In the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and South Africa, the failure of the Gunpowder Plot is celebrated annually on Guy Fawkes Night, also called Bonfire Night.
Early life
Fawkes, whose surname is sometimes also given as "Faukes", was born in Stonegate in York, where he was baptized in the church of St. Michael-le-Belfry. He attended St. Peter's School. He was the only son of Edward Fawkes of York and his wife Edith Blake. He grew up to be tall and of an athletic build with brown hair and a moderately brown beard. Fawkes converted to Catholicism at about the age of 16, according to his admission of recusancy at his preliminary interrogation following his capture.
He served for many years as a soldier, gaining considerable expertise with explosives. In 1593 he enlisted in the army of Archduke Albert of Austria in the Netherlands, fighting against the Protestant United Provinces in the Eighty Years' War. In 1596 he was present at the siege and capture of Calais. By 1602, however, he had still risen no higher than the rank of ensign.
Gunpowder Plot
Guy Fawkes is most famous for his involvement in the Gunpowder Plot of 1605, which he was placed in charge with executing due to his military and explosives experience. The plot, masterminded by Robert Catesby, was a failed attempt by a group of provincial English Catholic extremists to kill King James I of England, his family, and most of the Protestant aristocracy in one fell swoop by blowing up the Houses of Parliament during its State Opening. Guy Fawkes was first introduced to Robert Catesby by a man named Hugh Owen.
Fawkes and the other conspirators were able to rent a cellar beneath the House of Lords. By March 1605, they had hidden approximately 2.5 tonnes of gunpowder in the cellar, with the intent of detonating it during the State Opening of Parliament. Several of the conspirators were concerned, however, about fellow Catholics who would have been present at parliament during the opening. One of the conspirators had written a letter of warning to Lord Monteagle, who received it on October 26. The conspirators became aware of the letter the following day, but they resolved to continue the plot after Fawkes had confirmed that nothing had been touched in the cellar.
Lord Monteagle had been suspicious, however, and the letter was sent to the secretary of state who initiated a search of the vaults beneath the House of Lords. Fawkes was discovered and arrested during a raid on the cellar in the early morning of November 5. He was tortured over the next few days, after special permission to do so had been granted by the King. Eventually, he revealed the names of his co-conspirators. On January 31, Fawkes, Wintour, and a number of others implicated in the conspiracy were taken to Old Palace Yard in Westminster, where they were hanged, drawn, and quartered.
Legacy
The significance of the Gunpowder Plot, with Guy Fawkes being its central figure, has meant that his name remains well recognised. The complete story, his motivations, and the role of his co-conspirators are often simplified or ignored, however.
Guy Fawkes and children
Guy Fawkes is popular among children. A common children's activity during celebrations of Guy Fawkes' capture, trial and execution, has been to make a "guy" from stuffed old clothes, and place it on a bonfire. Sometimes, young children also parade "guys" around the streets in wheelbarrows, soliciting money.
An historical children's rhyme that documents the Gunpowder Plot begins:
- Remember, remember the fifth of November,
- gunpowder, treason and plot,
- I see no reason why gunpowder treason
- should ever be forgot.
Language
In an example of semantic progression, Guy Fawkes' name is also the origin of the word "guy" in the English language, particularly in American spoken English. The burning on 5 November of an effigy of Fawkes, known as a "guy", led to the use of the word "guy" as a term for "a person of grotesque appearance". Over time, the word evolved to become a general reference for a man, as in "some guy called for you." In the 20th century, under the influence of American popular culture, "guy" gradually replaced "fellow," "bloke," "chap" and other such words in many English speaking countries.
Literature
The story of Guy Fawkes was a major inspiration for Alan Moore's post-nuclear dystopian science fiction graphic novel of a fascist Britain, V for Vendetta. The main character in that story, V, is modelled on Fawkes. In the story, V finally explodes the abandoned parliament buildings on a future November 5 as his first move to bring down the nation's fascist tyranny. Charles Dickens also referred to Fawkes quite often, particularly in his history of England, but also with references in his novels.
General popularity
Guy Fawkes appears in the 2002 list of "100 Greatest Britons", sponsored by the BBC and voted for by the public. The list ranks him alongside others such as David Beckham, Aleister Crowley, Winston Churchill and Johnny Rotten. Although Guy Fawkes' actions were synonymous with terrorism, cynical Britons, who criticise the integrity of politicians, sometimes joke that he was the only man to go to Parliament with honourable intentions.
Guy Fawkes is documented in many movie newsreels (see the archives of British Pathe and Movie Tone). The discovery of the plot, the celebration, and Guy Fawkes are also mentioned in many popular songs and ballads. Notably, in the The Smiths album The Queen is Dead vinyl version, the text "Guy Fawkes was a genius" is carved near the centre of the record.
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