NaBloPoMo 2026 - #05

November 5th is Guy Fawkes night, to commemorate the Gun Powder Plot of 1605 in which Guy Fawkes conspired to blow up the Houses of Parliament. He famously failed in his endeavour and was executed. The commemorations take the shape of letting off fireworks around the country - including in Scotland.

The 17th century also saw the introduction of King William of Orange (William III), who was a Dutchman. His legacy lives on the 1692 Glencoe massacre, which was indirectly carried out in his name. The people of Glen Coe, a scenic mountain valley south of Fort William, had been required to swear allegiance to King William by a certain date or time, but this affirmation of loyalty did not reach the king in time. So, a contingent of soldiers came, asked for hospitality in houses in the glen, and in return for their hospitality put their hosts to the sword.

That's already bad enough.  Three years earlier, King William, a protestant, fought a pitched battle on the River Boyne in Ireland against Catholic forces. I am aware I am oversimplifying history, but the Troubles in Northern Ireland (between 1968 and 1998) are a direct result of this battle. And we have seen as recently as this summer that this antipathy continues to fester under the surface. When the Orange Order (see the connection?) wanted to march at Drumcree, they were stopped through a legal process. Cue a huge row between Catholic and Protestant politicians.