SUSPICIOUS DEATH OF EMPEROR CLAUDIUS IN 54AD AND THE LATER SUCCESSION OF HIS STEPSON, THE EMPEROR NERO. UNLIKE HIS LATE STEP-FATHER, NERO HAD LITTLE INTEREST IN HIS NEW BRITISH PROVINCE AND THIS OVERT IMPERIAL INDIFFERENCE WAS IMMEDIATELY IDENTIFIED BY WELL PLACED SPECULATORS AND PROFITEERS WHO SOUGHT TO FINANCIALLY BENEFIT FROM NERO'S PERSONAL APATHY TOWARDS BRITAIN. A NEW MORE AGGRESSIVE APPROACH WAS EMPLOYED BY THE ROMAN FORCES IN BRITAIN, MUCH OF IT SUPPOSEDLY ORCHESTRATED BY THESE FINANCIERS AND SPECULATORS, WHICH RESULTED IN WIDESPREAD LAND SEIZURES THROUGHOUT THE PROVINCE AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF MASSIVE ROMAN BUILDING PROJECTS, OFTEN BY EMPLOYING THE NATIVE BRITONS AS LITTLE MORE THAN SLAVE LABOURERS.

ALLIED TO THIS WAS THE LARGE INFLUX OF ROMAN MERCHANTS, AGENTS, SPECULATORS AND MILITARY VETERANS WHO ARRIVED IN BRITAIN TO LAY CLAIM TO THEIR ENTITLEMENTS, OFTEN AT THE EXPENSE OF THE NATIVE PEOPLE'S. AT THE VITALLY IMPORTANT ROMAN SETTLEMENT OF COLCHESTER, ALL OF THESE INDIVIDUAL GRIEVANCES WERE COMMON, WITH THE BUILDING OF A HUGE TEMPLE DEDICATED TO THE EMPEROR CLAUDIUS AND LARGE SCALE LAND SEIZURES AND SETTLEMENT BY MILITARY VETERANS. THROUGHOUT MUCH OF MAINLAND BRITAIN, THIS NEW AGGRESSIVE AND ACQUISITIVE POLICY WAS EMPLOYED, OFTEN AT THE BEHEST OF A SMALL NUMBER OF WELL PLACED AND INFLUENTIAL FINANCIERS WHO EXPECTED THE LEGIONS OF ROME TO ENFORCE THEIR RIGHTS AND DEMANDS, WHICH THEY OFTEN DID IN THE MOST BRUTALLY EFFICIENT WAY. IN THE NORTH OF BRITAIN, AS WELL AS IN THE SOUTH, THE NATIVE TRIBES OF BRITAIN WERE PUSHED, PULLED AND BULLIED INTO SUBMISSION, UNTIL FINALLY THERE WAS A STRAW WHICH BROKE THE PROVERBIAL CAMEL'S BACK.

THE BREAKING POINT CAME IN 60AD AND WAS THOUGHT TO HAVE BEEN INITIATED BY THE DEATH OF KING PRASUTAGUS IN THAT SAME YEAR. DESPITE HAVING WILLED SUFFICIENT AMOUNTS OF TRIBUTE TO THE ROMAN AUTHORITIES AS PART OF HIS AGREEMENT AS A CLIENT RULER, ELEMENTS WITHIN THE ROMAN MILITARY ADMINISTRATION WERE SAID TO HAVE DECIDED TO SEIZE THE LATE KINGS ENTIRE KINGDOM, DESPITE NATIVE OPPOSITION. THE DECISION TO IMPOSE A "TAKE ALL" POLICY WAS THOUGHT TO HAVE BEEN BROUGHT ABOUT BY A NUMBER OF CONTRIBUTORY FACTORS, INCLUDING NO DOUBT THE PLOTTING AND PLANNING OF INFLUENTIAL ROMAN MERCHANTS, OFFICERS AND LOCAL ADMINISTRATORS. ANOTHER MAJOR FACTOR INVOLVED IN THE DECISION TO SEIZE THE ICENI LANDS WAS THE ROMAN ATTITUDE TOWARDS AND TREATMENT OF WOMEN. WITHIN THE ROMAN EMPIRE, WOMEN WERE GENERALLY REGARDED AS SECOND CLASS CITIZENS, PERHAPS MORE COMMONLY AS MERE CHATTELS AND WERE CERTAINLY NOT ACCORDED THE SAME INHERITANCE RIGHTS AS THEIR MALE COUNTERPARTS.

