Stonewall UK: A Brief History for Equality

Recent developments in Parliament have seen the second reading of the 'Same Sex Marriage' Bill pass through the Commons successfully. I found it suitable therefore to discuss one of the largest supporters of such a movement. I am referring to the largest LGBT charity in not only the United Kingdom but in Europe, Stonewall. 

Stonewall was formed in 1989 with some notable founders, including the famous actor Sir Ian McKellen and Michael Cashman. Stonewall itself is a pressure group that aims to lobby the government for laws to be passed that give equality and freedoms to the LGBT community in the UK. 

One of Stonewall's most notable acheivements and one of its longest campaigns was based around lifting of a ban that allowed homosexual servicemen to serve in the armed forces, the RAF and the Royal Navy. At this time there was not the Human Rights Act and such vindication of the LGBT community was put under large scruitny by the European Court of Human Rights. It suceeded and the Labour government of 2000 lifted the ban. Since then the armed forces have pretty much unanimously agreed that momosexual soldiers serving in the army has had no impact on the successful operational prowess of the British Armed Forces which are considered by many to be world class.

Stonewall's current work is around the studies of homophobic hate crime and homophobia in football. It also helps organise high profile events such as the Stonewall Awards and the Brighton Equality Walk.

Stonewall has no doubt supported the government's choice on February 5th 2013 but the bill still has to pass through scrutiny committees and the House of Lords as well as another vote in the Commons. 

Oda Nobunaga the Fool of Owari and the Battle of Okehazama

There are those in history who are famous for their military conquests but there are those who exceed their fame because they are ruthless and from that trait they are successful in their aims, this can only be partly true for the origins of the enigmatic man I will tell you about this week. Oda Nobunaga, his origins as a leader and his rise to power with his astounding victory at Okehazama.

Oda Nobunaga's fame comes from an era of civil war and bloodshed known in Japanese as the 'Sengoku Jidai' or Sengoku Era, the era of the samurai. Numerous clans fought for regional and national prominence in engagements up and down the country from the Shimazu clan in southern Kyushu to the Date clan in northwest Honshu, the land was divided. Three men are famous in this era as it's unifiers, Oda Nobunaga,the subject of this post, Toyotomi Hideyoshi who actually suceeded in establishing a central government and Tokugawa Ieyasu who took the reins of power after the Toyotomi lost power and established the Tokugawa shogunate in 1600.

The Birth of a Conqueror and the Unification of Owari
Oda Nobunaga was born at Nagoya Castle in the Owari domain (modern day Aichi prefecture) on June 23rd 1534 and was given his child name of Kippōshi (in samurai castes a child had a different name at childhood then chose a new name when they acheived manhood) as the second son of Oda Nobuhide. Notably as he grew up even with his position in society he ran around and played with children and youths from the area.

In 1551 his father Nobuhide died, at his funeral Nobunaga did something estanged which would alienate others in the Oda clan. He threw ceremonial incense at the altar at acted outrageously infront of the mourning retainers of his late father earning him the title of 'Fool of Owari'. This caused support for Nobunaga's brother Nobuyuki to increase as he was well-mannered and disciplined. The Oda clan was factionalised and even though Nobunaga was Nobuhide's heir the clan was still split on future leadership. Nobutomo, Nobunaga's uncle would gain prominence in a bid for power but Nobunaga outwitted him by allying with his other uncle Nobumitsu and slew Nobutomo at Kiyosu Castle. Using the influence of his connections with the leadership of the local domain Shiba Yoshikane he forged alliances with neighbouring clans to protect his borders.

Even with Nobunaga's quick thinking his brother had rebelled against him with Oda generals Shibata Katsuie and Hayashi Hidesada, a battle at Inō ended with Nobunaga victorious and in a dominant position, a later rebellion by his brother would lead Nobunaga to assassinate Nobuyuki and unify the Oda clan under his leadership. But a larger trial was about to begin...

The Battle of Okehazama and the Rise of the Oda Army

 In June 1560 the warlord of Suruga, Imagawa Yoshimoto led roughly and army of 35,000 troops on a march to the capial of Kyoto under the pretense of assisting the weakened Ashikaga shogunate (the government). The Imagawa clan also allied with the Matsudaira clan under Motoyasu (who would later become the famous Tokugawa Ieyasu) and seized Oda's garrisons of Washizu and Marune.

 This act of agression forced Nobunaga into a very precarious position as he was outnumbered ten to one, yet he led his small army to Zenshōji temple, a short distance away. Oda Nobunaga knew he was a massive disadvantage and couldn't risk full on battle, his decision was swift. He left a small force at his camp with lots of banners (to trick the enemy into thinking it was his main force) and moved swiftly through a forest to the rear of the Imagawa camp. When it started to rain heavily on the afternoon of June 12nd Nobunaga made his move and his troops poured into the camp just like the rain. Without any warning the Imagawa samurai were thrown into chaos which was compounded further by the death of Imagawa's general Ii Naomori. Imagawa troops and generals were slain and swallowed up by mud underfoot. When Yoshimoto ordered the 'drunken revelry' to stop and realised his samurai were not wearing the clan crest he was beheaded, with the loss of their leader the Imagawa clan lost its centre of leadership and surrendered and became a part of the Oda forces.

This victory would seal the Imagawa's fate and the future Tokugawa Ieyasu joined the Oda as an ally until Oda's death in 1582. This victory would be the first step the young Oda leader would take to supremacy... but that is a story for another day.

