What Are You Reading? Part Deux

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Edward John

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Robin Hood is an interesting example. There was, for a fact, a lot of "free men" that lived as robbers in that time so a figure like him can very well have existed but the tales are of course over the top. The oldest source where he is mentioned before all the romance was put in (Marion) then its just him and Little John as leaders for a band of Free men angry at the evil King. And that evil King was Edward, not John. Sadly it does not say which edward. So i think it is possible that a kind of proto-Robin Hood existed in that time but the stories are then exxagerated and later they planted them in King John And King Richard I time. The time of the Edwards was a time of high taxation because of all the wars they fought. This drove many from their homes to a life as robbers, especially during the weak Edward II that was despised by his people. The other Edwards you complained about the taxes but you respected them as Kings (at least in England, i'm sure Scotland had a very different view of it since many of the wars was against Scotland). So i'm inclined to believe (since i am of the opinion that many legends has a basis in fact) a proto Robin Hood existed in the time of Edward II and then the myth grow from there, a romantic interest was added (Marion) a big Foe (Sheriff of Nottingham) and other characters was introduced and the setting changed to a suitable chivalric era. A typical case of mythbuilding from a rather small but still factual basis.
There are actually rumours that Robin Hood was based on William Wallace. Jack Whyte wrote a book on the life of Wallace, most of it is speculation of course because Wallace was not from a rich or noble house so there are not many sources. But apparently there are some real similarities between them, Wallace and Hood opposed oppression and were both highly skilled archers, check out Wallace's coat of arms. Wallace supposedly also had his own 'Maid Marion,' but of course we don't know if this was true, and apparently Wallace became a figure of respect, even in parts of England. I would recommend you check out the book, it's actually an interesting story, even if most of it is speculation, there are actually no sources of Wallace before his guardianship of Scotland, which was until 1298 - 1299, and then we don't get another one until the 1305 arrest warrant issued by Edward. I'm convinced that every Edward is evil, just a shame I share that all my names, including my middle ones, are the same as English kings! Here is an article about it. William Wallace: The Real Robin Hood?
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Kurben

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Wellwritten book about the Wars of the Roses (the inspiration for Martins Game of Thrones). Full of deceit,treason and murder and wars. And its not make believe. And then the scheming Tudors took the oppurtunity and became kings in the aftermath. The players and their motives became alot more clear when reading this book than earlier.
 

Edward John

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View attachment 33344
Wellwritten book about the Wars of the Roses (the inspiration for Martins Game of Thrones). Full of deceit,treason and murder and wars. And its not make believe. And then the scheming Tudors took the oppurtunity and became kings in the aftermath. The players and their motives became alot more clear when reading this book than earlier.
GOT is greatly inspired by The War of the Roses, especially in the books. House Lancaster is essentially the Lannisters, they each have a lion as their coat of arms. England wen't through some amount of Royal Family changes. Even the current family are scarcely descendants of the 'true' royals of England. In contrast, Scotland had no interruption in the royal line since Robert the Bruce's daughter, same family. Seems like a great book, will check it out.
 

Jojo87

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Jan 8, 2009
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Finland
I really have had time to read as well. Here is the latest book I read. I am not a fan to read about some famous peoples life written as a book but this
Finnish actor and musician life is so interesting to read that I am hooked at every page and there is little bit about Finnish history as well. Here is a guy who
really have a hard life and a story to tell. The guy that this book is about his name is Vesa Matti Loiri and the guy who wrote the book and to who Vesa Matti Loiri tell his life story too is Jari Tervo. A worth reading book...

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Kurben

The Fool on the Hill
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Now reading this one
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Starts of with the rise of the Bourbon family until its first King, Henri IV in 1553. I am at the Sun King Louis XIV right now. He never said "L'etat, c'est moi" (The State, thats me) which is kind of a pity since its a great quote. I also got a more positive image of Louis XIII than i had earlier. Wellwritten even if it does go off on tanhents some times.
 

Edward John

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Aug 15, 2019
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Now reading this one
View attachment 33439
Starts of with the rise of the Bourbon family until its first King, Henri IV in 1553. I am at the Sun King Louis XIV right now. He never said "L'etat, c'est moi" (The State, thats me) which is kind of a pity since its a great quote. I also got a more positive image of Louis XIII than i had earlier. Wellwritten even if it does go off on tanhents some times.
Jeez, how many Louis's did France have? :) And if we are talking about monarchs of France, you can include Napoleon, he was essentially a king.
 

Kurben

The Fool on the Hill
Apr 12, 2014
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Jeez, how many Louis's did France have? :) And if we are talking about monarchs of France, you can include Napoleon, he was essentially a king.
Bourbon monarchs of France. Napoleon may have been many things but he never was even close to a Bourbon. And France have essentially only 5 dynasties since the romans left the country, The Merovingians, The Carolingians, The House of Capet, The House of Valois and the House of Bourbon. Together they cover about 1300 years of french history. From about 500 to ca 1830 or so.
 

Kurben

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Apr 12, 2014
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