WITHIN THE NATIVE BRITISH SOCIETY OF THE TIME, THE OPPOSITE CASE APPLIED AND IT WAS THOUGHT THAT ON THE DEATH OF KING PRASUTAGUS HIS WIFE AND QUEEN, BOUDICCA, BECAME HIS SUCCESSOR, A SITUATION WHICH WAS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE TO BOTH THE ROMAN PSYCHE AND TRADITION. IT HAS ALSO BEEN SPECULATED THAT THE ABSENCE OF THE ROMAN MILITARY GOVERNOR, SUETONIUS PAULINUS, WHO WAS CAMPAIGNING AGAINST THE TRIBES OF NORTH WALES AND THEIR DRUIDIC RELIGIOUS LEADERS ON ANGLESEY, CONTRIBUTED TO THE GROWING CRISIS IN THE SOUTH EAST OF BRITAIN. WITH NO SUPERIOR OFFICERS ON HAND, THE MIDDLE RANKING OFFICERS WHO WERE THOUGHT TO BE IN THE PAY OF INFLUENTIAL MERCHANTS AND INVESTORS TOOK IT UPON THEMSELVES TO SEQUESTER AND SEIZE THE LANDS AND ASSETS OF THE ICENI NOBILITY, INCLUDING QUEEN BOUDICCA. NOT CONTENT WITH LAYING CLAIM TO HER LANDS AND PROPERTY, LEGEND RELATES THAT THE ICENI QUEEN WAS PUBLICLY BEATEN BY THE TROOPS THAT HAD COME TO SEIZE HER ESTATES AND HER DAUGHTERS SYMBOLICALLY RAPED. NOT SIMPLY AN ACT OF PUNISHMENT OR SEXUAL DEPRAVITY, THESE EVENTS WERE BOTH A PERSONAL HUMILIATION FOR THE WOMEN THEMSELVES BUT SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN AN EXPRESSION OF ROMAN DISDAIN FOR THE 3 WOMEN AND FOR THE NATIVE PEOPLE OF BRITAIN. IT WAS ALSO AN ACT THAT FINALLY CONVINCED MANY NATIVE BRITON'S THAT THERE WAS NO LIVING WITH THE ROMAN'S AND THAT THEY HAD LITTLE CHOICE BUT TO DRIVE THE FOREIGN LEGIONS OUT OF BRITAIN ONCE AND FOR ALL.              

BOUDICCA'S NAME IS THOUGHT TO DERIVE FROM A CELTIC WORD FOR "VICTORY" AND THE ROMAN HISTORIAN AND WRITER TACITUS WAS SAID TO HAVE BEEN THE FIRST SCHOLAR TO RECORD THE LIFE OF THE ICENI QUEEN, ALBEIT FROM A HEAVILY SKEWED AND VICTORIOUS ROMAN PERSPECTIVE. THE OTHER NOTED WRITER OF THE AGE WAS DIO CASSIUS WHOSE RECORDING OF EARLY EVENTS WERE KNOWN TO HAVE BEEN RE-WRITTEN IN THE 11TH CENTURY AND WERE OFTEN SUBJECT TO THESE LATER WRITERS PERSONAL INTERPRETATIONS OF HIS WRITINGS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHICH INVOLVED BRITAIN'S MOST FAMOUS IRON AGE QUEEN AND NOTED FREEDOM FIGHTER.

