Eddy Jackson MBE | Media Bot Maven

National Identity History Northern Ireland Wales Scotland England

The remarkable seventy-year reign of Queen Elizabeth 11 and the inauguration of King Charles 111 has highlighted the diversity of the United Kingdom.

The new king immediately visited Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales. In all of these countries, the new Monarch received fervent admiration from the tens of thousands of people lining the route of the Royal Entourage.

The United Kingdom’s history shows the complexity in trying to answer the question of national identity and who we are in Britain or anywhere in the world. Who were our forebearers? How did we gain identity, culture, and beliefs, and become part of the society?

How did we gain identity, culture, and beliefs, and become part of the society?

Going back in history over one thousand years ago the landscape and political boundaries look very different. What if the outcomes and impact of historical events and battles were different? What would be the implications now?

A century before the Battle of Hastings in 1066 the formation of the United Kingdom was established at the little name event. It determined the future of the British Isles.

The little-known battle at Brunanburh in 937 involved an alliance of Celts, Viking, Irish, Welsh, and Scottish Kings and their armies against the English (And some loyal Vikings). The winner of this ferocious battle carved out a powerful nation that went on to unify the British Isles. The outcome could have easily been very different. If this was the case a new powerful Celtic, Irish, Scottish, and Viking nation would have developed and controlled Britain.

Historically Celtic Britain what is invaded by Saxons, Angles, and Jutes during the Dark Ages. Wales, Ireland, Scotland, and the western regions of England maintained their identity.

An example of this may be seen in the juxtaposition of different cultural place names in North Lancashire:

Heritage

A rich mixture of place names with a unique combination of Old English, Old Norse, and Old Welsh – Cumbric (the language spoken by the Celts in this region.) There remains a small number of Latinized names.

Culture

Celtic – Anglian - Norse.

An ancient Celtic tradition is a pervasive element.

 The Angles from the Anglo-Saxons were followed three centuries later by the Vikings.

NW HERITAGE PLACE NAMES

The winner of this ferocious battle carved out a powerful nation

How did your cultural heritage evolve?