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#Dumnonia
survivethejive · 10 months
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Stills from my latest vid in which I explore a little known Celtic village in Cornwall. WATCH HERE 
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gogogolem · 1 year
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Conjuration at Boscawen-Ûn, 2022. Acrylic on cardboard, W165 x H215mm. #painting #contemporaryart #celf #phd #boscawen #beisgawenynnyfnwa #cernyw #kernow #dumnonia #westpenwith #magic #magick #stonecircle #neolithic #archaeology #speculation #artandthearchaeologicalimagination (at Radnor Forest) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cj2UdQUI6Mu/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
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So, why do people care so much about Cornish identity? Cornwall’s just a part of England right? Another county with some distinct foods and a funny accent, and they moan about the tourists- when they should be grateful for the money.
Except it’s not.
Whilst the rest of England was forming with a character influenced by Germanic and Norse cultures, Cornwall was holding itself separate as an independent Celtic kingdom, with strong links with Wales, Ireland and Brittany- as well as trading with the wider Mediterranean. For a long time, this kingdom included parts of Devon, but eventually the Celtic people were forced back past the Tamar, and at some point started referring to the land as Kernow, rather than Dumnonia (probably).
Even after the Norman conquest, in part because Cornwall came under the control of the Duke of Brittany, Cornwall retained elements of its unique culture, and certainly its language. There are existing works of literature written in the Cornish language (also called Kernewek) during the medieval period. Due to the active tin mining industry and the Stannary courts, they even had a separate legal system.
All of this continued until the start of the Tudor period, when Henry VII, desperate for money for his wars with Scotland, suspended the operation of the Cornish Stannaries, and imposed greater taxes. This ultimately led to the Cornish Rebellion of 1497. An army of as many as 15000 rebels marched towards Somerset, and ultimately to London, where the rebels met with Henry VII’s armies. Unfortunately, the Cornish lost the ensuing battle, and the rebel leaders were captured, killed and quartered, with their quarters being displayed in Cornwall and Devon. From 1497 to 1508, Cornwall was punished with monetary penalties, impoverishing the people, and land was given to the king’s (English) allies.
However, this wasn’t the death of Cornish culture or dreams of independence from England. Until 1548, Glasney college was still producing literature in Cornish- when it was destroyed in the dissolution of the monasteries, during the English reformation. The following year, 1549, the Cornish rose again- this time to demand a prayer book in their own language, which was still the first (and often only) language of most people in the region. The rebellion was also about the ordinary people vs the landowners, as shown by their slogan “kill all the gentlemen”.
Unfortunately, this rebellion failed too, and this time, it wasn’t just the leaders who were killed, but up to 5,500 Cornishmen- which would have been a significant proportion of the adult male population at the time. These factors combined are widely thought to have contributed to the decline of the Cornish language- although it was still widely in use centuries later.
Despite the failings of these rebellions, the Cornish retained a distinct language and their own culture, folklore and festivals. Mining, farming and fishing meant that the region itself wasn’t economically impoverished, as it was today. Even towards the end of the 1700s, there were still people who spoke Cornish fluently as a first language (including Dolly Pentreath, who definitely wasn’t the last Cornish speaker).
However, over time, the tin mines became less profitable, and Cornwall’s economy started to suffer. Especially in the latter part of the 19th century, many Cornish began to emigrate, especially to places like Australia, New Zealand (or Aotearoa), Canada and South America. Cornish miners were skilled, and were able to send pay back home, and along with the Welsh, influenced culture and sport in many of these places. Many mining terms also have their roots in Cornish language and dialect.
Throughout the 20th Century, Cornwall went through an economic decline- to the point where, when the UK was an EU member, Cornwall was receiving funding intended for only the most deprived regions in Europe. It was one of very few places in the UK to receive this funding- due to the levels of poverty and lack of infrastructure.
Part of the decline was also linked to the decline of historic fish stocks, such as mackerel. In the 70s and 80s, there was a mackerel boom- and large fishing trawlers came from as far away as Scandinavia (as well as Scotland and the north of England) to fish in Cornish waters. The traditional way of fishing in Cornwall used small boats and line fishing. The local fishermen couldn’t compete, and ultimately stocks were decimated by the trawlers. Many more families had to give up their traditional way of life. One could draw parallels here with worldwide indigenous struggles over fishing rights.
Despite this, Cornish communities retained their traditional folklore and festivals, many of which are still celebrated to this day. And throughout the 20th Century, efforts were made to preserve the Cornish language. Although there may not be any first language Cornish speakers left, it is now believed that community knowledge of the language was never truly lost.
Cornwall has since become a popular tourist destination. This brings its own problems- many people want to stay in self-catering accommodation and, more recently, air bnbs. This, alongside second homes, has gutted many Cornish communities. The gap between house prices and average wages is one of the largest in the country. Land has become extremely expensive, which hurts already struggling farmers. Roads can’t cope with the level of traffic. The one (1) major hospital can’t cope with the population in the summer. All of last winter, most Cornish households faced a “hosepipe ban” due to lack of water- yet in the summer, campsites and hotels can fill their swimming pools and hot tubs for the benefit of tourists.
Does this benefit Cornwall? Only about 13% of Cornwall’s GDP comes from tourism. The jobs associated with tourism are often poorly paid and may only offer employment for part of the year. People who stay in Air BnBs may not spend that much money in the community, and the money they pay for accommodation often goes to landlords who live upcountry and aren’t Cornish. Many major hotels and caravan sites are also owned by companies that aren’t Cornish, taking money out of the local economy.
Match this with a housing crisis where it’s increasingly difficult to rent properties long term, and buying a flat or house in Cornwall is out of reach of someone on the average salary and it’s easy to see why people are having to leave communities where their family lived for generations. This damages the local culture, and means centuries-old traditions can come under threat.