HAD BOUDICCA'S REVOLT BEEN SUCCESSFUL, THEN THE ROMAN OCCUPATION OF BRITAIN WOULD NO DOUBT HAVE BEEN LITTLE MORE THAN A FOOTNOTE IN THE HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY AND WOULD HAVE UNDOUBTEDLY LEFT US WITH A MUCH DIFFERENT NATION THAN THE ONE WE HAVE TODAY. UNFORTUNATELY, FOR BOTH BOUDICCA AND FOR BRITAIN HER REBELLION WAS ULTIMATELY AN UNSUCCESSFUL ONE AND IT WAS ONLY LARGELY THANKS TO THE LATER VICTORIANS THAT THIS EARLY ICENI QUEEN CAME BACK INTO THE WIDER PUBLIC CONSCIOUSNESS. IN 1902, A STATUE REPRESENTING BOUDICCA WAS ERECTED ON THE EMBANKMENT IN LONDON IMMORTALISING THE WARRIOR QUEEN WHO BECAME ADMIRED AND VENERATED SOME 1900 YEARS AFTER HER DEATH. DESIGNED BY THOMAS THORNYCROFT, THIS PARTICULAR REPRESENTATION OF BOUDICCA WAS THOUGHT TO HAVE BEEN USED AS THE FOUNDATION FOR THE IMAGE OF BRITANNIA WHICH WAS USED ON LATER BRITISH COINS.

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5. CARATACUS

ALONG WITH HIS BROTHER TOGODUMNUS, CARATACUS WAS A SON OF THE BRITISH KING CONUBELINUS WHO WAS REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN THE RULER OF THE CATUVELLAUNI PEOPLE, PRIOR TO THE ROMAN INVASION OF BRITAIN. ON THE DEATH OF THEIR FATHER THE TWO BROTHERS WERE SAID TO HAVE SUCCEEDED HIM, AN EVENT WHICH WAS SAID TO HAVE COINCIDED WITH THE ARRIVAL IN BRITAIN OF THE ROMAN LEGIONS ORDERED INTO THE COUNTRY BY THE EMPEROR CLAUDIUS.

UNLIKE OTHER TRIBAL LEADERS, CARATACUS AND HIS BROTHER WERE THOUGHT TO HAVE TOTALLY OPPOSED THE INVASION OF BRITAIN, POSSIBLY BECAUSE THIS NEW MILITARY FORCE REPRESENTED A THREAT TO THEIR OWN PLANS FOR EXPANSION WITHIN THE SOUTHERN REGIONS, OR POSSIBLY BECAUSE THEY HAD A GREATER INSIGHT INTO THE POTENTIAL THREAT THAT SUCH AN ARMY SIGNIFIED FOR BRITISH SOCIETY GENERALLY. IT SEEMS HIGHLY UNLIKELY THAT LEADERS SUCH AS CARATACUS AND TOGODUMNUS WOULD HAVE BEEN UNAWARE OF THE DANGERS POSED BY THIS NEW AND HIGHLY DISCIPLINED FORCE, IF AND WHEN THEY LANDED IN BRITAIN. ROME'S MILITARY CONQUEST OF WESTERN EUROPE AND THE SUPPRESSION OF ITS NATIVE PEOPLE'S WOULD NOT HAVE GONE UNNOTICED, SO IT IS PERHAPS LITTLE WONDER THAT THE TWO BROTHERS CHOSE TO OPPOSE THE LEGIONARY FORCES FROM THE OUTSET.

FOR NEARLY A DECADE FOLLOWING THE SUCCESSFUL LANDING OF AULUS PLAUTIUS AND HIS 4 LEGIONS IN 43AD, THE BROTHERS BECAME PIVOTAL FIGURES IN THE NATIVE RESISTANCE TO ROMAN OCCUPATION, WHICH WAS ONLY FINALLY ELIMINATED FOLLOWING THE CAPTURE OF CARATACUS BY THE LEGIONARY COMMANDER OSTORIUS SCAPULA IN 51AD.

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6. SIR DAVID STIRLING

REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN BORN ON 15TH NOVEMBER 1915 AT KIER HOUSE IN PERTHSHIRE, DAVID STIRLING, ALONG WITH JOCK LEWES AN AUSTRALIAN OFFICER SERVING WITH THE WELSH GUARDS, HAS BEEN CREDITED WITH FOUNDING THE BRITISH "SPECIAL AIR SERVICE" BRIGADE, A SMALL MOBILE STRIKE UNIT WHICH COULD WORK ALONGSIDE THE MUCH MORE CONVENTIONAL LONG RANGE DESERT GROUP DURING WORLD WAR II. MORE THAN 60 YEARS LATER, THE ETHOS OF THIS LEGENDARY REGIMENT "WHO DARES WINS" HAS BEEN COPIED BY A MULTITUDE OF NATIONS, BUT NEVER EQUALLED OR INDEED BETTERED AND THE BRIGADE REMAINS THE WORLD'S MOST PRE-EMINENT AND FAMOUS COUNTER TERRORISM MILITARY STRIKE FORCE. 

