#royal charter storm

[cassiecasyl]

Downed And Downed

Inspired this art by @rawbutprecious, I wrote a fic as part of @go-minisode-minibang!

Downed And Drowned (6,721 words | Rated M)

1859 is a peculiar year. It is a stormy year in every way, and Aziraphale keeps sensing the presence of Crowley. He hadn't seen, much less perceived, the demon since that faithful night in Edinburgh some thirty years back. So, when he finally pinpoints the occult presence to an island in the midst of a great storm, Aziraphale goes out to save his demon. Crowley, meanwhile, isn't sure about his role in this gale.

Read on Ao3!

[willowser]

HMMMMMM interesting to think about arranged marriage with prince shouto...............

i think he wouldn't know. what to expect with you. i think he'd have an idea, as in, what his father, the king, has taught him; the duties of a wife, where your importance ranks in relation to his duties. what he's not meant to discuss with you, like politics and matters at court and foreign relations. how you will speak to him. what to buy in the event that you become...unhappy. a nuisance.

("and she will," enji had muttered, briefly glancing up from the parchment on his desk to fix shouto with a look he didn't understand. "they always do.")

you don't meet until the royal wedding, when you're coming down the long aisle of the grand cathedral, dressed up in a swathe of silk and lace. a thin, gossamer veil hides you from him, but he can feel the ardor in your eyes, the intensity burning through the material. it doesn't seem real until your bare face is only a breath from his own, until he has to see the earnestness in your stare, too.

your kiss is simple and chaste, nothing spectacular, something that leaves his mind as soon as it's over. ever a todoroki, a hundred other things enter his mind, all regarding his now iron-laid obligations: it's vital he meet with advisor keigo to reiterate the plan to establish his authority among the council; general aizawa is in attendance to the wedding, and shouto has not yet received word on his opinion of the new king's ideas to modernize their armed forces; midoriya is somewhere, no doubt wanting to go over state affairs again.

truthfully, shouto doesn't spend long "celebrating". there's already too much that's required of him, hardly enough time to even scarf down a few bites of the banquet laid out before he's being chartered off into discussions on foreign relations and infrastructure development. maybe once or twice does he look back to check on you, chatting pleasantly with his mother and sister at the front of the great hall, and that's satisfying enough.

it's not until much later that he sees you again; freshly bathed and wearing something sheer and long and white, atop his bed.

or his marriage bed, he must remind himself.

enji didn't spend long going over consummation, with him or either of his brothers—natsuo, red-faced and annoyed at the very subject, always storming off, and touya had seemed well-aware of the process, at the time (back before he'd been ex-communicated). it had sounded simple: strip off your dress, get his cock out and into you, and only retreat once he was sure his seed had been spilled.

—so he's not exactly sure what to do or think or how to feel, when you're laid bare and reaching up to hold his face.

it's so startling that he sits back on his knees, to frown where he's looming over you.

you stare at him quietly, like you're expecting him to say something, and he only has a moment to wonder if this is you becoming an unhappy nuisance—what had been the answer, to solve this, anyway?—before you let out a soft laugh.

"c'mere," you tell him, sitting up, too, when he keeps his distance. "i want you to kiss me."

"i already have."

"yes," you laugh again, amusement glowing in your eyes, like the warmth off the fireplace, as you reach for the ties on his trousers. "but you're meant to do it again."

and up until then, he'd felt confident in his achievements, his executions; he'd managed a lot today, in one evening, and he had a lifetime to manage more. it was a good a start as any, he'd thought, but now—

shouto almost can't get the words out when he feels your hands ghosting up the inside of his shirt, nails tickling over his ribs. "a-am i?"

you wrap your arms around his waist in what could be a hug, scooting forward to look up at him with your chin against his chest. "yes," you smile and—it's familiar in a way, how touya would whenever he was teasing. "you're my husband, you're meant to kiss me whenever i want."

that—was not something his father had ever said, he was sure, and it was a too-rare exchange between his own parents. now that he thinks about it—and he does, then, because he's faced with the reality that he doesn't know as much as he should—he's not sure the former king and queen even sleep in the same room, much less the same bed.

much less hug and touch and even smile, the way you do now.

there's no argument he can make against it, aside from finding keigo to find his father to verify the truth to such a statement, and he's only meant to retreat from this bed on one condition.

and if this is what it takes to meet that—then shouto supposes he'll have to do it, for now. he's a brand new king, after all, and it would seem he still has much to learn.