All of this feeds into the current situation; it feels like middle class families from London see Cornwall as their playground, and moan about tractors on the road, or the lack of services when they visit. People talk about theme park Cornwall- a place that’s built for entertainment of outsiders, not functionality for those who live here. More widely, a lot of people around the UK have never heard of the Cornish language, or view it as something that’s “extinct” or not worth preserving.
The Cornish are one of Britain’s indigenous cultures, alongside Welsh, Gaelic, Scots, Manx and others. And it’s a culture that’s increasingly under threat economically and culturally. We’ve been clinging on to our homes for a long time, and even now it still feels like we might be forced from them (indeed some of us are). So yes, Cornish people can seem excessively defensive about our identity and our culture- but there’s good reason for it!
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Title: Sistersong
Author: Lucy Holland
Series or standalone: standalone
Publication year: 2021
Genres: fiction, fantasy, historical fiction, mythology, retelling, LGBT+
Blurb: In the ancient kingdom of Dumnonia, there is old magic to be found in the whisper of the wind, the roots of the trees, and the curl of the grass. King Cador knew this once...but now, the land has turned from him, calling instead to his three children. Riva can cure others, but can't seem to heal her own deep scars; Keyne battles to be accepted for who he truly is - the king's son; Sinne dreams of seeing the world, of finding adventure. All three fear a life of confinement within the walls of the hold, their people's last bastion of strength against the invading Saxons. However, change comes on the day ash falls from the sky. It brings with it Myrdhin, meddler and magician, and Tristan, a warrior whose secrets will tear them apart. Riva, Keyne, and Sinne are three siblings entangled in a web of treachery and heartbreak who must fight to forge their own paths. Their story will shape the destiny of Britain.
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pers-books · 9 months
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Gallos 
This 8-foot-tall (2.4 m) bronze sculpture by Rubin Eynon is located at Tintagel Castle, a mediaeval fortification located on the peninsula of Tintagel Island adjacent to the village of Tintagel (Trevena), North Cornwall. 
It’s a representation of a ghostly male figure wearing a crown and holding a sword. While it’s popularly known as the "King Arthur statue", the site's owner English Heritage, has stated that it isn’t meant to represent a single person, but instead reflects the general history of the site, which is likely to have been a summer residence for the kings of Dumnonia between the late 4th and late 8th centuries (ie between the end of Roman rule in Britain and the Anglo-Saxon period).
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tinyshe · 3 months
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[picture credit: IHS with angels and a Crown of Thorns, in Hostýn, Czech Republic, Daniel Baránek, Hostýn, Bazilika Nanebevzetí Panny Marie, detail vstupních dveří: IHS]
More Saints of the Day January 13
St. Agrecius
St. Andrew of Trier
St. Berno of Cluny
St. Elian
St. Elian ap Erbin
St. Enogatus
St. Erbin of Dumnonia
St. Glaphyra
St. Gumesindus
St. Hermylus
St. Kentigern Mungo
St. Leontius of Caesarea
St. Viventius
Bl. Yvette
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murshili-ii · 1 year
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St. Yves’ Day Special: The Ankou
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Our third Celtic Month piece celebrates St. Yves’ Day, the national day of Brittany; which is on May 19th. Remember to sing some Breton folk songs.
Before you read what the piece means to me, share what it means to _you_. I’m just the artist; you’re the beholder.
Leave a comment.
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The Bretons dwell in Brittany, a peninsula of France; and both the people and their homeland derive their name from their origin as Britons who fled from Britain to the mainland during the Anglo-Saxon invasion. They are the only Celts who live in mainland Europe, at present; but they came from the Isles. The Breton language is closely related to Welsh and even more closely related to Cornish.
In Breton folklore, the Ankou is said to be an assistant to Death; a figure in a black cloak and hat who collects the souls of the dead and guides them into the afterlife.
Many tales are told about his origins. Some say he was the first child of Adam and Eve, and the first human being to die. Others say he was a prince who challenged Death, and lost.
Others say, and this is the notion I prefer, that the Ankou is the last, or first, person to die in each parish each year; responsible for guiding souls for one year until another takes their place. That way, the dead are greeted by a familiar personage when it’s time to make their final journey.
There are equivalent legends in Cornwall and Wales; the Cornish term is Ankow, and the Welsh term is Angau. There are comparable legends elsewhere. According to a Scottish legend, the last person buried in a graveyard is responsible for guarding it until the next burial. In parts of England there are legends that the first person buried in a graveyard will be responsible for guarding it; and customarily, a dog is buried first, to become the graveyard’s church-grim (a well and truly good boy).
The soldier in the grave, whose soul is being beckoned by the Ankou, as well as the priest performing the funeral liturgy, are a homage to one of my favorite Breton folk songs, Ar Soudarded (Zo Gwisket e Ruz). The chorus-verse means “The soldiers dress in red; the priests dress in black.” It’s a melancholy song about a soldier who speaks of his burial if he should die.
I chose to depict the dead spectres in monochrome; and I’m not sure it was an effective choice. I found it necessary to add the luminous peach-colored halos to clarify the intended effect.
The steeple in the background is inspired by the distinctive cutout designs in the steeple of Tréguier Cathedral.
St. Yves of Kermartin, also called St. Yves Hélory, whose name is also spelled all sorts of other ways such as Ives, Ivo, Erwan, Iwan, Youenn, and Eozenn, and who is not to be confused with St. Yves of Chartres, St. Erbin of Dumnonia, or anyone with the surname Saint-Yves, was a pious clergyman and lawyer who was known for representing the poor and vulnerable, refusing bribes, and unraveling the tricks of swindlers. Every year on his feast day, May 19th, Catholic lawyers from around the world gather at his major shrine at Tréguier Cathedral to pay pilgrimage. Tréguier is also one of the seven sites of the Tour of Brittany, although not because of St. Yves.
The two women mourning at the burial are wearing distinctive traditional stovepipe bonnets, a notable feature of Breton dress.
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troybeecham · 1 year
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Today, the Church remembers St. David of Wales.
Ora pro nobis.