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7. SIR DONALD CAMPBELL

BORN ON 23RD MARCH 1921, DONALD WAS THE SON OF SIR MALCOLM CAMPBELL A WORLD SPEED RECORD HOLDER. LIKE HIS FATHER, THE YOUNG DONALD DEVELOPED A BURNING PASSION FOR FAST MOTOR VEHICLES, BOTH THOSE THAT TRAVELLED ON LAND AND WATER. HE IS PRINCIPALLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE BLUEBIRD CRAFT IN WHICH HE DIED ON CONISTON WATER ON 4TH JANUARY 1967 WHILST MAKING AN ATTEMPT ON THE WORLD WATER SPEED RECORD

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8. DOUGLAS BADER

BORN IN 1910, BADER WAS THE SON OF A 1ST WORLD WAR SOLDIER WHO DIED OF THE WOUNDS HE RECEIVED DURING THE GREAT CONFLICT. DOUGLAS BECAME A NOTED 2ND WORLD WAR FIGHTER PILOT, DESPITE HAVING LOST BOTH LEGS DURING A TRAINING FLIGHT ACCIDENT IN 1931. THE STORY OF HIS STRUGGLE TO PLAY AN ACTIVE PART IN THE DEFENCE OF BRITAIN, REGARDLESS OF HIS DISABILITIES, WAS TOLD IN THE INSPIRATIONAL FEATURE FILM "REACH FOR THE SKY" WITH BADER'S CHARACTER PLAYED BY THE LEADING BRITISH ACTOR KENNETH MORE.

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9. KING EDWARD I -  LONGSHANKS

THE SON OF THE ENGLISH MONARCH HENRY III, EDWARD BECAME KNOWN AS THE "HAMMER OF THE SCOTS" AND WAS THE ENGLISH KING RESPONSIBLE FOR THE EVENTUAL CAPTURE AND EXECUTION OF THE SCOTTISH FREEDOM FIGHTER WILLIAM WALLACE. DURING HIS REIGN HE ALSO UNDERTOOK THE MILITARY CAPTURE AND SUPPRESSION OF WALES AND IS BEST REMEMBERED IN THE PRINCIPALITY FOR THE RING OF ENGLISH CASTLES THAT HE ORDERED BUILT IN ORDER TO CONTROL ITS NATIVE PEOPLE'S.

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10. QUEEN ELIZABETH I

BORN ON 7TH SEPTEMBER 1533 AT THE ROYAL PALACE AT GREENWICH, HER MOTHER WAS THE ILL-FATED ANNE BOLEYN AND HER FATHER THE MUCH MARRIED AND HIGHLY TEMPERAMENTAL KING HENRY VIII. WITHIN 3 YEARS OF HER BIRTH THE YOUNG ELIZABETH HAD LOST HER MOTHER, WHO HAVING FAILED TO PRODUCE A MALE HEIR FOR THE ERRATIC HENRY WAS CONDEMNED ON A SERIES OF TRUMPED UP CHARGES, INCLUDING INCEST AND ADULTERY AND WAS EXECUTED AT THE TOWER OF LONDON IN MAY 1536. HER MOTHERS SUPPOSED WRONGDOING WOULD PLAGUE THE YOUNG PRINCESS THROUGHOUT HER EARLY LIFE AND THE LATER DISSOLUTION OF HENRY'S MARRIAGE TO ANNE, WOULD EFFECTIVELY MAKE ELIZABETH ILLEGITIMATE AND THEREFORE A BASTARD, WITH NO RIGHT OF INHERITANCE TO THE ENGLISH THRONE.

