King Charles, Eric Hobsbawm & the Invention of Tradition
Ralph Darlington (@irrelations) has been posting on twitter a series of pictures of books by Eric Hobsbawm primarily I think as a reminder to those not familiar with them, that they still have lot to say for 2023.
One he hasn’t yet got around to is the Invention of Tradition a collection of essays jointly edited with Terence Ranger. The chapter on Royal traditions is written by David Cannadine and is still absolutely relevant
It did not find much popular support in Scotland but last Wednesday at a ceremony in Edinburgh King Charlie was honoured with the Scottish Crown Jewels
They are thought to date from around 1200 when a new set was created after the English stole the originals.
When Cromwell seized and melted down the Crown Jewels after 1649 the Scottish Crown in Edinburgh evaded him. King Charles 11 was crowned King of Scotland using them in 1651 but Cromwell was unsuccessful in capturing them.
They have served no real purpose since the Act of Union in 1707 and were not in use until put on display in 1818. They were then in storage between 1822 and 1953 until Queen Elizabeth 11 was given them.
None of the items are the 13th century originals all having been remodelled in the 16th century. The sword is now too fragile to be displayed so in the best manner of invented traditions a new one has been made.
There is a cost of living crisis btw
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