Saint David (Welsh: Dewi Sant, c. AD 500 – c. 589) was a Welsh bishop of Mynyw (now St Davids) during the 6th century AD. He is the patron saint of Wales. David was a native of Wales, and a relatively large amount of information is known about his life. However, his birth date is uncertain: suggestions range from 462 to 512. He is traditionally believed to be the son of Saint Non and the grandson of Ceredig ap Cunedda, king of Ceredigion. The Welsh annals placed his death AD 569 years after the birth of Christ, but Phillimore's dating revised this to AD 601.
Many of the traditional tales about David are found in the Buchedd Dewi ("Life of David"), a hagiography written by Rhygyfarch in the late 11th century AD. Rhygyfarch claimed it was based on documents found in the cathedral archives. Modern historians are sceptical of some of its claims: one of Rhygyfarch's aims was to establish some independence for the Welsh church, which had refused the Roman rite until the 8th c. AD and now sought a metropolitan status equal to that of Canterbury. (This may apply to the supposed pilgrimage to Jerusalem where he is said to have been anointed as an archbishop by the patriarch).
The tradition that he was born at Henfynyw (Vetus-Menevia) in Ceredigion is not improbable. He became renowned as a teacher and preacher, founding monastic settlements and churches in Wales, Dumnonia, and Brittany. St David's Cathedral stands on the site of the monastery he founded in the Glyn Rhosyn valley of Pembrokeshire. Around AD 550, he attended the Synod of Brefi, where his eloquence in opposing Pelagianism caused his fellow monks to elect him primate of the region. As such he presided over the synod of Caerleon (the "Synod of Victory") around 569 AD.
His best-known miracle is said to have taken place when he was preaching in the middle of a large crowd at the Synod of Brefi: the village of Llanddewi Brefi stands on the spot where the ground on which he stood is reputed to have risen up to form a small hill. A white dove, which became his emblem, was seen settling on his shoulder. David is said to have denounced Pelagianism during this incident and he was declared archbishop by popular acclaim according to Rhygyfarch, bringing about the retirement of Dubricius. St David's metropolitan status as an archbishopric was later supported by Bernard, Bishop of St David's, Geoffrey of Monmouth and Gerald of Wales.
The Monastic Rule of David prescribed that monks had to pull the plough themselves without draught animals, must drink only water and eat only bread with salt and herbs, and spend the evenings in prayer, reading and writing. No personal possessions were allowed: even to say "my book" was considered an offence. He lived a simple life and practised asceticism, teaching his followers to refrain from eating meat and drinking beer.
Rhigyfarch counted Glastonbury Abbey among the churches David founded. Around forty years later William of Malmesbury, believing the Abbey older, said that David visited Glastonbury only to rededicate the Abbey and to donate a travelling altar including a great sapphire. He had a vision of Jesus who said that "the church had been dedicated long ago by Himself in honour of His Mother, and it was not seemly that it should be re-dedicated by human hands". So David instead commissioned an extension to be built to the abbey, east of the Old Church. (The dimensions of this extension given by William were verified archaeologically in 1921). One manuscript indicates that a sapphire altar was among the items Henry VIII of England confiscated from the abbey during the Dissolution of the Monasteries a thousand years later.
Though the exact date of his death is not certain, tradition holds that it was on 1 March, which is the date now marked as Saint David's Day. The two most common years given for his death are 601 and 589 AD. The monastery is said to have been "filled with angels as Christ received his soul." His last words to his followers were in a sermon on the previous Sunday. The Welsh Life of St David gives these as, "Arglwydi, vrodyr, a chwioryd, Bydwch lawen a chedwch ych ffyd a'ch cret, a gwnewch y petheu bychein a glywyssawch ac a welsawch gennyf i. A mynheu a gerdaf y fford yd aeth an tadeu idi", which translates as, "Lords, brothers and sisters, Be joyful, and keep your faith and your creed, and do the little things that you have seen me do and heard about. And as for me, I will walk the path that our fathers have trod before us." "Do ye the little things in life" ("Gwnewch y pethau bychain mewn bywyd") is today a very well known phrase in Welsh. The same passage states that he died on a Tuesday, from which attempts have been made to calculate the year of his death.
David was buried at St David's Cathedral at St. Davids, Pembrokeshire, where his shrine was a popular place of pilgrimage throughout the Middle Ages. During the 10th and 11th centuries AD the Cathedral was regularly raided by Vikings, who removed the shrine from the church and stripped off the precious metal adornments. In AD 1275 a new shrine was constructed, the ruined base of which remains to this day, which was originally surmounted by an ornamental wooden canopy with murals of David, Patrick and Denis. The relics of David and Justinian of Ramsey Island were kept in a portable casket on the stone base of the shrine. It was at this shrine that Edward I came to pray in AD 1284. During the reformation Bishop Barlow (AD 1536–48), a staunch Protestant, sacrilegiously stripped the shrine of its jewels and confiscated the relics of David and Justinian.
Almighty God, you called your servant David to be a faithful and wise steward of your mysteries for the people of Wales: Mercifully grant that, following his purity of life and zeal for the Gospel of Christ, we may with him receive our heavenly reward; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.
Amen.
