Post by United Kingdom on May 18, 2015 13:27:43 GMT -5
My Reflection
Nation: The United Kingdom, England
Name: Arthur Kirkland
Gender: Male
Appearance Age: 23
Actual Age: From the Anglo-Saxon rule, England is roughly 1,605 years old.
Appearance
Hair Color: Blond
Eye Color: Green
Height: 175 cm (5' 9")
Weight: 139 (Pounds)
Appearance:
Arthur’s slender build perhaps tosses out the conception that he is not the strongest of men. Quite frankly, one would be absolutely correct to make that judgement. He barely has any indicator of muscular build leaving him to be rather frail in all areas. This is mainly noticeable in his arms, legs, and skinny waist. Perhaps in his imperialism days he was more apt for a stronger body, but his now quieter lifestyle leaves him to his weaker body. Despite his lack of desire to obtain a muscular physique, he still makes sure to keep up with his health. Typically by means of walking, eating healthy, and going to bed early. Such factors contribute to him always looking rather refreshed.
His height of 5’9” deems him average as far as men goes, and as long as he stands next to men of much the same height, he should not mind it much. His weight of 139 pounds is just about right for his height, though it does tend to steer him more on the skinnier side, regardless, he is not a bit underweight.
Arthur’s skin tone is nearly milk pale, but then again one could not blame him for the lack of sun in his country. Although his entire body is pale, one actually barely gets to see any skin on the Brit apart from his face and hands (as he tends to cover up). Being said, his face might have a tad bit more color in comparison to the rest of his body due to it being the most exposed. His face could be described as rather “posh”. It is clean-shaven, moisturized, and there is not a single bag under his eyes. Unfortunately what contradicts that is his rather naturally messy hair. No matter how many times he combs it by some means it always gets out of place. The same issue could be applied to his eye brows. He does keep up with them, thank you, but unfortunately it does not seem that way. They still look big and perhaps out of place.
Typically Arthur’s expressions are that of scrutiny or annoyance, earning him the mastery of what is known as “the resting bitch face.” However, his expressions could sometimes show that rare look of understanding or sympathy when he is not feeling disgruntled. His smile typically peeks out when he is amongst his people, in the comfort of his own home while doing something he enjoys, and maybe, just maybe, there will be that one thing another country would do that he would fancy and give his approval.
Arthur’s wardrobe has a wide variety of clothing for different occasions. Typically when he is in the comfort of his own home he wears his white dress shirts, a sweater vest, and khaki pants. This gives off that ‘grandpa’ vibe, but he truly does not mind, as long as he is comfortable. In a formal occasion, however, he dresses the more ‘sharp-gentleman’ part, wearing expensive brands such as Burberry. Sometimes, contrary to his rather reserved personality, on casual occasions he could be seen wearing a T-Shirt, leather jacket, and a bandana around his neck; clothing that he still has kept from his punk days.
Defining Features:
Definitely his eyebrows are the most noticeable when he meets new people, and even people he has known for a while never fail to make commentary. They are darker than his normal hair color, which is blond, and also are too big for his own good no matter how many times he tries to fix them up.
His green eyes are also rather distinct upon his face. They are very sharp and analytical, also perhaps the only real color on his face (considering his lips and cheeks are also on a pale spectrum).
Who Am I?
Personality:
Arthur’s personality type is INTJ. Introverted, iNtuitive, Thinking, and Judging.
Being introverted, it means that he gets his energy from being alone as opposed to outside sources, namely other people. People, as a matter of fact, often drain him. He is not a total shut-in, he loves having guests over when it is few and far between, and takes pride in showing off his neat and tidy house. Otherwise, he is fairly reserved and quiet, often keeping to himself.
Because of the way he is always inside his head, with a vast imagination to go with it, this places him at being intuitive. He looks at the world around him deeply, fiddling around with concepts and ideas. He might not look like the type of man himself, but when you look at his hobbies and interests, it does become clear he is a fan of reading in between the lines rather than taking things for surface value. Also, his mythical “friends” do indeed cater to his secretive whimsical nature.
He is by no means a touchy feely man, however. He is terribly cold and is a man of logic. Arthur has no hesitations on making decisions that are based on the greater good, whatever the cost may be. This means that he often, intentional or not, does not take into consideration the feelings of others. Hence why he might come off as rude, but to himself he thinks he is justified. Because of this nature, Arthur very often gets misunderstood. Likewise, Arthur also fairly could misunderstand others. Heart-to-heart talks can be fairly uncomfortable to him, and he does not really know how to properly relate himself to other people. Yet please note that when he does make a connection, it means everything to him because it is just so rare for him.
