Today (Friday, 5 November) we celebrate Guy Fawkes, the anniversary of the day 13 men attempted to blow up the Houses of Parliament in London – but failed dismally.
To mark this massive failure, fireworks are let off and bonfires burnt across the United Kingdom and in some of the Commonwealth countries, although many are unaware of the history of this attempted coup.
Here are some facts to enlighten you on this day.
Fact #1: He wasn’t the mastermind
Friday, 5 November is commemorated as the failure of the Gunpowder Plot in 1605 when a group of Catholic conspirators attempted to blow up parliament and kill King James I, a Protestant.
Although Robert Catesby was the mastermind of the plot which involved 12 co-conspirators, Guy Fawkes is most associated with the event as he was the man caught in the cellar below the House of Lords with 36 barrels of gunpowder.
Fact #2: He fought in the Spanish army
In 1592 when he was aged 21, Fawkes set sail to join the Catholic Spanish army and fight the Protestant Dutch armed forces for control of the Netherlands.
During his time in the army, he was promoted to captain where he learnt a lot about gunpowder and its various uses…
Fact #3: The initial tunnel plan
The original plan had been to dig a tunnel under the Houses of Parliament as a way to transport the gunpowder, with Fawkes taking on the identity ‘John Johnson’, pretending to be a servant.
However, the conspirators managed to rent a basement in the House of Lords where they loaded the 36 barrels concealed as firewood.
Fact #4: Foiled by a letter
The treasonous 13 might have been successful had one of their number not written an anonymous letter to a Catholic member of Parliament, Lord Monteagle.
The letter warned Monteagle to stay away from the Houses of Parliament on the night of November 5. Sensing danger, he alerted the king who ordered a search of the area and the barrels, alongside Fawkes, were found.
Fact #5: There was no bonfire
Guy Fawkes was condemned as a traitor and sentenced to be hung, drawn and quartered – but not burned at the stake as the bonfires misleadingly have many believe.
However, after his torture he was too weak for the drawn and quartered part, and died by hanging at the gallows. Some say he actually jumped to avoid the remainder of the brutal punishment.
Fact #6: The cellar is still checked
‘Remember, remember the 5th of November…’ and so the Yeomen of the Guard, to this day, check the cellars of the Houses of Parliament before the State Opening.
Although the original spot was burned during a fire at the Palace of Westminster in 1834, the current cellars are still searched more than 400 years later.
Fact #7: His image inspires protesters
His big floppy hat, leather riding boots, and manicured beard and moustache depicted in images for centuries have made Fawkes an iconic image.
In the comic book ‘V for Vendetta’ and subsequent film adaptation, Fawkes’ image was replicated in a mask which is now synonymous with rebellion.
While Guy Fawkes celebrations might not be big in South Africa, if you are looking to celebrate this day, just remember not to play with fire…