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thesynaxarium · 1 year
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Today we also celebrate the Holy Virgin Martyr Ursula of Cologne. Saint Ursula was a princess who, at the request of her father King Dionotus of Dumnonia in south-west Britain, set sail along with 11,000 virginal handmaidens to join her future husband, the pagan governor Conan Meriadoc of Armorica. After a miraculous storm brought them over the sea in a single day to a Gaulish port, Ursula declared that before her marriage she would undertake a pan-European pilgrimage. She headed for Rome with her followers and persuaded the Pope, Cyriacus (unknown in the pontifical records, though from late 384 AD there was a Pope Siricius), and Sulpicius, bishop of Ravenna, to join them. After setting out for Cologne, which was being besieged by Huns, all the virgins were beheaded in a massacre. The Huns' leader fatally shot Ursula with an arrow in about 383 AD. May she intercede for us always + Source: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Ursula (at Cologne, Germany) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cj-D_tBDoy2/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
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Standalone Fantasies: book recs
Cackle by Rachel Harrison
All her life, Annie has played it nice and safe. After being unceremoniously dumped by her longtime boyfriend, Annie seeks a fresh start. She accepts a teaching position that moves her from Manhattan to a small village upstate. She’s stunned by how perfect and picturesque the town is. The people are all friendly and warm. Her new apartment is dreamy too, minus the oddly persistent spider infestation. Then Annie meets Sophie. Beautiful, charming, magnetic Sophie, who takes a special interest in Annie, who wants to be her friend. More importantly, she wants Annie to stop apologizing and start living for herself. That’s how Sophie lives. Annie can’t help but gravitate toward the self-possessed Sophie, wanting to spend more and more time with her, despite the fact that the rest of the townsfolk seem…a little afraid of her. And like, okay. There are some things. Sophie’s appearance is uncanny and ageless, her mansion in the middle of the woods feels a little unearthly, and she does seem to wield a certain power…but she couldn’t be…could she?
A Spindle Splintered by Alix E. Harrow
It's Zinnia Gray's twenty-first birthday, which is extra-special because it's the last birthday she'll ever have. When she was young, an industrial accident left Zinnia with a rare condition. Not much is known about her illness, just that no one has lived past twenty-one. Her best friend Charm is intent on making Zinnia's last birthday special with a full sleeping beauty experience, complete with a tower and a spinning wheel. But when Zinnia pricks her finger, something strange and unexpected happens, and she finds herself falling through worlds, with another sleeping beauty, just as desperate to escape her fate.
The Tangleroot Palace by Marjorie M. Liu
Marjorie Liu leads you deep into the heart of the tangled woods. In her long-awaited debut story collection, dark, lush, and spellbinding short fiction you will find unexpected detours, dangerous magic, and even more dangerous women. Briar, bodyguard for a body-stealing sorceress, discovers her love for Rose, whose true soul emerges only once a week. An apprentice witch seeks her freedom through betrayal, the bones of the innocent, and a meticulously-plotted spell. In a world powered by crystal skulls, a warrior returns to save China from invasion by her jealous ex. A princess runs away from an arranged marriage, finding family in a strange troupe of traveling actors at the border of the kingdom’s deep, dark woods. Concluding with a gorgeous full-length novella, Marjorie Liu’s first short fiction collection is an unflinching sojourn into her thorny tales of love, revenge, and new beginnings.
Sistersong by Lucy Holland
My sister’s heart broke on the river—and the river took it and bore it away. In the ancient kingdom of Dumnonia, there is old magic to be found in the whisper of the wind, the roots of the trees, and the curl of the grass. King Cador knew this once, but now the land has turned from him, calling instead to his three children. Riva can cure others, but can’t seem to heal her own deep scars. Keyne battles to be accepted for who he truly is—the king’s son. And Sinne dreams of seeing the world, of finding adventure. All three fear a life of confinement within the walls of the hold, their people’s last bastion of strength against the invading Saxons. However, change comes on the day ash falls from the sky. It brings with it Myrdhin, meddler and magician. And Tristan, a warrior whose secrets will tear them apart. Riva, Keyne and Sinne—three siblings entangled in a web of treachery and heartbreak, who must fight to forge their own paths. Their story will shape the destiny of Britain.
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chocolatesawfish · 2 years
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Hetalia World Stars The Ulster Cycle
(Cw: death and historical inaccuracy, ho!)
Once upon a time (the late Iron Age, specifically) there lived two sisters on two islands. The elder was named Britannia, and the younger, Hibernia.
Each sister bore five children. The sons of Britannia were Cambria, Caledonia, Loegria, Monapia and Dumnonia. Later, they were called Wales, Scotland, England, Mann and Cornwall. The children of Hibernia were Ulaid, Laigin, Connachta, Mumu and Mide. They were later to become Ulster, Leinster, Connacht, Munster and Meath.
After the passing of their mothers, the usual inheritance struggles broke out. Of the ten contenders, some were more favoured by geography and demographics than others. England and Scotland surpassed their kin in the east, while Ulster, Connacht and Munster rose to prominence in the west. The arrival of the Norsemen upset this whole, delicate balance of power.
When the Viking raids began to strike the coasts of Britain and Ireland, the response of Hibernia's children was to put aside their differences and consolidate a common front. An entirely unintended effect of this cooperation was the birth of a nation.
Emerging from the unity of the five provinces, Árdríocht na hÉireann, the High Kingdom of Ireland, stepped onto the scene. Though not directly of Hibernia's blood, he was still a sibling to them, and symbol of their resistance to foreign rule. And this talismanic determination would soon be put to the test.
Young Ireland reached the peak of his potential under that most famous high king, Brian Boru. With the battle of Clontarf, the Northmen ceased to be an issue, the ever more ambitious Leinster suffered a setback, and Munster seemed set to rule as most powerful of the five provinces. In a sad twist of fate, Brian Boru's death & the resulting fragmentation of his achievements led to the dwindling of Munster's power, leaving Connacht and Ulster as the major players on the island. Ireland attempted to keep them in line, but going behind the others’ backs, Leinster invited a foreign force to their island, ultimately sealing all of their fates.
Almost from the moment Wales set foot on the Emerald Isle, things spiralled out of control. Young, impressionable and filled with religious fervour from his time with Norman France, he reinstated Leinster in the position of power she craved, and proceeded to go much further. The campaigns of this invader drew Munster and Meath’s ire, and they attempted to force him into retreat, but with continental tactics and technology, Wales was a foe like none they’d fought before. Soon, an all-island battle royale was raging, with even Leinster burned by the dragon she had unleashed. Things were only resolved when England stepped in, using his princely authority to recall Wales, but the damage was done. In England’s view, the only way to stabilise the situation was to take charge himself. And so began the eight hundred years of colonisation.