In regards to judging, this means he is tightly organized. A place for everything and everything in its place would be his motto. Arthur also has the tendency to have schedules and lists for everything. Making sure he completes his tasks and gives the time of day for both work and the things he enjoys. There is another reason why he is also strictly organized and scheduled, Arthur is rather spacey. Meaning sometimes he could lose track of things and track of time. So writing things out and making sure there are places for things also help keep him on the track he wants to be on.
Although seemingly stuck up, Arthur does deep inside care about the well-being of his fellow nations. He might curse like a sailor and ridicule other countries, such as America or France, but deep down should anything happen to them he would try to be the first do something about it. He also does have that secret playful side and a certain vulnerability, but Arthur tucks it away in order to “spare” himself. All in all, he is truly not as bad as the vibes he tries to give off.
Likes:
• His rose garden/gardening
• Cooking/Baking
• Cleaning
• Embroidery
• Reading literature (Jane Austen, Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, etc. etc.)
• Drinking
• Rock music (The Beatles, the Who, Ozzy Osbourne, etc.)
• Theatre (Mostly Shakespearean).
• English related festivals.
• BBC Documentaries
• Tea Pots/Tea Cups
• Ghost stories/terrifying America.
• Criticizing his fellow nations, America and France in particular.
• Magic/Witchcraft/Mythical Creatures
• Competition
Dislikes:
• Disorganization
• Being talked down/criticized
• Being told his imaginary friends are fake.
• The Fourth of July and Bastille Day.
• When people imitate his accent or only like him because he is British.
• Losing.
Fears:
• Being conquered/his nation not existing anymore.
• Being truly hated and alone.
• Not living up to his own expectations.
Fun Facts:
• He has a tattoo of a six string (said to be located on his butt).
• Absolutely cannot swim.
• Often collects things such as, but not limited to, tea sets, knitting patterns, books, playbills, etc.
• Often in his free time he refines his skills in magic, a talent that he very often takes pride in.
• He has a lot of pleasure in telling America ghost stories because it scares him.
• Often goes to haunted places to talk to the ghosts and keep them company, the Tower of London being one of them.
• Due to his past in spying, he is fairly fluent in certain languages, including Welsh, German, Chinese, and French. Particularly languages that benefit him.
• May or may not own a Corgi (because the Queen did not want him to be alone).
Strengths:
• Usually rationalizes things, thinking before he speaks.
• Has fierce willpower.
• Is very great at being sneaky/sly, (his spying skills are phenomenal).
• Very well put together, organized.
• Fairly assertive.
• Works well under stress/pressure.
Weaknesses:
• Stubborn.
• Quick to be irritated/hot tempered.
• Tends to lean towards the alcoholic side.
• Can be fairly manipulative.
• Perhaps not as fit as he used to be.
• Arrogant.
• Can be rather “spacey”.
Your History
• c. 3300 BC - 1200 BC – Monuments such as “Stonehenge” and “Avebury” are created, known as henges.
• 55 BC- Julius Caesar invades England, the Celts being defeated.
• 61 AD- Queen Boudicca leads a revolt against the Romans, but to no avail.
• c. 410- Anglo-Saxons took over “Britannia”, now given the name England, which means “Land of the Angles”, Engla Land (Old English).
• 1066- The Battle of Hastings, King Harold II perishes and William the Conqueror claims the English throne (first Norman ruler). Also the end to the Anglo-Saxon era.
• 1215- King John signs the Magna Carta with the Barons, ensuring that everyone, including royalty must uphold the law.
• 1337- Beginning of the Hundred Years War between France and England.
• 1348- The Black Death, also known as the Plague, strikes England. (The first of many.)
• 1453- Marks the end of the Hundred Years War.
• 1455-1485- War of the Roses, a civil war between the two families; York and Lancaster.
• 1509- King Henry VIII becomes king and marries Catherine of Aragon.
• 1534- The Reformation comes to England due to King Henry VIII separating from the Catholic Church and making his own, to which he became the head of. This contributes to years of feuds between Catholicism and Protestantism.
• 1536- Anne Boleyn is executed for adultery and witchcraft, but the underlying reasons were because she kept miscarrying King Henry VIII’s male heirs and he needed her out of the way so he could wed Jane Seymour.
• 1558- Queen Elizabeth I becomes the Queen of England after the death of her sister, Queen Mary I.
• 1585- The first English colony in America is founded, Virginia gets named after Queen Elizabeth I, the Virgin Queen. (Colonies were unsuccessful until Jamestown).