[usafphantom2]

The Netherlands authorizes Ukraine to use donated F-16 fighters to attack targets in Russia

Dutch politicians follow the same decision made by Denmark on the use of the F-16 for attacks within Russian territory.

Fernando Valduga By Fernando Valduga 06/04/2024 - 08:00 in Military, War Zones

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The Netherlands announced that it will allow the Ukrainian Air Force to use the 24 F-16 fighters it will receive by donation to be used in attacks against targets within Russian territory.

The Dutch Minister of Defense, Kajsa Ollongren, confirmed that the Netherlands will not impose limitations on the use of F-16 jets. This decision marks a divergence from Belgium's policy, which limits the use of its donated F-16s.

In an interview with the newspaper Politico at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Ollongren said: "There is no [a restriction to the Belgian style]. We are putting into practice the same principle that we apply to all other supplies of capacity, that is, once it is delivered to Ukraine, it is theirs to use." She added that the Netherlands only asks Ukraine to comply with international law and the right to self-defense, as established in the United Nations Charter, ensuring that the jets are used to achieve Ukraine's military objectives in self-defense.

Ollongren and U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin were among the senior officials who met with the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, at the Singapore conference. Denmark also approved Ukraine's use of F-16s provided by Denmark against military targets on Russian soil. Germany has also indicated that Ukraine can use weapons provided by the West for its defense.

Recently, the U.S. authorized Ukraine to attack Russian territory near Kharkiv using U.S.-suplied weapons, confirmed by President Zelensky's spokesman, Serhii Nykyforov, on May 31. However, Washington continues to restrict the use of long-range weapons for deeper attacks within Russia. President Zelensky has expressed interest in using long-range weapons, such as British-made Storm Shadow missiles, but the United Kingdom has not yet fully authorized their use, possibly awaiting a clear position from the White House. The issue has been discussed twice with UK authorities, but remains dependent on a broader international consensus, particularly the US position.

Tags: Military AviationF-16 Fighting FalconUkraine Air ForceRNLAF - Royal Netherlands Air Force / Royal Dutch Air ForceWar Zones - Russia/Ukraine

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Fernando Valduga

Fernando Valduga

Aviation photographer and pilot since 1992, he has participated in several events and air operations, such as Cruzex, AirVenture, Dayton Airshow and FIDAE. He has works published in specialized aviation magazines in Brazil and abroad. He uses Canon equipment during his photographic work in the world of aviation.

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[scotianostra]

On 18th December 1661, the ‘Elizabeth of Burntisland’ sank while returning 85 barrels of historic records to Scotland, after Oliver Cromwell removed them from Stirling Castle.

Among the state documents that went down with the Elizabeth were charters and records dating back to the reigns of King Robert the Bruce and his son King David II.

But why were these important historic documents being shipped north from London in a storm? To answer that question we must go back to 1650 and Oliver Cromwell’s military campaign into Scotland.

In 1650, Oliver Cromwell’s New Model Army entered Scotland after the Scottish parliament, led by Covenanters, declared Charles II king. The defending forces were no match for Cromwell’s army of well-trained and well-provisioned professional soldiers. The Scots suffered severe losses as the city and castle of Edinburgh fell.

The Records of Scotland were held in a special register house in Edinburgh. After its capture the state and legal papers were allowed to be moved to Stirling Castle for safekeeping.

The precious archive, however, was not safe for long. In August 1651, Cromwell’s military commander, General Monck, laid siege to Stirling Castle. Monck set up artillery around the castle, including in a nearby churchyard, “whence for three days a fire was kept up causing considerable damage to the Castle.” When the Castle fell, Cromwell’s forces, carried off their ‘spoils of war.’ These included not only the Earl of Mar’s coronet and robes but also the national records.

The records were sent to the Tower of London, Cromwell may have wanted to have all records of his new ‘commonwealth’ in one archive, or he may have wished to demonstrate his power over a subjugated nation. Either way, it became very difficult to bring any legal cases in Scotland with the records in England.

After the restoration of Charles II in 1660, arrangements were made for the records to be returned to Edinburgh. However, a series of ill thought out decisions were to lead to their destruction.

Firstly, the ship carrying the records was due to sail during a period of particularly stormy weather. Secondly, it was well known that the Elizabeth of Burntisland was not the most seaworthy of vessels. Her Captain was reluctant to take the precious cargo. Ultimately, the Elizabeth was loaded with two tonnes of papers stored in 85 barrels.