The retreat of the Normans bought the five provinces, and Ireland as a whole, some breathing space, but it wasn’t to last. With the ascendancy of the House of Tudor, England exerted his control ever more fiercely, and the provinces, one by one, were either killed outright or had their power broken, and gradually dwindled away. All except Ulster.
All the provinces had their reasons for resisting, and resist they did. Whether they met their end at the tip of Anglo-Norman lances, or were felled by starvation, disease and internal strife, Leinster, Munster, Connacht and Meath fought till their last breath. Ulster prided himself as the finest warrior of all the island, but this wasn’t the sole reason he had held dominion for so long.  He was pragmatic and shrewd, and saw no purpose in discarding his life for a lost cause. When he was defeated despite doing all he could, he reasoned that there was no disgrace in an honourable surrender, and submitted to his new lords.
With the Flight of the Earls and the winnowing of the last vestiges of his Gaelic culture, Ulster entered a period of profound mourning. The loss of his language, his traditions, the very soul of the nation, was enough to break his heart. He had acquiesced willingly, but on many occasions he regretted it, berated himself, questioned whether things could have gone differently. He was too subdued to make a fuss as England began moving settlers in, new customs and ways of life supplanting the old. It would take the arrival of one more nation on the island to break Ulster out of his downward spiral.
Scotland stood out from his brothers, yet there was something so familiar about him. He had none of Wales’ fervour, none of England’s offhand brutality, but was quiet, dignified and resolute. He was the single most impressive man Ulster had ever met. He could never put his finger on quite why his cousin’s arrival touched a chord with him, but deep down, it was because Scotland was everything he wished he could be. Here was a man who had stood up to England, Norway, had even, fighting at the side of his mother, held back the Roman Empire himself.
Ulster recalled Scotty’s face vaguely and fondly. Back in their youth, in untroubled days, they had crossed the North Channel to visit each other’s houses, romping through the Scottish Highlands and the Glens of Antrim. Although they had drifted apart as times changed and new challenges arose, they had tried to keep in contact. Scotland’s gallowglass warriors had been instrumental in countless Irish conflicts, and his campaigns under the Bruce family had provided an invaluable counterweight that kept Norman England in check.
Scotland was someone Ulster could actually talk to. Proud of his Gaelic roots and equally as nostalgic for their childhood, they had much to bond over. Ulster grew in confidence. The hollow absence of his old way of life still hurt, but with Scotland, he began to learn about the experiences of others, try new things and broaden his worldview. Eager to impress, he almost unwittingly began to adopt Scotland’s mannerisms, from his dress sense to his speech patterns. With trepidation and excitement, he even made the monumental leap of conversion, taking up his cousin’s Presbyterian faith.
For a time, life was good. Ulster and Scotland settled into their new life together, their cultures syncretizing and their love for each other deepening. Gradually, they ceased to see each other as cousins, and Ulster became the fourth brother of the British Family. But what of good old Éire?
While Ulster prospered, his little brother suffered. Too weak to be seen as a serious threat, he escaped the fate of the provinces, though he fought just as valiantly. After the conquest, England set up a colonial administration in Dublin, made some perfunctory attempts to “civilise” the country and promptly forgot about him. Left to his own devices in a devastated landscape, Ireland experienced a tempestuous adolescence. Retreating west and living off the land, he came to resent all things British, but most of all his misguided sellout of a big brother.
Every so often, this discontent flared into violence. In the Irish Rebellions of 1641, 1798 and of course 1916, Ireland lashed out against the establishment, with predictably tragic results every time. What’s more, his land became a battlefield of larger powers, with the Williamite-Jacobite War seeing the Netherlands and France arrive to bolster their respective Protestant and Catholic allies.
With clockwork consistency, Ulster was caught in the middle. With how often he was at the centre of the conflict, he began to internalise that it was really all his fault, even when the wars were only a symptom of larger, Europe-wide machinations. Now, at least, he didn’t have to rely solely on himself. Whenever danger loomed, his brother was there, a staunch defender against all comers. In 1641, when Ireland laid waste to the province, Scotland sheltered Ulster behind the barricades of County Down and fought Ireland to a standstill outside them. Bizarrely, Ireland found himself allied to England when Arthur’s doppelgänger, Oliver, appeared on the scene, joining forces with Scotland and Ulster in his quest to depose the monarchy.
After the Williamite War, things returned to some semblance of normality, but discontent still brewed beneath the surface. The social structures of the Protestant Ascendancy excluded both Catholics and Presbyterians from government in favour of Anglicans, so while England extended his rule around the globe, Ireland, Scotland and Ulster languished in relative obscurity. For Ireland, this was a chance to recuperate and plan for his next uprising, while for the other two, free from the duties of politics, it was an opportunity to rebuild their lives together and continue to develop the Ulster-Scots identity of their community.
Yet another disaster was the Potato Famine. Scotland returned to his ancestral highlands to try and alleviate the suffering there, and Ulster stood on his own for the first time in hundreds of years, struggling to care for a devastated population. Worst-hit of all was Ireland. The starvation, the disease and the inaction of the British government was more than he could bear. He departed on a coffin ship for America.
In his absence, Ulster integrated himself further into the Anglo-Celtic family. But Ireland didn’t plan on staying away for ever. Returning across the Atlantic, having met diverse groups of peoples and been imbued with new ideas of nationalism and self-determination, he made one final push for freedom.
In keeping with this new spirit, he took a step unusual for him and dealt with the British government on their own terms. They were happy to receive him, as they much preferred a feisty but ineffectual political partner to a hostile and volatile colony. Ulster, though, was much aggrieved, not comprehending how they could show such favour to one who had been such a constant thorn in their side. With jealousy and unsettlement eating away at him, Ulster dug his heels in. Every push for greater autonomy that Ireland made, every concession granted to him, resulted in Ulster proclaiming in ever-stronger terms that he would never abandon his family.
And then, some damned foolish thing in the Balkans, that which the Great Powers dreaded, came to pass. It was 1914, and Europe was in flames.