• 1588- The Spanish Armada gets defeated, especially due to consistent storms.
• 1599- The Globe Theatre gets built, housing the performances of William Shakespeare.
• 1603- Queen Elizabeth I dies, James I now becomes the king.
• 1605- Discovery of the Gunpowder Plot, an attempted assassination of James I (to which Guy Fawkes Day is celebrated every November 5th).
• 1607- Jamestown, Virginia, gets founded in North America.
• 1642- Marks the beginning of the English Civil War, a conflict between Parliamentarians and Royalists, (“Roundheads” and “Cavaliers”, respectably). Puritan rule also grows prominent, and codes are follow, banning “flippant” behaviors. (Such as Theatres, hence the permanent closing of the Globe Theatre).
• 1649- Charles I, who was the king that had dissolved Parliament in the first place, gets beheaded.
• 1653- Oliver Cromwell is now the Lord Protector of England, granting him as much power as a monarch would typically have.
• 1660- Charles II, son of Charles I, returns the Monarchy as the King of England, this is also known as the Restoration. Charles II also brings back the festivities that puritans had stripped away.
• 1666- The Great Fire of London breaks out, starting on Pudding Lane in a bakery owned by Thomas Farriner.
• 1688-1689- Marks the Glorious Revolution, also known as the Bloodless Revolution, where James II gets overthrown. William of Orange and Mary become King and Queen. Also leads to the creation of the Bill of Rights.
• 1707- England and Scotland are joined, through the Act of the Union, becoming Great Britain.
• 1756-1763- Marks the beginning of the Seven Years War against France. Known as the French and Indian War in the colonies. Although the war was also fought in India and Europe. England gains Canada from France and Florida from Spain in North America.
• 1775- Marks the beginning of the Revolutionary war between the Continental Army (13 colonies) and the British Army.
• 1783- The Treaty of Paris ends the Revolutionary war, and America is fully recognized as independent. The revolutionary war also sets off a chain reaction causing many other revolutions against the British.
• c. 1780- The Industrial Revolution begins in England.
• 1801- Ireland joins England and Scotland in the Act of the Union, forming the United Kingdom.
• 1837- Queen Victoria takes the thrown, marking the beginning of the Victorian Era.
• 1854-1856- The Crimean War against Russia, England sided with France.
• 1861- The death of Prince Albert, sending Queen Victoria into her long mourning period.
• 1901- Death of Queen Victoria, making Edward VII, her son, the new King.
• 1904- The Entente Cordiale is signed between France and Britain, ensuring their friendship/peace.
• 1914-1918- The First World War is fought.
• 1927- The British Broadcasting Corporation, BBC, is created.
• 1928- Universal Suffrage is granted, meaning that voting is now also opened to all women (over 21).
• 1939- Begins World War II.
• 1940- Winston Churchill becomes Prime Minister, May 10th. This year also includes the Battle of Britain and the Blitz, for which Germans bombed London for 57 consecutive nights.
• 1945- The Second World War ends. (Victory Day in Europe is May 8th.)
• 1952- Queen Elizabeth II is now the monarch of England.
• 1956- Suez Crisis in Egypt, in which it is realized that England is no longer a great power.
• 1979- Margaret Thatcher becomes England’s first female Prime Minister.
• 1992- The Channel Tunnel, connecting England and France, opens.
• 1997- Princess Diana dies in a car crash on August 31st.
• 2003- Second Gulf War
• 2011- Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, gets married to Kate Middleton.
• 2012- England holds the Olympics in London.
• 2013- Prince George is born.
• 2015- Princess Charlotte is born. David Cameron wins the election and is reelected as Prime Minister; member of the Conservative Party, the Labour party protests on 10 Downing Street.
Sample Post
19 May 1536
Arthur was not sure what he thought of her at first, in fact, he found her to be quite of a nuisance. It was evident that her mannerisms were extracted from France, which had often offended the English court, and most certainly it had struck nerves with Arthur. Not to begrudgingly mention the fact that she made his already volatile King even worse. Yet there Arthur stood, in the early hours of the morning, amongst a sea of people who rambunctiously crowded around the scaffold. They were all here for one thing; the execution of Anne Boleyn.
Amongst the chatter, Arthur could only stand still. He knew very well that this was wrong but he could do nothing to prevent the events from happening. The last time he had attempted to advise King Henry VIII the monarch had utterly spit Arthur’s words right back into his face. Arthur had only implied that it would be an unwise thing to go against the Pope but as King Henry put it, he was doing it for all of England and that the Anglican Church would be for England’s greater good. The words had intended to come out sweet, but all Arthur could hear was that ringing malicious spite.
