Honestly, I'm not nit-picking, but there is a difference between Culture, (the ideas, customs, and social behaviour of a particular people or society), and Heritage, (something handed down ). But even your culture definition is by no means watertight. By your definition, France and Germany should have similar cultures being next to each other with a deal of shared history. For the UK there is even justification for our cultural divergence. The Chanel. No doubt it's an age thing but I have never thought of myself as being European. English, British, part of The Empire (then The Commonwealth), I plead guilty to. But in Europe the cultural differences seem to me, looking in from the outside, seen quite pronounced. Scandinavia is not like the Latin South. Switzerland is in a class of it's own and The Balkans are completely foreign to me and I see no common ground with them. But MY heritage includes the birth of The Parliamentary system, started by Simon de Montford. The Peasants Revolt. The general bloody mindedness of the working classes leading to a Parliament strong enough to execute a King and eventually full suffrage. While England was chastising her Stuart Monarch then arranging a constitutional Hanoverian set up , the kings of France operated by personal rule from 1614 to 1789. Note the 1789 date. All Europe suffered for many of the next35 years. Britain escaped the worst depredations of The Year of revolutions in 1848. Feel free to compare the political set up in Britain to the situation in those countries that suffered. I'm not claiming that we are better than any particular part of the rest of Europe. Just different. And I like what I'm used to.
I consider myself English first, then British, the Empire was finished before I was born. I feel closer to Western Europe than any Commonwealth countries. Geographically we are Europeans. Simon De Montfort was a French nobleman.
Heritage is the full range of our inherited traditions, monuments, objects, and culture. Culture has a variety of definitions and can range from particular behaviours to the material objects used by a particular group. You're right, the national characteristics of each European nation are different- it is a broad spectrum. The history of each of those nations is different. But the cultures on which they are all based come from a narrow range. The Roman Empire had a huge influence on much of Europe, including the British Isles, there are elements of our societies that are based on what that culture left behind. The same can be said for Anglo-Saxon society which is interlinked with 'viking' culture and Merovingian/Frankish culture, which was natural successor of Roman society in that part of the world. You're right, we're all different but, as I say, the roots of our societies are all very similar and intertwined.
Not strictly true. He was born in Brittany which was a separate state and didn't become part of France until well after his death. Indeed, given Brittany's proximity to Normandy I think it was far more likely that he was of Norman (Viking) ancestry.
He was born in Montfort-l'Amaury which is in the Ile-de-France, not Brittany. The Bretons (if you ignore the mixing of people over time) have nothing to do with the Normans. Linguistically (through Breton not French) they are related to the Ancient British, hence the names Britanny, Breton, Bretagne etc.
And to bring us back full circle the actor and comedian Tom Binns who plays comedy "psychic" Ian. D. Montfort is a big Sunderland fan and attends games.
At that period of our history, most of the 'Peerage' were of French origin, having come across with Duke William in 1066. (Even Robert The Bruce went by the name of Robert de Bruce to highlight his French ancestry). They often owned lands in both countries and would have had to pay allegiance to The King of France for those French territories not controlled by England, (and by then England's possession's had shrunk rather, due to King John). The language of the aristocracy was French. French was the language of the Law Courts. Interesting Point - (to ME at least) One of the few ruling families that could claim Saxon Heritage was that of The KING. Henry 1, our first great Norman Lawgiver, married Edith of Scotland, (called Matilda in England). She was the daughter of Malcom 111 (of Macbeth fame) and St Margaret. Margaret and her brother, Edgar the Aetheling were the most senior remaining members of the Royal Saxon line after The Conquest. So the bloodline of Alfred The Great returned to the English throne only 40 years after Hastings.
St Margaret who was born in Mecseknádasd, Hungary? Niece of either Henry II or Henry III, Holy Roman Emperors, born in Bavaria, and variously Dukes of Bavaria and Swabia and Kings of Burgundy and Italy?
There's no need for anyone to apologise about anything imo. It's a discussion about vaguely interesting stuff. No one knows everything about everything. What I do for a living involves a lot of history so I know a little bit about that (or at least where to go to look it up). I know absolutely bugger all about most of the other subjects this thread touches on.
Nissan set to announce an investment, of £3b to build three new electric cars in Sunderland. Great news for the area.
Indeed it is. They can obviously see production being ramped up on Mondays after yet another Lads win over the weekend! Nissan know the future is bright!
What's the chances of the three MP's foisted on us by Party HQ, to get the number of Women MP's up, ever admitting that they may have been wrong in claiming that IF we exited Europe, Nissan would leave the UK?