England, Scotland and Wales threw all their might into supporting their continental allies, with the Irish right beside them. Ulster was attempting to prove his steadfast loyalty, while Éire was hoping that by being there in their hour of need, the British would reward him with independence. The war, however, only forestalled a proposed autonomy bill from being implemented, and Ireland’s frustrations grew. They spilled over in the Easter Rising, crushed like all before it, but sticking in the public imagination due to the cruelty with which the British suppressed it.
Once the war was over, Ireland saw his chance, and now, at last, he was successful. He automatically assumed that his brother Ulster would be coming with him, and was aghast to discover that he had no intention of doing so, a plain truth that Ireland had willfully blinded himself to. Their division, evident for so long, was now official, and Ulster took a new name for himself.
Northern Ireland.
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Hi!
I've been doing calligraphy since 2017 and illumination since last October (2022)
i use fountain and dip pens for writing and have been messing with quills a bit.
crow quill calligraphy is possible if you're not a coward
i use lots of different inks and brands of gouache. walnut ink is so soft omg
I'm a scribe and bard in the Society for Creative Anachronism (East Kingdom, Barony of Settmour Swamp, but also Aethelmearc, Barony of the Rhydderich Hael)
obsessed with early period, persona is from post-Roman Cornwall (Kingdom of Dumnonia)
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Sistersong by Lucy Holland★★★
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"And a world with no magic is no world at all."
In the ancient kingdom of Dumnonia, there is old magic to be found in the whisper of the wind, the roots of the trees, and the curl of the grass.
That was...quite an interesting read, not quite what I expected the book to be like. I really enjoyed it overall, Keyne was definitely my favorite character. Sinne was so irritating throughout the entire story, however I found it extremely uncomfortable that they (view spoiler) Sinne was always a selfish child and terrible that she was the cause of Riva's pain. I was very neutral about Riva's character and overall understood her decision at the end of the book to leave her lands. With everyone there hating her, there was very little chance for a proper, good life for herself, especially since she was with child. I'm glad that Keyne got the (view spoiler), that character development throughout the story was fantastic.
Definitely not what I expected, I thought this book would be more focused on magic and family and, while it certainly was, it also included a lot more than I thought. Overall, I very much enjoyed it!
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jackhkeynes · 2 years
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The Brethin Order
The Brethin were a Christian religious order devoted to record-keeping and the maintenance of history. They had societies worldwide and a history dating back to the early medieval period.
The Brethin take their name from the distinctive heavy cloak (in Old Welsh, the bretin) worn by all members.
The order was founded in eighth-century Tremonow—at that time a border town of the new Kingdom of Greater Dumnonia—under the patronage of Iseld, daughter of Vigo the Magnificent. Their original mandate was to preserve in particular the history of the Christianisation of Albion and Ireland, but the scope of their work quickly expanded to include secular history.
Brethin houses spread rapidly throughout the Briton states, and in later centuries they made inroads into France, Burgundy and as far afield as Andalus (although they would not gain a foothold in Italy until after the Great Fracture of the sixteenth century)
Not long after its inception, Brethin houses included both monasteries and convents, although in some regions institutions for one sex or the other predominated.
Of particular note are the Brethin of Kernow; they became the most influential school within the order during the late medieval period, with a substantial increase in membership through the twelfth century. At this time many courts of Europe employed monks of the Brethin of Kernow as advisors.
After the medieval period and until the modern day, the Brethin ran several major printing operations, such as the Yievle Brethin Primers, and educational institutions, such as the Tremonow Open School (formerly the Brethin Mesh Institute).
Notable members
Pope Damian VI (the Wise), reigned 1199-1209 N
Friar Dewock Barclythe, 1452-1539 N
Saint Victor of Dunkirk, d. 1245 N
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smalltownfae · 2 years
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Book Review: “Sistersong” by Lucy Holland
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Rating: 4.5/5
Title: Sistersong
Author: Lucy Holland
Pages: 416
Review:
This is a retelling of the Twa Sisters ballad. If you don’t know it I suggest to look it up after reading the book, but if you do know it there are a few changes to the story, which makes it less predictable.
The story is told from the perspective of three siblings and it’s set in the ancient kingdom of Dumnonia. King Cador used to have magical abilities that came from the land, but these start to fade when Christianity slowly takes over. Each of his children possess some kind of power: Riva, the eldest, can cure others but not her own scars made by wildfire in the past, Keyne has hidden abilities and so does Sinne, the youngest. The siblings are very different from each other and have their own personal journeys and struggles.
The people from Dumnonia are getting ready for the possibility of invasion by the Saxons, there is a conflict between the old magic and the new religion, a suspicious stranger that brings conflict between the siblings and a character struggling with their gender identity.
The book is magical and atmospheric and  makes me wish the writing style wasn’t as simple. I did get used to it after a few chapters and enjoyed the tale for what it was. I really liked the characters and the different relationships. There was complexity and understandable motivations that drove the plot.
The pacing is slow and for the most part feels very slice of life, which is exactly what I like. There is still enough mystery and some battles for those that prefer plot over characters.
I was expecting the ending to be more tragic, but I still enjoyed it.
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pers-books · 2 years
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ur called pers-books so can u recommend a good book?
Oh now you've done it, Anon!
I can ALWAYS recommend a good book!
You haven't specified which genre interests you, so here, have a handful of books which I've really, thoroughly enjoyed in the last year or so. Blurbs from and links to GoodReads.
Sistersong by Lucy Holland:
My sister’s heart broke on the river—and the river took it and bore it away.
In the ancient kingdom of Dumnonia, there is old magic to be found in the whisper of the wind, the roots of the trees, and the curl of the grass. King Cador knew this once, but now the land has turned from him, calling instead to his three children. Riva can cure others, but can’t seem to heal her own deep scars. Keyne battles to be accepted for who he truly is—the king’s son. And Sinne dreams of seeing the world, of finding adventure.
All three fear a life of confinement within the walls of the hold, their people’s last bastion of strength against the invading Saxons. However, change comes on the day ash falls from the sky. It brings with it Myrdhin, meddler and magician. And Tristan, a warrior whose secrets will tear them apart.