So when Anne Boleyn and his King finally wedded, Arthur secretly sided with those who thought that Catherine of Aragon was the rightful Queen. Certainly this was never to be admitted out loud to anyone, but his opinions were well guarded. Though now things, Arthur supposed, were different. It took a gradual time to get used to Anne, but he was finally starting to see her as the prize she was. Charming, quick-witted, and always in good spirits. Though it was all too late. One moment they had been chattering, finally having lengthy conversations, and the next moment he was in the room where she had her trial. Staring her in the face. Tight lipped. No words spoken.
This same stance happened in this very moment. The crowd simmered down upon the first indicator that their former Queen was stepping out. How cruel it was to be such a sunny day, the sun’s beams slapping up against Anne’s face as now she stepped out of the shadows and into the crowd. She stood up so firm, her head held up high despite walking the pathway towards the Angel of Death. The people were starting to receive her, making the signs of the cross, gently patting her shoulder, or simply just giving her that stare of remorse, as she cut through them.
Arthur, however, could not manage to give her anything. He could only wait with bated breath as his former Queen now started to proceed up the stairs of the scaffold, her ladies-in-waiting trailing behind. The executioner and priest were already there to receive her, a blanket of silence now gently falling upon the crowd as Anne asked to speak her final speech.
With permission granted, Arthur could tell that Anne, good sweet Anne, was going to make her words count. He had to reposition himself, standing up straighter so that he might be ready to catch these words, whatever she tossed. On the outside he looked like a statue, but his insides were swelling with grief. This was not the first execution he had seen, he reminded himself that, but he knew as well as anyone that this was an innocent woman put to death.
Her lips opened, each word spoken deliberately; “Good Christian people, I am come hither to die, for according to the law, and by the law I am judged to die, and therefore I will speak nothing against it…” this was how she began, no indicator of a single tear. Her loud words caught the ears of everyone, and despite being the representation of England itself, Arthur did not even feel remotely different from his peers, he blended in so finely.
Though there was this one moment that caught Arthur off guard. He had his eyes locked on her the entire time, so he really should have expected it, but it nevertheless almost made his stomach lurch. Anne’s gaze caught his, piercing through him as if these were the words that were meant for him; “… I pray God save the king and send him long to reign over you…”, Arthur could not tell if that was sarcasm he detected from her lips, especially at a time like this, but he felt utter disgust at the mention of his King and the prospect of the many years to come with him. It seemed like an eternity before her eyes reluctantly, but smoothly to the other audience members, peeled away from Arthur.
Arthur’s eyes still remained on her, sucking up as much as he could of her presence, her last moments on this Earth. Whereas when they first met he mentally ridiculed her, now he revered her to the point where he felt nauseous. In an attempt to calm down his spiking nerves, his cold hands pinched at the cuffs of his sleeves, trying to fixate his numbing mind on something else. As long as Anne spoke, he felt at least somewhat alright, but soon her concluding words had met their time; “…O Lord have mercy on me, to God I commend my soul.”
Arthur’s heart by now was absolutely pounding, but thankfully he looked stone faced as ever, his emotion incomprehensible to the outside man. Anne’s ladies-in-waiting, who were in a far worse state than she was, removed her robe, earrings, and any other luxury items that adorned her. Then over her head, in replacement of her headdress, was a white cap so much as to ensure her hair would be tucked in. Her ladies-in-waiting went off to the edge of the scaffold, weeping in pain, whilst the executioner bowed for his former Queen’s forgiveness.
By this time Arthur’s hands were unwillingly digging into his skin, but that truly went unnoticed by him as he was far more focused on the event about to unfold. Anne started to kneel down, her hands folded and pressing up to her chest. As this happened, the crowd around the scaffold simultaneously joined her. Arthur himself found that his motions were automatic. He simply did not think about it as his knee kissed the ground. Anne Boleyn murmured her last words repeatedly; “To Jesus Christ I commend my soul; Lord Jesu receive my soul.”
In these moments, as the executioner pulled out his sword, Anne gave Arthur one last firm look. He had utterly no control of his body at this rate, just giving a sorrowful nod, the silent promise that he would take care of himself, as Anne’s country, and that he would be sure to take care of her daughter, Elizabeth. For the little girl’s future was at the highest of stakes.
Finally, in one sharp swoop, the sword met with Anne’s neck, slicing through her skin and immediately detaching her head from her body.
The Player
Name: Madison, although I often get called Maddie, so that is fine too!
