Guy Fawkes
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| '''Guy Fawkes''' ([[13 April]] [[1570]] – [[31 January]] [[1606]]) sometimes known as '''Guido Fawkes''', was a member of a group of [[Roman Catholic]] revolutionaries from [[England]] who planned to carry out the [[Gunpowder Plot]]. The plot was an attempt to blow up the [[Houses of Parliament]], which would displace [[Protestant]] rule by killing King [[James I of England]] and the entire Protestant [[aristocracy]], on [[5 November]] [[1605]]. | '''Guy Fawkes''' ([[13 April]] [[1570]] – [[31 January]] [[1606]]) sometimes known as '''Guido Fawkes''', was a member of a group of [[Roman Catholic]] revolutionaries from [[England]] who planned to carry out the [[Gunpowder Plot]]. The plot was an attempt to blow up the [[Houses of Parliament]], which would displace [[Protestant]] rule by killing King [[James I of England]] and the entire Protestant [[aristocracy]], on [[5 November]] [[1605]]. | ||
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| + | '''Guy Fawkes''' (13 April 1570 – 31 January 1606), also known as '''Guido Fawkes''', the name he adopted while fighting for the Spanish in the [[Low Countries]], was a member of a group of provincial [[Catholic Church in England and Wales|English Catholics]] who planned the failed [[Gunpowder Plot]] of 1605. | ||
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| + | Fawkes was born and educated in [[York]]. His father died when Fawkes was eight years old, after which his mother married a [[Recusancy|recusant]] Catholic. Fawkes later converted to Catholicism and left for the continent, where he fought in the [[Eighty Years' War]] on the side of Catholic Spain against Protestant Dutch [[Protestant Reformation|reformers]]. He travelled to Spain to seek support for a Catholic rebellion in England but was unsuccessful. He later met [[Robert and Thomas Wintour|Thomas Wintour]], with whom he returned to England. | ||
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| + | Wintour introduced Fawkes to [[Robert Catesby]], who planned to assassinate {{nowrap|[[James I of England|King James I]]}} and restore a Catholic monarch to the throne. The plotters secured the lease to an [[undercroft]] beneath the [[House of Lords]], and Fawkes was placed in charge of the [[gunpowder]] they stockpiled there. Prompted by the receipt of an anonymous letter, the authorities searched [[Westminster Palace]] during the early hours of 5 November, and found Fawkes guarding the explosives. Over the next few days, he was questioned and tortured, and eventually he broke. Immediately before his execution on 31 January, Fawkes jumped from the scaffold where he was to be hanged and broke his neck, thus avoiding the agony of the [[Hanged, drawn and quartered|mutilation]] that followed. | ||
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| + | Fawkes became synonymous with the Gunpowder Plot, the failure of which has been commemorated in England since 5 November 1605. His effigy is traditionally burned on a bonfire, commonly accompanied by a [[firework]] display. | ||
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| + | Historian [[Lewis Call]] has observed that Fawkes is now "a major icon in modern political culture". He went on to write that the image of Fawkes's face became "a potentially powerful instrument for the articulation of postmodern anarchism"{{efn|See [[Post-anarchism]]}} during the late 20th century, exemplified by the [[Guy Fawkes mask|mask]] worn by V in the comic book series ''[[V for Vendetta]]'', who fights against a fictional [[fascism|fascist]] English state. | ||
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| ==See also== | ==See also== | ||
| *[[Gunpowder Plot in popular culture]] | *[[Gunpowder Plot in popular culture]] | ||
| *[[Guy Fawkes mask]] | *[[Guy Fawkes mask]] | ||
| {{GFDL}} | {{GFDL}} | ||
Revision as of 19:04, 22 October 2013
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Guy Fawkes (13 April 1570 – 31 January 1606) sometimes known as Guido Fawkes, was a member of a group of Roman Catholic revolutionaries from England who planned to carry out the Gunpowder Plot. The plot was an attempt to blow up the Houses of Parliament, which would displace Protestant rule by killing King James I of England and the entire Protestant aristocracy, on 5 November 1605.
Guy Fawkes (13 April 1570 – 31 January 1606), also known as Guido Fawkes, the name he adopted while fighting for the Spanish in the Low Countries, was a member of a group of provincial English Catholics who planned the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605.
Fawkes was born and educated in York. His father died when Fawkes was eight years old, after which his mother married a recusant Catholic. Fawkes later converted to Catholicism and left for the continent, where he fought in the Eighty Years' War on the side of Catholic Spain against Protestant Dutch reformers. He travelled to Spain to seek support for a Catholic rebellion in England but was unsuccessful. He later met Thomas Wintour, with whom he returned to England.
Wintour introduced Fawkes to Robert Catesby, who planned to assassinate Template:Nowrap and restore a Catholic monarch to the throne. The plotters secured the lease to an undercroft beneath the House of Lords, and Fawkes was placed in charge of the gunpowder they stockpiled there. Prompted by the receipt of an anonymous letter, the authorities searched Westminster Palace during the early hours of 5 November, and found Fawkes guarding the explosives. Over the next few days, he was questioned and tortured, and eventually he broke. Immediately before his execution on 31 January, Fawkes jumped from the scaffold where he was to be hanged and broke his neck, thus avoiding the agony of the mutilation that followed.
Fawkes became synonymous with the Gunpowder Plot, the failure of which has been commemorated in England since 5 November 1605. His effigy is traditionally burned on a bonfire, commonly accompanied by a firework display.
Historian Lewis Call has observed that Fawkes is now "a major icon in modern political culture". He went on to write that the image of Fawkes's face became "a potentially powerful instrument for the articulation of postmodern anarchism"Template:Efn during the late 20th century, exemplified by the mask worn by V in the comic book series V for Vendetta, who fights against a fictional fascist English state.
See also