DESPITE THE LOSS OF HER MOTHER, HER IMPLICIT ILLEGITIMACY AND THE FACT THAT SHE WAS FEMALE, THE YOUNG ELIZABETH WAS GIVEN AN IMPRESSIVE EDUCATION, A FEATURE OF WEALTHY YOUNG WOMEN'S LIVES AT THE TIME. BY THE TIME SHE REACHED HER MAJORITY, THE PRINCESS ELIZABETH WAS REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN AN ACCOMPLISHED MUSICIAN, HORSEWOMAN AND ABLE TO SPEAK AT LEAST 5 LANGUAGES FLUENTLY. SHE WAS ALSO SAID TO HAVE ENJOYED A NUMBER OF OTHER OUTDOOR PURSUITS, INCLUDING HUNTING AND FALCONRY.

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11. ERNEST SHACKLETON

12. SIR FRANCIS DRAKE

13. FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE

14. HENRY V

15. ADMIRAL HORATIO NELSON

16. ISAMBARD KINGDOM BRUNEL

17. CAPTAIN JAMES COOK

18. OLIVER CROMWELL

OLIVER CROMWELL WAS BORN ON THE 25TH APRIL 1599 AT HUNTINGDON IN CAMBRIDGESHIRE AND WAS THE SON OF ROBERT AND ELIZABETH CROMWELL, MEMBERS OF A MINOR COUNTY FAMILY. HIS MOTHER WAS THOUGHT TO HAVE BEEN AGED 34 AT THE TIME OF OLIVER'S BIRTH, QUITE OLD FOR THE TIME AND WAS SAID TO HAVE LIVED UNTIL THE RIPE OLD AGE OF 89. SHE WAS THOUGHT TO HAVE BEEN A MEMBER OF A FAMILY CALLED STEWARD, ANOTHER MINOR COUNTY FAMILY, BUT IT WAS HIS FATHER, ROBERT, WHO HAD THE HIGHER SOCIAL STATUS, ORIGINATING FROM THE CROMWELL'S OF HITCHINBROOKE, WITH ROBERT BEING THE 2ND SON OF HENRY CROMWELL WHO WAS SAID TO HAVE BEEN KNIGHTED BY ELIZABETH I.

DESPITE THE FAMILY FORTUNE AND SOCIAL CONNECTIONS, ROBERT CROMWELL NEVER REALLY BENEFITED FINANCIALLY FROM HIS FATHERS ACHIEVEMENTS. HIS OLDER BROTHER, SIR OLIVER CROMWELL, WAS THOUGHT TO HAVE WASTED MUCH OF THE FAMILY FORTUNES, HAVING SQUANDERED THE BULK OF HIS INHERITANCE ON ENTERTAINING RANKS OF WASTRELS AND HANGERS-ON, UNTIL FINALLY HE WAS FORCED TO SELL THE FAMILY ESTATE AT HITCHINBROOKE.

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19. R J MITCHELL

BORN ON THE 20TH MAY 1895, REGINALD JOSEPH MITCHELL IS SYNONYMOUS WITH BUT OFTEN OVERSHADOWED BY HIS GREATEST AND MOST FAMOUS CREATION, THE SPITFIRE SINGLE FIGHTER AEROPLANE, WHICH BECAME SUCH AN ICONIC AND INTEGRAL PART OF BRITAIN'S MILITARY DEFENCES DURING WORLD WAR II.

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20. ROBERT FALCON SCOTT

21. T E LAWRENCE

22. SIR WALTER RALEIGH

23. WILLIAM WALLACE

24. WINSTON SPENCER CHURCHILL

ALTHOUGH MOST FAMOUSLY REMEMBERED AS BRITAIN'S GREATEST WARTIME LEADER, WHO LED THE NATION DURING ITS DARKEST TIMES AND FINEST HOUR, WINSTON SPENCER CHURCHILL HAD SPENT MOST OF HIS POLITICAL LIFE WORKING TOWARDS BECOMING THE PIVOTAL FIGURE IN THE BATTLE FOR OUR NATIONS FREEDOM.

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INFO FACT: TOP 5 BEER DRINKING NATIONS BASED ON PER PERSON PER YEAR; CZECH REPUBLIC (278 PINTS), IRISH REPUBLIC (265 PINTS), GERMANY (217 PINTS), AUSTRIA (188 PINTS), LUXEMBOURG (178 PINTS)
 

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