The Captain’s apprehension was justified when the ship began to take on water off Northumbria. She sank, taking with her barrels of Scottish Royal charters and legal documents, documents whose loss leaves a hole in Scottish archives to this day.

[guerrerense]

Tamar 'Scot' por John Whitehouse Por Flickr: After a storming run over the South Devon bank, a late running Cross Country 'Voyager' delayed the arrival of 'Royal Scot' No. 46115 'Scots Guardsman' into Cornwall for the first time. With the distinctive crow of a Stanier whistle, 'Scots Guradsman' eases off the Royal Albert Bridge and enters Cornwall at Saltash heading The Railway Touring Company's 'Royal Duchy' charter, 1Z33 0850 Bristol temple Meads - Par on 20th August 2023. Copyright Photograph John Whitehouse - all rights reserved

[grandmaster-anne]

Court Circular | 9th February 2023

Buckingham Palace

Her Excellency Mrs Hélène Duchêne was received in audience by The King today and presented the Letters of Recall of her predecessor and her own Letters of Credence as Ambassador from the French Republic to the Court of St James’s. Mr Remi Duchêne was also received by His Majesty. Her Excellency Ms Francella Strickland was received in audience by The King and presented the Letters of Recall of her predecessor and her own Letters of Commission as High Commissioner for the Independent State of Samoa in London. Ms Juliet Chua (Director General for Finance and Corporate, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) was present. His Majesty this afternoon visited Leighton House, 12 Holland Park Road, London W14. Later Miss Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam was received in audience by The King and kissed hands upon her appointment as His Majesty’s Governor of Turks and Caicos Islands. The following were received in audience by The King and kissed hands upon their appointment as His Majesty’s Ambassadors: Mr Edward Ferguson (the Republic of Serbia), Mr Vinay Talwar (the Republic of Djibouti) and Mr Simon Walters (the State of Israel). Mrs Ferguson was also received by His Majesty. The King subsequently received Colonel Chris Hadfield (former Canadian Astronaut, Commander of the International Space Station). The Queen Consort this morning visited Storm Family Centre, Strasburg Road, Doddington Estate, Battersea, London SW11, and was received by Mrs Colleen Harris (Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London).

Kensington Palace

The Prince and Princess of Wales, Duke and Duchess of Cornwall this afternoon visited the National Maritime Museum Falmouth, Discovery Quay, Falmouth, and were received by His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Cornwall (Colonel Edward Bolitho). Their Royal Highnesses afterwards visited the Dracaena Centre, Dracaena Avenue, Falmouth.

St James’s Palace

The Earl of Wessex, Patron, the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain, this afternoon attended a Luncheon at Coutts and Company, 440 Strand, London WC2, and afterwards attended a performance of Much Ado About Nothing at the Duke of York’s Theatre, St Martin’s Lane, London WC2. The Countess of Wessex, Chairman, Women’s Network Forum, this afternoon chaired a Meeting at Buckingham Palace. Her Royal Highness, Patron, Chartered Management Institute, later attended a Conference to mark National Apprenticeship Week at County Hall, Belvedere Road, London SE1.

St James’s Palace

The Princess Royal this morning opened the renovated David Livingstone Birthplace in Station Road, Blantyre, and was received by His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Lanarkshire (the Lady Haughey). Her Royal Highness this afternoon visited the South Lanarkshire Council housing regeneration project at Rona Terrace, Whitlawburn, Cambuslang, Lanarkshire. The Princess Royal, Royal Patron, Friends of TS Queen Mary, later attended a Ninetieth Anniversary Reception at Voco Grand Central Hotel, 99 Gordon Street, Glasgow, and was received by His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of the City of Glasgow (Councillor Jacqueline McLaren, the Rt Hon the Lord Provost).

Kensington Palace

The Duke of Gloucester, President, the Britain-Nepal Society, this afternoon received Mr Andrew Sparkes (Chairman) and Colonel Nicholas Hinton (Chairman, Britain-Nepal Non-Governmental Organisation Network).

St James’s Palace

The Duke of Kent, President, Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund, this morning attended a Memorial Service to commemorate the anniversary of the death of the Viscount Trenchard OM which was held in the Royal Air Force Chapel, Westminster Abbey, London SW1.