Age: 19
Fun Fact: I am currently in college double majoring in Theatre Studies and Creative Writing.
Nation: The United Kingdom, England
Name: Arthur Kirkland
Gender: Male
Appearance Age: 23
Actual Age: From the Anglo-Saxon rule, England is roughly 1,605 years old.
Appearance
Hair Color: Blond
Eye Color: Green
Height: 175 cm (5' 9")
Weight: 139 (Pounds)
Appearance:
Arthur’s slender build perhaps tosses out the conception that he is not the strongest of men. Quite frankly, one would be absolutely correct to make that judgement. He barely has any indicator of muscular build leaving him to be rather frail in all areas. This is mainly noticeable in his arms, legs, and skinny waist. Perhaps in his imperialism days he was more apt for a stronger body, but his now quieter lifestyle leaves him to his weaker body. Despite his lack of desire to obtain a muscular physique, he still makes sure to keep up with his health. Typically by means of walking, eating healthy, and going to bed early. Such factors contribute to him always looking rather refreshed.
His height of 5’9” deems him average as far as men goes, and as long as he stands next to men of much the same height, he should not mind it much. His weight of 139 pounds is just about right for his height, though it does tend to steer him more on the skinnier side, regardless, he is not a bit underweight.
Arthur’s skin tone is nearly milk pale, but then again one could not blame him for the lack of sun in his country. Although his entire body is pale, one actually barely gets to see any skin on the Brit apart from his face and hands (as he tends to cover up). Being said, his face might have a tad bit more color in comparison to the rest of his body due to it being the most exposed. His face could be described as rather “posh”. It is clean-shaven, moisturized, and there is not a single bag under his eyes. Unfortunately what contradicts that is his rather naturally messy hair. No matter how many times he combs it by some means it always gets out of place. The same issue could be applied to his eye brows. He does keep up with them, thank you, but unfortunately it does not seem that way. They still look big and perhaps out of place.
Typically Arthur’s expressions are that of scrutiny or annoyance, earning him the mastery of what is known as “the resting bitch face.” However, his expressions could sometimes show that rare look of understanding or sympathy when he is not feeling disgruntled. His smile typically peeks out when he is amongst his people, in the comfort of his own home while doing something he enjoys, and maybe, just maybe, there will be that one thing another country would do that he would fancy and give his approval.
Arthur’s wardrobe has a wide variety of clothing for different occasions. Typically when he is in the comfort of his own home he wears his white dress shirts, a sweater vest, and khaki pants. This gives off that ‘grandpa’ vibe, but he truly does not mind, as long as he is comfortable. In a formal occasion, however, he dresses the more ‘sharp-gentleman’ part, wearing expensive brands such as Burberry. Sometimes, contrary to his rather reserved personality, on casual occasions he could be seen wearing a T-Shirt, leather jacket, and a bandana around his neck; clothing that he still has kept from his punk days.
Defining Features:
Definitely his eyebrows are the most noticeable when he meets new people, and even people he has known for a while never fail to make commentary. They are darker than his normal hair color, which is blond, and also are too big for his own good no matter how many times he tries to fix them up.
His green eyes are also rather distinct upon his face. They are very sharp and analytical, also perhaps the only real color on his face (considering his lips and cheeks are also on a pale spectrum).
Who Am I?
Personality:
Arthur’s personality type is INTJ. Introverted, iNtuitive, Thinking, and Judging.
Being introverted, it means that he gets his energy from being alone as opposed to outside sources, namely other people. People, as a matter of fact, often drain him. He is not a total shut-in, he loves having guests over when it is few and far between, and takes pride in showing off his neat and tidy house. Otherwise, he is fairly reserved and quiet, often keeping to himself.
Because of the way he is always inside his head, with a vast imagination to go with it, this places him at being intuitive. He looks at the world around him deeply, fiddling around with concepts and ideas. He might not look like the type of man himself, but when you look at his hobbies and interests, it does become clear he is a fan of reading in between the lines rather than taking things for surface value. Also, his mythical “friends” do indeed cater to his secretive whimsical nature.
He is by no means a touchy feely man, however. He is terribly cold and is a man of logic. Arthur has no hesitations on making decisions that are based on the greater good, whatever the cost may be. This means that he often, intentional or not, does not take into consideration the feelings of others. Hence why he might come off as rude, but to himself he thinks he is justified. Because of this nature, Arthur very often gets misunderstood. Likewise, Arthur also fairly could misunderstand others. Heart-to-heart talks can be fairly uncomfortable to him, and he does not really know how to properly relate himself to other people. Yet please note that when he does make a connection, it means everything to him because it is just so rare for him.
