N Sharova 2 nd year Regional Studies The

N. Sharova 2 nd year Regional Studies The UK and the Republic of Ireland.

Geographical position

Capitals: u UK, England – London u Wales - Cardiff u Scotland - Edinburgh u Northern Ireland – Belfast u Republic of Ireland - Dublin

History in names: BRITANNIA u In 55 -54 BC the Romans invaded Britain. In 63 AD Celtic Britain became one of the provinces of the Roman Empire. u The country was called after one of the Celtic tribes. (Brythons, Pretani) u The image of a Celtic war goddess was used to create one of the symbols of Britain.

BRITANNIA is a woman in a neo-classical gown and helmet, seated by the sea ("Britannia Rules the Waves. ") She is holding a trident and a shield, decorated with the Union flag. The coinage of the day featured the image of a woman in armour. Britannia became a popular figure in 1707 when Scotland, Wales and England were finally united to form Great Britain. She was immortalised in 1740 when James Thompson wrote the words of "Rule Britannia" and set it to music by Thomas Arne.

History in names: England u When the Roman Empire began to disintegrate, and the Romans went away new invaders came. u They were Anglo-Saxon tribes , and the land began to be called Anglaland then England.

History in names: Great BRITAIN u Great Britain consists of England, Wales and Scotland. u In the 13 th century Wales was conquered by the English king Edward I. In 1536, during the reign of Henry VIII Tudor, Wales was officially united with England.

History in names: Great BRITAIN u Edward I also invaded Scotland in the 13 th century, but after his death Scotland again became independent. u In 1603 the Scottish king James VI became also James I of England, thus uniting the two crowns. u The Act of Union between England Scotland was signed in 1707.

History in names: United Kingdom of Great BRITAIN and Ireland. u Ireland was invaded by the English king Henry II in the 12 th century. It was the first English colony. u Ireland was cruelly suppressed during the rule of Oliver Cromwell (the 17 th century). u The Act of Union was signed in I 801.

Union Flag/ Union. Jack

Union Flag/ Union Jack u u On 12 April 1606, a new flag to represent the regal union between England Scotland was specified in a royal decree, according to which the flag of England (a red cross on a white background, known as St George's Cross), and the flag of Scotland(a white saltire on a blue background, known as the Saltire or St Andrew's Cross), would be joined together, forming the flag of Great Britain and first union flag. The flag was variously known as the King's Jack, the Jack Flag or simply the Jack. The current design dates from the Union of Great Britain and Ireland in 1801. The flag combines aspects of the three national flags: the red cross of Saint George, the red saltire of Saint Patrick's Flag, both superimposed on the Flag of Scotland.

St. George’s Cross

St. Patrick’s Cross

St. Andrew’s Cross

The flag of Wales

The flag of Wales The flag incorporates the Red Dragon of Cadwaladr, King of Gwynedd, along with the Tudor colours of green and white. It was used by Henry VII at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485 after which it was carried in state to St Paul's Cathedral. The red dragon was then included in the Tudor royal arms to signify their Welsh descent. It was officially recognised as the Welsh national flag in 1959.

More Symbols John Bull is a national personification of Britain in general and England in particular, especially in political cartoons. He is usually depicted as a stout, middle-aged, country dwelling, jolly, matter-of-fact man. John Bull originated in the creation of Dr John Arbuthnot in 1712.

John Bull is usually portrayed as a stout, portly man in a tailcoat with lightcoloured breeches and a top hat which by its shallow crown indicates its middle class identity. u By the twentieth century his waistcoat nearly always depicts a Union Flag and his coat is generally dark blue. He also wears a low topper (sometimes called a John Bull topper) on his head and is often accompanied by a bulldog. u

EMBLEMS OF BRITAIN Each country in Britain has its own patron saint and floral emblem: England - St. George The national flower of England is the rose. The flower has been adopted as England’s emblem since the time of the Wars of the Roses - civil wars (14551485) between the royal house of Lancaster (whose emblem was a red rose) and the royal house of York (whose emblem was a white rose).

EMBLEMS OF BRITAIN Scotland - St. Andrew - the Thistle and Scottish Bluebell The national flower of Scotland is the thistle, a pricklyleaved purple flower which was first used in the 15 th century as a symbol of defence. The Scottish Bluebell is also seen as the flower of Scotland.

EMBLEMS OF BRITAIN u Wales - St. David and the Daffodil The national flower of Wales is the daffodil, which is traditionally worn on St. David’s Day. The vegetable called leek is also considered to be a traditional emblem of Wales.

EMBLEMS OF BRITAIN u Northern Ireland - St. Patrick and the Shamrock The national flower of Northern Ireland is the shamrock, a threeleaved plant similar to clover. An Irish tale tells of how Patrick used the three-leafed shamrock to explain the Trinity.

Republic of Ireland

Ireland

The Republic of Ireland is divided into 30 administrative regions: 1 Carlow 2 Cavan 3 Clare 4 Cork 5 Donegal 6 Dublin 7 Dún Laoghaire 8 Fingal 9 Galway 10 Kerry 11 Kildare 12 Kilkenny 13 Laois 14 Leitrim 15 Limerick

16 Longford 17 Louth 18 Mayo 19 Meath 20 Monaghan 21 Offaly & Rathdown 22 Roscommon 23 Sligo 24 South Dublin 25 Tipperary North 26 Tipperary South 27 Waterford 28 Westmeath 29 Wexford 30 Wicklow

EMBLEMS OF Ireland: Harp u The harp dates back to 4000 BC when the Egyptians used them in holy places. A most popular musical instrument used in both medieval Scotland Ireland, it has been the emblem of Ireland since the 13 th century. On medallion, the harp is surrounded by the musical score from Greensleeves. "