Riva, Keyne and Sinne—three siblings entangled in a web of treachery and heartbreak, who must fight to forge their own paths.
Their story will shape the destiny of Britain.
Finding Jessica Lambert by Clare Ashton
Jessica Lambert, movie star and ingénue, is in danger of burning out. Returning to London for the premiere of her latest film, she’s recognised everywhere she goes. When she runs away through the streets of London, she’s taken in by the beautiful and more mature Anna. The two hide in the sanctuary of Anna’s roof-top flat, a haven away from the crowds, but why has Anna removed herself from the world?
As the two women get to know each other, stripping away the layers, both appreciate what each does for the other. This could be the start of something wonderful, more than either of them know.
Wishyouwas by Alexandra Page
It's 1952 in smog-shrouded London. Christmas might be fast approaching, but with her mum away and Uncle Frank busy running the post office, Penny Black is lonelier than ever.
All that changes when Penny discovers a small, fluffy, funny, springy and – most importantly – talking creature in the post office one night, trying to make off with a letter.
But Wishyouwas is no thief. He's a Sorter, and he soon introduces Penny to a fascinating secret world hidden in the tunnels underneath the city's streets. Self-appointed guardians of lost mail, the Sorters have dedicated their lives to rescuing letters that have gone astray and making sure they get delivered to their rightful owners.
Penny is determined to protect the Sorters, but how long will she be able to keep them safe with Stanley Scrawl, the sinister Royal Mail Rat Catcher, on the prowl? Can Penny save the Sorters and deliver a joyful Christmas?
Stay by Catherine Ryan Hyde 
In the summer of 1969, fourteen-year-old Lucas Painter carries a huge weight on his shoulders. His brother is fighting in Vietnam. His embattled parents are locked in a never-ending war. And his best friend, Connor, is struggling with his own family issues. To find relief from the chaos, Lucas takes long, meandering walks, and one day he veers into the woods.
There he discovers an isolated cabin and two huge dogs. Frightened, he runs. And the dogs run with him. Lucas finds unusual peace in running with the dogs, and eventually he meets their owner, Zoe Dinsmore. Closed off and haunted by a tragic past, Zoe has given up. She doesn’t want to be saved. She wants out. But Lucas doesn’t want her to go, and he sees an opportunity to bring more than one friend back into the light. It’s either the best or worst idea he’s ever had, but Lucas isn’t giving up on Zoe or Connor.
Their unexpected connection might be the saving grace that Zoe thought she’d lost, that Connor needs, and that Lucas has been running toward.
One Man and His Bike by Mike Carter
What would happen if you were cycling to the office and just kept on pedalling?
Needing a change, Mike Carter did just that. Following the Thames to the sea he embarked on an epic 5,000 mile ride around the entire British coastline - the equivalent of London to Calcutta.
He encountered drunken priests, drag queens and gnome sanctuaries. He met fellow travellers and people building for a different type of future. He also found a spirit of unbelievable kindness and generosity that convinced him that Britain is anything but broken. This is the inspiring and very funny tale of the five months Mike spent cycling the byways of the nation.
(This is non-fiction in case it’s not obvious!)
The Last Act of Love: The Story of My Brother and His Sister by Cathy Rentzenbrink
In the summer of 1990, Cathy's brother Matty was knocked down by a car on the way home from a night out. It was two weeks before his GCSE results, which turned out to be the best in his school. Sitting by his unconscious body in hospital, holding his hand and watching his heartbeat on the monitors, Cathy and her parents willed him to survive. They did not know then that there are many and various fates worse than death.
This is the story of what happened to Cathy and her brother, and the unimaginable decision that she and her parents had to make eight years after the night that changed everything. It's a story for anyone who has ever watched someone suffer or lost someone they loved or lived through a painful time that left them forever changed. Told with boundless warmth and affection, The Last Act of Love by Cathy Rentzenbrink is a heart-breaking yet uplifting testament to a family's survival and the price we pay for love.
(Another non-fiction book.)
Nala's World: One Man, His Rescue Cat, and a Bike Ride around the Globe by Dean Nicholson
Instagram phenomenon @1bike1world Dean Nicholson reveals the full story of his life-changing friendship with rescue cat Nala and their inspiring adventures together on a bike journey around the world. When 30-year-old Dean Nicholson set off from Scotland to cycle around the world, his aim was to learn as much as he could about our troubled planet. But he hadn't bargained on the lessons he'd learn from his unlikely companion. Three months after leaving home, on a remote road in the mountains between Montenegro and Bosnia, he came across an abandoned kitten. Something about the piercing eyes and plaintive meowing of the bedraggled little cat proved irresistible. He couldn't leave her to her fate, so he put her on his bike and then, with the help of local vets, nursed her back to health. Soon on his travels with the cat he named Nala, they forged an unbreakable bond - both curious, independent, resilient and adventurous. The video of how they met has had 20 million views and their Instagram has grown to almost 750k followers - and still counting! Experiencing the kindness of strangers, visiting refugee camps, rescuing animals through Europe and Asia, Dean and Nala have already learned that the unexpected can be pretty amazing. Together with Garry Jenkins, writer with James Bowen of the bestselling A Street Cat Named Bob, Dean shares the extraordinary tale of his and Nala's inspiring and heart-warming adventure together.
(More non-fiction!)
Murder on the Menu (The Nosey Parker Mysteries #1) by Fiona Leitch
Still spinning from the hustle and bustle of city life, Jodie ‘Nosey’ Parker is glad to be back in the Cornish village she calls home. Having quit the Met Police in search of something less dangerous, the change of pace means she can finally start her dream catering company and raise her daughter, Daisy, somewhere safer. But there’s nothing like having your first job back at home to be catering an ex-boyfriend’s wedding to remind you of just how small your village is. And when the bride, Cheryl, vanishes Jodie is drawn into the investigation, realising that life in the countryside might not be as quaint as she remembers… With a missing bride on their hands, there is murder and mayhem around every corner but surely saving the day will be a piece of cake for this not-so-amateur sleuth?