[grlnxtdr30]

I posted 2,772 times in 2022

171 posts created (6%)

2,601 posts reblogged (94%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@jaci3

@firlachiel

@rejectingrepublicans

@wilwheaton

@everythingfox

I tagged 68 of my posts in 2022

#klaineccvalentines2022 - 13 posts

#youtube - 7 posts

#young royals - 4 posts

#uquiz - 3 posts

#klaine - 3 posts

#glee - 2 posts

#yr s2 - 2 posts

#young royals season 2 - 2 posts

#somewhere ohio verse - 2 posts

#blaine is a substitute teacher - 1 post

Longest Tag: 128 characters

#thin xtra marinara reg cheese pepperoni mushroom black olive pineapple artichoke hearts roasted garlic and a sprinkle of oregano

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

Chapters: 1/14 Fandom: Glee Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Kurt Hummel/Blaine Anderson Characters: Kurt Hummel, Blaine Anderson Additional Tags: Klaine CC Valentines Challenge 2022 Summary:

Exactly what the title says!

FF.net

16 notes - Posted January 31, 2022

#4

Chapters: 14/14 Fandom: Glee Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Kurt Hummel/Blaine Anderson Characters: Kurt Hummel, Blaine Anderson Additional Tags: Klaine CC Valentines Challenge 2022 Summary:

Exactly what the title says!

FF.net

17 notes - Posted February 13, 2022

#3

Chapters: 2/14 Fandom: Glee Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Kurt Hummel/Blaine Anderson Characters: Kurt Hummel, Blaine Anderson Additional Tags: Klaine CC Valentines Challenge 2022 Summary:

Exactly what the title says!

FF.net

18 notes - Posted February 2, 2022

#2

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Glee Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Kurt Hummel/Blaine Anderson Characters: Kurt Hummel, Blaine Anderson, Adam Crawford, Rachel Berry, Burt Hummel, Carole Hudson-Hummel Additional Tags: Christmas Fluff, coffee shop AU, Fake Dating, For the Secret Santa Klaine event Summary:

Kurt discovers that his boyfriend is a two timing bastard on the day before he is set to introduce him to his parents. What is he going to tell his dad? Blaine Anderson never imagined he'd own a coffee shop in New York, but sometimes life likes to play tricks on you. When the guy he had a crush on in high school walks into his shop, is it destiny?

For @lilyvandersteen

FF.net

32 notes - Posted January 10, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

 Klaine 3-2-1 Prompt Bang Fic: Mayday

Author: @grlnxtdr30

Artist: @gleefulpoppet

Prompt Provided by: @grlnxtdr30

Pairing(s): Kurt Hummel/Blaine Anderson

Rating: Mature

Word Count: 11,094

Characters: Kurt Hummel, Blaine Anderson, Sam Evans, Mercedes Jones, Rachel Berry, Santana Lopez, Artie Abrams

Summary: Written for the 3 2 1 Prompt Bang Second Wave 2022! AU; Blaine Anderson is a charter pilot who has been hired to fly a small group of people to a destination wedding on a private island off the coast of the Philippines. After a midair collision with an unknown object, the plane is forced to land on an uncharted island about a hundred knots from civilization, with a major storm bearing down on them. On board; Broadway’s darling, Rachel Berry. Grammy award winning recording artist, Mercedes Jones. Oscar winning film maker, Artie Abrams. And reclusive fashion designer, Kurt Hummel. Can they survive until help arrives?

Genre/Tropes: Pilot Blaine/Fashion designer Kurt

Read on ao3

69 notes - Posted August 4, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 10.26 (before 1950)