In regards to judging, this means he is tightly organized. A place for everything and everything in its place would be his motto. Arthur also has the tendency to have schedules and lists for everything. Making sure he completes his tasks and gives the time of day for both work and the things he enjoys. There is another reason why he is also strictly organized and scheduled, Arthur is rather spacey. Meaning sometimes he could lose track of things and track of time. So writing things out and making sure there are places for things also help keep him on the track he wants to be on.
Although seemingly stuck up, Arthur does deep inside care about the well-being of his fellow nations. He might curse like a sailor and ridicule other countries, such as America or France, but deep down should anything happen to them he would try to be the first do something about it. He also does have that secret playful side and a certain vulnerability, but Arthur tucks it away in order to “spare” himself. All in all, he is truly not as bad as the vibes he tries to give off.
Likes:
• His rose garden/gardening
• Cooking/Baking
• Cleaning
• Embroidery
• Reading literature (Jane Austen, Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, etc. etc.)
• Rock music (The Beatles, the Who, Ozzy Osbourne, etc.)
• Theatre (Mostly Shakespearean).
• English related festivals.
• BBC Documentaries
• Tea Pots/Tea Cups
• Ghost stories/terrifying America.
• Criticizing his fellow nations, America and France in particular.
• Magic/Witchcraft/Mythical Creatures
• Competition
Dislikes:
• Disorganization
• Being talked down/criticized
• Being told his imaginary friends are fake.
• The Fourth of July and Bastille Day.
• When people imitate his accent or only like him because he is British.
• Losing.
Fears:
• Being conquered/his nation not existing anymore.
• Being truly hated and alone.
• Not living up to his own expectations.
Fun Facts:
• He has a tattoo of a six string (said to be located on his butt).
• Absolutely cannot swim.
• Often collects things such as, but not limited to, tea sets, knitting patterns, books, playbills, etc.
• Often in his free time he refines his skills in magic, a talent that he very often takes pride in.
• He has a lot of pleasure in telling America ghost stories because it scares him.
• Often goes to haunted places to talk to the ghosts and keep them company, the Tower of London being one of them.
• Due to his past in spying, he is fairly fluent in certain languages, including Welsh, German, Chinese, and French. Particularly languages that benefit him.
Strengths:
• Usually rationalizes things, thinking before he speaks.
• Has fierce willpower.
• Is very great at being sneaky/sly, (his spying skills are phenomenal).
• Very well put together, organized.
• Fairly assertive.
• Works well under stress/pressure.
Weaknesses:
• Stubborn.
• Quick to be irritated/hot tempered.
• Tends to lean towards the alcoholic side.
• Can be fairly manipulative.
• Perhaps not as fit as he used to be.
• Arrogant.
• Can be rather “spacey”.
Your History
• c. 3300 BC - 1200 BC – Monuments such as “Stonehenge” and “Avebury” are created, known as henges.
• 55 BC- Julius Caesar invades England, the Celts being defeated.
• 61 AD- Queen Boudicca leads a revolt against the Romans, but to no avail.
• c. 410- Anglo-Saxons took over “Britannia”, now given the name England, which means “Land of the Angles”, Engla Land (Old English).
• 1066- The Battle of Hastings, King Harold II perishes and William the Conqueror claims the English throne (first Norman ruler). Also the end to the Anglo-Saxon era.
• 1215- King John signs the Magna Carta with the Barons, ensuring that everyone, including royalty must uphold the law.
• 1337- Beginning of the Hundred Years War between France and England.
• 1348- The Black Death, also known as the Plague, strikes England. (The first of many.)
• 1453- Marks the end of the Hundred Years War.
• 1455-1485- War of the Roses, a civil war between the two families; York and Lancaster.
• 1509- King Henry VIII becomes king and marries Catherine of Aragon.
• 1534- The Reformation comes to England due to King Henry VIII separating from the Catholic Church and making his own, to which he became the head of. This contributes to years of feuds between Catholicism and Protestantism.
• 1536- Anne Boleyn is executed for adultery and witchcraft, but the underlying reasons were because she kept miscarrying King Henry VIII’s male heirs and he needed her out of the way so he could wed Jane Seymour.
• 1558- Queen Elizabeth I becomes the Queen of England after the death of her sister, Queen Mary I.
• 1585- The first English colony in America is founded, Virginia gets named after Queen Elizabeth I, the Virgin Queen. (Colonies were unsuccessful until Jamestown).
• 1588- The Spanish Armada gets defeated, especially due to consistent storms.
• 1599- The Globe Theatre gets built, housing the performances of William Shakespeare.