No Rings Attached (Ms. Right #2) by Rachel Lacey
Lia Harris is tired of being the odd one out. She’s never quite fit in with her uptight family, and now that her roommates have all found love, she’s starting to feel like a third wheel in her own apartment. Fed up with her mother’s constant meddling in her love life, Lia drops hints about a girlfriend she doesn’t have. But with her brother’s London nuptials approaching, she needs to find a date to save face. Lia turns to her best friend, Rosie, for help, and Rosie delivers—with the fun, gorgeous Grace Poston. Grace loves to have a good time, hiding her insecurities behind a sunny smile. Her recent move to London has provided her with a much-needed fresh start. Grace isn’t looking for love, and she hates weddings, having weathered more than her fair share of heartache. Friendships are different, though, so for Rosie’s sake, she reluctantly agrees to pose as Lia’s adoring girlfriend for the wedding festivities. Both Grace and Lia are prepared for an awkward weekend, complete with prying family members and a guest room with only one bed. As it turns out, they get along well—spectacularly, in fact. Before they know it, the chemistry they’re faking feels all too real. But is their wedding weekend a fleeting performance or the rehearsal for a love that’s meant to last?
We Are Satellites by Sarah Pinsker
Everybody's getting one. Val and Julie just want what's best for their kids, David and Sophie. So when teenage son David comes home one day asking for a Pilot, a new brain implant to help with school, they reluctantly agree. This is the future, after all. Soon, Julie feels mounting pressure at work to get a Pilot to keep pace with her colleagues, leaving Val and Sophie part of the shrinking minority of people without the device. Before long, the implications are clear, for the family and society: get a Pilot or get left behind. With government subsidies and no downside, why would anyone refuse? And how do you stop a technology once it's everywhere? Those are the questions Sophie and her anti-Pilot movement rise up to answer, even if it puts them up against the Pilot's powerful manufacturer and pits Sophie against the people she loves most.
To Boldly Go by Em Stevens
When life gives you lemons, drink limoncello. 
Taryn's trip of a lifetime is finally happening. She's saved money, researched, planned, and created an itinerary that will allow her to travel Italy...and finally tell her best friend that she's in love with her. But those plans are ruined when she wakes up alone, her crush gone. Her plans did not include being alone and stranded in Milan. Now Taryn's dream vacation is a nightmare.
Enter Holly, a fellow traveller: young, full of life, and comfortable traipsing off the beaten path. Holly feels a connection with Taryn and wants to salvage her trip. After all, they're in freaking Italy! But their radically different travel styles and age differences make for rough terrain. Together, they boldly go into unexplored territories of the heart, and may just discover love.
The Full Scoop by Kitty Jones
Leanne didn’t expect to be spending the rest of her life alone, but when her wife passes away unexpectedly, she’s thrust right back into the world of dating – but it’s one she no longer recognizes. With apps and websites and a million different things to learn, she wonders whether she’s ever going to find someone to fill the hole in her heart from Sherry’s death. When a hundred-year-old bookstore goes on the market, Leanne takes a spontaneous leap and buys the place. She’s got nothing but time on her hands, after all? What harm could come from buying an old building, anyway? Unfortunately for her, the building has secrets. 29-year-old Billie Wise is the epitome of clumsy, which is one of the reasons she’s basically the world’s worst reporter. When her boss gives her a bogus assignment – to get the inside scoop on a new bookstore that’s opening in town – she knows it’s simply something to do to shove her out of the way so she isn’t eligible for a promotion. Irritated and tired, Billie walks into the bookstore expecting to be greeted by someone who is as angry as she is, but she’s not. The owner is gorgeous, caring, and compassionate. She’s everything that Billie could never be. When Billie finds herself falling for the bookstore owner, she wonders if their worlds could really ever collide. Will Billie be able to get the full scoop on what it takes to make Leanne fall in love with her?
Vile Stars by Sera Milano
(TRUE) LOVE (TOXIC) LOVE (LOST) LOVE This is a different kind of love story. 17-year-old Luka isn't looking for love. She's trying to piece her life back together after a heart-breaking loss. But when she meets the gorgeous and charismatic Cosmo under a meteor shower at the Greenwich Observatory, it feels like destiny has played a hand. Surely theirs is a love written in the stars. But Cosmo isn't what he seems, using Luka's love for him to slowly take control of her life. As the pandemic starts to make headlines and lockdown sets in, she is trapped emotionally and physically in a coercive relationship. Luka's friends and brother can see what's happening, but struggle to reach her. Something will have to be sacrificed so Luka can set herself free - but what will be left of her when she does? Luka's story is told from many points of view: through her letters, and through the voices of her brother, Alec, his boyfriend Theo and Luka's best friend, Roisin. Each of them holds a fragment of the story - it's time to put it all together.
(Be warned, this is a difficult read as it features Covid-19, gaslighting and manipulation, and homophobia. But it is a bloody brilliant book!)
This Can Never Not Be Real by Sera Milano
FIVE TEENAGERS WITH NOTHING IN COMMON, THROWN TOGETHER BY AN ACT OF TERRORISM, CAN'T SURVIVE THE NIGHT WITHOUT EACH OTHER. In the unremarkable town of Amberside, the unthinkable has happened: Terrorists have attacked a local festival. No one knows why, and no one knows who the attackers are, but that doesn’t matter. What matters first is survival. And what matters after that is survival, too. In this brilliantly written account of hope, humour and humanity, five ordinary teenagers are caught up in a truly extraordinary situation. It’s a heart-pounding and gripping account of the fight for survival, told from multiple perspectives, as the attackers prowl the festival grounds. A book for anyone who needs to see that behind the hate that makes the headlines, there is always love.
(This is also a difficult book, but again, bloody brilliant and compelling. Sera Milano is an outstanding writer.)
Hope you find something to enjoy in there, Anon.
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