Edward, the Black Prince and the Battle of Poitiers

When we think of knights we think of chivalry, honour and great engagements in the name of valour. I believe that we should begin with a tale that has been romantacised by fantasy writers and taken into lore by modern historians and students alike.

Edward was born in Woodstock Palace in Oxfordshire on the 15th June 1330 and was quickly gathering his royal titles as the son and heir of the King of England Edward III. He took the title of Prince of Wales when he was only thirteen in 1343. He quickly gained politcal experience as he attended the Privy Council meetings in his father's name as the latter was on campaign in France.

To know who Edward was you have to understand the background in which he refined his image into one of an esteemed military commander. His fame stems from the '100 Years War' between the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of France that lasted over the 14th and 15th centuries. This era of conflict has laid down the historical rivalry between England and France primarily because the former finds itself to be entitled to the throne of France, in part due to the Norman conquests of the island nation led by William the Conqueror. Another dangerous event running rampant in the middle of Edward's life was the infamous epidemic the Black Death.

With these events and an air or insurmountable tension between European powers it is not surprising that the Prince of Wales garnered experience of conflict. In time it would be Edward's decisive victory that swung the war in England's favour.

Battle of Poitiers
In August 1356 Edward and his forces conducted a 'chevauchée' or a horse charge aimed at causing chaos along side a systematic burning and pillaging campaign aimed at weakening enemy forces. On a side note, this strategy was used by the Norman invaders at Hastings aimed at subduing English forces. Edward met little resistance whilst doing this act until he was caught in a downpour that rendered his strategy null. As a result the King of France Jean II moved his forces to strike at Edward to avoid more loss of arable land. Edward retreated his forces with the King of France behind him until the French caught up with the English southwest of Poitiers. Edward was a veteran of battle and used the natural land he found himself in to defend himself. He used forests and streams to protect his flanks whilst setting up his longbowmen in a V-position on the flanks to engage the oncoming elite knights of France under the command or French lords and notably the Dauphin of France, King Jean II and the Philip of Valois. What occured was devasting, using bodkin arrows and a side position allowed archers to shoot arrows at the lightly armoured horses blunting the cavalry's momentum. The engagement continued with infantry combat but even with Jean II putting up memorable resistance he was captured along with his entourage.

Aftermath of Poitiers
The devasting loss destablised France as a country and bandits and brigands rose up whilst the French nobles were gathering their own plunder from peasants and the Churches. Edward's quick thinking made him hugely popular in England in due part as he was heir made his victory all the more appealing to the English aristocracy and pesantry alike.

The Fall of the Black Prince
Edward continued campaigns in France but he would actually not suceed his father to the throne as Edward IV (the first Prince of Wales not to do so) because of illness. After he returned to England in 1371 his health gradually deterioated, he would die presumably of cancer in 1376. He was buried with honours in Canterbury Cathedral in Kent with a bronze effigy and tapestries detailing his accomplishments.

The Legend of the Black Prince
Edward was not actually referred to as the Black Prince during his lifetime he was usually called Edward of Woodstock (his birthplace). Later medieval historians may have given him this title because he either wore black armour and used a black shield or his actions before Poitiers involving the burning of farmland was deemed as a 'black-hearted' thing to do. Either way he is famous for being a prominent character in William Shakespeare's Edward III and has been the topic of plays and novels usually as a beneovlent prince in difficult times who cares about his people and regrets actions taken in war.

Introducing 'Tales of History'

This might seem like something you would want to never read out of lesson, like a smack in the face after thinking you got free of lectures and reading but do not fear! This blog is not the repetitive sources of GCSE History you may have done at secondary and its not meant to scare you its meant to teach you some epic, heroic battles, cunning court intrigue and me rolling my eyes in a sarcastic fashion at romance at court. Its not just here in Britain though don’t worry we will be going beyond our rainy island. We will pinball all over the world from America to Japan across entire continents over the year. From major battles, to historical catastrophes of unimaginable scale you will see history and politics come to live in a way that is easily readable.

Also a spot of good news! No questions! No tests! Just the tales lost to time which you may never have heard about, from emperors literally courting his common subjects to ruthless leaders uprooting religion. It is also with personal satisfaction that I can scream battle cries at you because some of the largest military engagements are on my ‘to do’ list. Stalingrad, Sekigahara, Bosworth, and even us getting our red coat hides booted over the Atlantic (I am not looking forward to recounting that tale) will be included in detail. But as any budding historian pouring through books at any college should know its all about evidence and consequence. Did the loss of the American Revolutionary War weaken our Empire? Well I will tell you. Did the war between the Three Kingdoms of China result in an era of chaos for China for centuries to come? Well your master storyteller will tell you! There will be no test and it will like reading a story! But as a side disclaimer if YOU ARE doing GCSE, AS,A2 or degree History don’t tell it like a story or your teacher will cry… deeply… like only a history teacher can.

So it is time to find your TARDIS front door keys as I drag you kicking and screaming… I mean laughing and dancing into the past and who knows maybe I teach you something (I get gloating rights as well). Oh and don’t worry these will be nice snuggly sized tid bits of knowledge that will have you laughing (hopefully), crying (sorry about that) and getting ANGRY!

So keep your eyes on this space for updates every week for informative, historical commentary on the world we couldn’t complain about!

Matthew Makinson