• 1603- Queen Elizabeth I dies, James I now becomes the king.
• 1605- Discovery of the Gunpowder Plot, an attempted assassination of James I (to which Guy Fawkes Day is celebrated every November 5th).
• 1607- Jamestown, Virginia, gets founded in North America.
• 1642- Marks the beginning of the English Civil War, a conflict between Parliamentarians and Royalists, (“Roundheads” and “Cavaliers”, respectably). Puritan rule also grows prominent, and codes are follow, banning “flippant” behaviors. (Such as Theatres, hence the permanent closing of the Globe Theatre).
• 1649- Charles I, who was the king that had dissolved Parliament in the first place, gets beheaded.
• 1653- Oliver Cromwell is now the Lord Protector of England, granting him as much power as a monarch would typically have.
• 1660- Charles II, son of Charles I, returns the Monarchy as the King of England, this is also known as the Restoration. Charles II also brings back the festivities that puritans had stripped away.
• 1666- The Great Fire of London breaks out, starting on Pudding Lane in a bakery owned by Thomas Farriner.
• 1688-1689- Marks the Glorious Revolution, also known as the Bloodless Revolution, where James II gets overthrown. William of Orange and Mary become King and Queen. Also leads to the creation of the Bill of Rights.
• 1707- England and Scotland are joined, through the Act of the Union, becoming Great Britain.
• 1756-1763- Marks the beginning of the Seven Years War against France. Known as the French and Indian War in the colonies. Although the war was also fought in India and Europe. England gains Canada from France and Florida from Spain in North America.
• 1775- Marks the beginning of the Revolutionary war between the Continental Army (13 colonies) and the British Army.
• 1783- The Treaty of Paris ends the Revolutionary war, and America is fully recognized as independent. The revolutionary war also sets off a chain reaction causing many other revolutions against the British.
• c. 1780- The Industrial Revolution begins in England.
• 1801- Ireland joins England and Scotland in the Act of the Union, forming the United Kingdom.
• 1837- Queen Victoria takes the thrown, marking the beginning of the Victorian Era.
• 1854-1856- The Crimean War against Russia, England sided with France.
• 1861- The death of Prince Albert, sending Queen Victoria into her long mourning period.
• 1901- Death of Queen Victoria, making Edward VII, her son, the new King.
• 1904- The Entente Cordiale is signed between France and Britain, ensuring their friendship/peace.
• 1914-1918- The First World War is fought.
• 1927- The British Broadcasting Corporation, BBC, is created.
• 1928- Universal Suffrage is granted, meaning that voting is now also opened to all women (over 21).
• 1939- Begins World War II.
• 1940- Winston Churchill becomes Prime Minister, May 10th. This year also includes the Battle of Britain and the Blitz, for which Germans bombed London for 57 consecutive nights.
• 1945- The Second World War ends. (Victory Day in Europe is May 8th.)
• 1952- Queen Elizabeth II is now the monarch of England.
• 1956- Suez Crisis in Egypt, in which it is realized that England is no longer a great power.
• 1979- Margaret Thatcher becomes England’s first female Prime Minister.
• 1992- The Channel Tunnel, connecting England and France, opens.
• 1997- Princess Diana dies in a car crash on August 31st.
• 2003- Second Gulf War
• 2011- Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, gets married to Kate Middleton.
• 2012- England holds the Olympics in London.
• 2013- Prince George is born.
• 2015- Princess Charlotte is born. David Cameron wins the election and is reelected as Prime Minister; member of the Conservative Party, the Labour party protests on 10 Downing Street.
Sample Post
19 May 1536
Arthur was not sure what he thought of her at first, in fact, he found her to be quite of a nuisance. It was evident that her mannerisms were extracted from France, which had often offended the English court, and most certainly it had struck nerves with Arthur. Not to begrudgingly mention the fact that she made his already volatile King even worse. Yet there Arthur stood, in the early hours of the morning, amongst a sea of people who rambunctiously crowded around the scaffold. They were all here for one thing; the execution of Anne Boleyn.
Amongst the chatter, Arthur could only stand still. He knew very well that this was wrong but he could do nothing to prevent the events from happening. The last time he had attempted to advise King Henry VIII the monarch had utterly spit Arthur’s words right back into his face. Arthur had only implied that it would be an unwise thing to go against the Pope but as King Henry put it, he was doing it for all of England and that the Anglican Church would be for England’s greater good. The words had intended to come out sweet, but all Arthur could hear was that ringing malicious spite.