1185 – The Uprising of Asen and Peter begins on the feast day of St. Demetrius of Thessaloniki and ends with the creation of the Second Bulgarian Empire. 1341 – The Byzantine civil war of 1341–1347 formally begins with the proclamation of John VI Kantakouzenos as Byzantine Emperor. 1377 – Tvrtko I is crowned the first king of Bosnia. 1520 – Charles V is crowned as Holy Roman Emperor. 1597 – Imjin War: Korean Admiral Yi Sun-sin routs the Japanese Navy of 300 ships with only 13 ships at the Battle of Myeongnyang. 1640 – The Treaty of Ripon is signed, restoring peace between Covenanter Scotland and King Charles I of England. 1689 – General Enea Silvio Piccolomini of Austria burns down Skopje to prevent the spread of cholera; he dies of the disease soon afterwards. 1774 – American Revolution: The First Continental Congress adjourns in Philadelphia. 1813 – War of 1812: A combined force of British regulars, Canadian militia and Mohawks defeat the United States Army in the Battle of the Chateauguay. 1825 – The Erie Canal opens, allowing direct passage from the Hudson River to Lake Erie. 1859 – The Royal Charter Storm kills at least eight hundred people in the British Isles. 1860 – Unification of Italy: The Expedition of the Thousand ends when Giuseppe Garibaldi presents his conquests to King Victor Emmanuel of Sardinia. 1863 – The Football Association is founded. 1871 – Liberian President Edward James Roye is deposed in a coup d'état. 1881 – Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday participate in the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral in Tombstone, Arizona. 1890 – Malleco Viaduct in Chile, at the time "the highest railroad bridge in the world", is inaugurated by President José Manuel Balmaceda. 1892 – Ida B. Wells publishes Southern Horrors: Lynch Law in All Its Phases. 1905 – King Oscar II recognizes the dissolution of the union between Norway and Sweden. 1909 – Japanese occupation of Korea: An Jung-geun assassinates Japan's Resident-General of Korea. 1912 – First Balkan War: The Ottomans lose the cities of Thessaloniki and Skopje. 1917 – World War I: Brazil declares war on the Central Powers. 1918 – World War I: Erich Ludendorff, quartermaster-general of the Imperial German Army, is dismissed by Kaiser Wilhelm II for refusing to cooperate in peace negotiations. 1936 – The first electric generator at Hoover Dam goes into full operation. 1937 – Nazi Germany begins expulsions of 18,000 Polish Jews. 1942 – World War II: In the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands during the Guadalcanal Campaign, one U.S. aircraft carrier is sunk and another carrier is heavily damaged, while two Japanese carriers and one cruiser are heavily damaged. 1944 – World War II: The Battle of Leyte Gulf ends with an overwhelming American victory. 1947 – Partition of India: The Maharaja of Kashmir and Jammu signs the Instrument of Accession with India, beginning the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947–1948 and the Kashmir conflict.

[global-education]

🚢 Unveiling History's Deadliest Shipwrecks 🌊

When we think of shipwrecks, images of sunken treasure, ghostly vessels, and epic adventures often come to mind. However, beneath the allure of these maritime mysteries lies a grim reality: history is dotted with some of the deadliest shipwrecks, claiming thousands of lives and leaving behind haunting stories that still send shivers down our spines. Let's dive deep into the turbulent waters of history to unveil some of the most harrowing tales of shipwrecks.

The Titanic Tragedy 🚢 The RMS Titanic, often dubbed "unsinkable," met its tragic fate in 1912 when it struck an iceberg on its maiden voyage. Over 1,500 lives were lost in one of the most famous shipwrecks in history.

The Wilhelm Gustloff 🌊 This German cruise ship was torpedoed by a Soviet submarine in 1945, resulting in the deaths of approximately 9,000 passengers and crew, making it the deadliest shipwreck in terms of lives lost.

The Lusitania ⚓ A German submarine sank the British ocean liner RMS Lusitania in 1915, leading to the loss of nearly 1,200 lives, including 128 Americans, which influenced the U.S. entry into World War I.

The USS Indianapolis 🇺🇸 The USS Indianapolis met a tragic end during World War II when it was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine. Over 800 crew members lost their lives in shark-infested waters.

The Empress of Ireland 🇨🇦 In 1914, this Canadian passenger liner collided with another ship and sank in the St. Lawrence River. More than 1,000 people perished, making it one of Canada's deadliest maritime disasters.

The Dona Paz 🇵🇭 In 1987, the MV Dona Paz collided with an oil tanker in the Philippines, resulting in a catastrophic fire. Around 4,000 people lost their lives in one of the deadliest peacetime maritime tragedies.

The MV Le Joola 🇸🇳 The Senegalese ferry MV Le Joola capsized in 2002, claiming the lives of over 1,800 passengers and crew members. It remains one of the deadliest non-military shipwrecks in history.

The Sultana 🚢 The steamboat Sultana exploded on the Mississippi River in 1865, killing an estimated 1,800 people, most of whom were Union soldiers returning home after the Civil War.

The Royal Charter 🇬🇧 A violent storm wrecked the Royal Charter off the coast of Wales in 1859, resulting in the deaths of around 450 passengers and crew members.