So when Anne Boleyn and his King finally wedded, Arthur secretly sided with those who thought that Catherine of Aragon was the rightful Queen. Certainly this was never to be admitted out loud to anyone, but his opinions were well guarded. Though now things, Arthur supposed, were different. It took a gradual time to get used to Anne, but he was finally starting to see her as the prize she was. Charming, quick-witted, and always in good spirits. Though it was all too late. One moment they had been chattering, finally having lengthy conversations, and the next moment he was in the room where she had her trial. Staring her in the face. Tight lipped. No words spoken.
This same stance happened in this very moment. The crowd simmered down upon the first indicator that their former Queen was stepping out. How cruel it was to be such a sunny day, the sun’s beams slapping up against Anne’s face as now she stepped out of the shadows and into the crowd. She stood up so firm, her head held up high despite walking the pathway towards the Angel of Death. The people were starting to receive her, making the signs of the cross, gently patting her shoulder, or simply just giving her that stare of remorse, as she cut through them.
Arthur, however, could not manage to give her anything. He could only wait with bated breath as his former Queen now started to proceed up the stairs of the scaffold, her ladies-in-waiting trailing behind. The executioner and priest were already there to receive her, a blanket of silence now gently falling upon the crowd as Anne asked to speak her final speech.
With permission granted, Arthur could tell that Anne, good sweet Anne, was going to make her words count. He had to reposition himself, standing up straighter so that he might be ready to catch these words, whatever she tossed. On the outside he looked like a statue, but his insides were swelling with grief. This was not the first execution he had seen, he reminded himself that, but he knew as well as anyone that this was an innocent woman put to death.
Her lips opened, each word spoken deliberately; “Good Christian people, I am come hither to die, for according to the law, and by the law I am judged to die, and therefore I will speak nothing against it…” this was how she began, no indicator of a single tear. Her loud words caught the ears of everyone, and despite being the representation of England itself, Arthur did not even feel remotely different from his peers, he blended in so finely.
Though there was this one moment that caught Arthur off guard. He had his eyes locked on her the entire time, so he really should have expected it, but it nevertheless almost made his stomach lurch. Anne’s gaze caught his, piercing through him as if these were the words that were meant for him; “… I pray God save the king and send him long to reign over you…”, Arthur could not tell if that was sarcasm he detected from her lips, especially at a time like this, but he felt utter disgust at the mention of his King and the prospect of the many years to come with him. It seemed like an eternity before her eyes reluctantly, but smoothly to the other audience members, peeled away from Arthur.
Arthur’s eyes still remained on her, sucking up as much as he could of her presence, her last moments on this Earth. Whereas when they first met he mentally ridiculed her, now he revered her to the point where he felt nauseous. In an attempt to calm down his spiking nerves, his cold hands pinched at the cuffs of his sleeves, trying to fixate his numbing mind on something else. As long as Anne spoke, he felt at least somewhat alright, but soon her concluding words had met their time; “…O Lord have mercy on me, to God I commend my soul.”
Arthur’s heart by now was absolutely pounding, but thankfully he looked stone faced as ever, his emotion incomprehensible to the outside man. Anne’s ladies-in-waiting, who were in a far worse state than she was, removed her robe, earrings, and any other luxury items that adorned her. Then over her head, in replacement of her headdress, was a white cap so much as to ensure her hair would be tucked in. Her ladies-in-waiting went off to the edge of the scaffold, weeping in pain, whilst the executioner bowed for his former Queen’s forgiveness.
By this time Arthur’s hands were unwillingly digging into his skin, but that truly went unnoticed by him as he was far more focused on the event about to unfold. Anne started to kneel down, her hands folded and pressing up to her chest. As this happened, the crowd around the scaffold simultaneously joined her. Arthur himself found that his motions were automatic. He simply did not think about it as his knee kissed the ground. Anne Boleyn murmured her last words repeatedly; “To Jesus Christ I commend my soul; Lord Jesu receive my soul.”
In these moments, as the executioner pulled out his sword, Anne gave Arthur one last firm look. He had utterly no control of his body at this rate, just giving a sorrowful nod, the silent promise that he would take care of himself, as Anne’s country, and that he would be sure to take care of her daughter, Elizabeth. For the little girl’s future was at the highest of stakes.
Finally, in one sharp swoop, the sword met with Anne’s neck, slicing through her skin and immediately detaching her head from her body.
In that moment Arthur learned something about himself. He did care. He cared an awful lot.
The Player
Name: Madison, although I often get called Maddie, so that is fine too!
Age: 19
Fun Fact: I am currently in college double majoring in Theatre Studies and Creative Writing.