The Toya Maru 🇯🇵 In 1954, the Japanese ferry Toya Maru sank during a typhoon, claiming over 1,150 lives in one of Japan's worst maritime disasters.

These shipwrecks serve as chilling reminders of the perils faced by seafarers throughout history. While some were due to natural disasters or war, others were caused by human error or engineering flaws. Each tragedy has left an indelible mark on history, drawing us closer to the eerie mysteries of the deep sea.

In the age of modern navigation and advanced safety measures, we remember these shipwrecks not only as cautionary tales but also as testaments to the resilience of the human spirit. 🌟

[rya-first-aid-instructor-course]

What Are The Benefits Of An RYA Sea Survival Course?

The RYA (Royal Yachting Association) Sea Survival Course offers several benefits for individuals who are interested in boating or sailing activities. Some of the key benefits include:

Safety at sea: The course provides essential knowledge and practical skills to ensure your safety in emergency situations while at sea. You will learn how to handle and use safety equipment such as life rafts, life jackets, and flares effectively.

Emergency procedures: You will learn how to respond to various emergency situations, including man overboard, fire onboard, and abandoning ship. This knowledge can be crucial in saving lives and minimizing damage in such situations.

Enhanced confidence: By gaining knowledge and practicing survival techniques, you will feel more confident when venturing out on the water. This confidence can help you make better decisions and handle unexpected situations effectively.

Understanding weather conditions: The course covers topics related to weather forecasting, storm avoidance, and sea state analysis. This knowledge can help you plan your trips better and avoid potentially dangerous weather conditions.

International recognition: The RYA Sea Survival Course is widely recognized and accepted as a standard for sea survival training. This can be beneficial if you plan to charter a boat, participate in sailing events, or work in the maritime industry.

Teamwork and communication skills: During the course, you will have the opportunity to work with others in simulated emergency scenarios. This helps develop teamwork and communication skills, which are essential when dealing with emergencies at sea.

Compliance with regulations: For certain boating activities, such as offshore racing or commercial boating, completion of a sea survival course may be a regulatory requirement. The RYA Sea Survival Course can help you meet these requirements.

Overall, the RYA Sea Survival Course provides valuable knowledge and skills to ensure your safety and the safety of others while at sea. It prepares you for emergency situations, enhances your confidence, and helps you make informed decisions when boating or sailing.

[dreamsofalifeold]

"Have anything for October 26th, dearie?"

"In 1859 on that day, the Royal Charter Storm killed at least 800 people in the British Isles. It's also the anniversary of the eradication of smallpox."

[frimleyblogger]

There Ain’t ‘Alf Some Clever Bastards – Part 106

There Ain’t ‘Alf Some Clever Bastards – Part 106 - Robert FitzRoy and the development of the weather forecast

Robert FitzRoy (1805 – 1865)

We take weather forecasts very much for granted, but they are a relatively recent development. In the mid 19th century many believed that the weather was so unpredictable that forecasting it would be the height of futility. When one MP in 1854 suggested in Parliament that recent advances in scientific theory might allow them to know the weather in London…

[ltwilliammowett]

The Father of Forecast

After Captain Pringle Stokes committed suicide on the Beagle, Lieutenant Robert Fitzroy became her captain. In February 1829, his ship was blown onto the beams by a sudden violent gust. Only great seamanship saved the day, but two sailors were swept from the rigging and drowned. Immediately before the squall, the barometric pressure had dropped sharply, and Fitzroy's traumatic experience led him to wonder whether a more systematic means of predicting bad weather could not be devised.

Vice Admiral Robert Fitzroy (1805-65), by Samual Lane,c. 1837 (x)

In 1845 he proposed distributing barometers along the British coast to give early warning of storms, but nothing came of it. In 1854, the Board of Trade established a meteorological department and Fitzroy was appointed its head. In 1857, Fitzroy, who was by then an admiral, designed a simple, sturdy Fishery Barometer (which soon became known as the Fitzroy Barometer), engraved with meteorological rhymes, such as "When the rise begins after the low, we expect storms and a clear wind."

An  Admiral Fitzroy Barometer by Eg Wood Of London, c. 1880 (x)

With the financial support of some philanthropists, he distributed 100 of these barometers to various maritime centres and life-saving stations. Despite his efforts, a well-preserved ship, the Royal Charter, sank in a storm off the Welsh coast in 1859, killing nearly 400 people. The tragedy led to a call for the Meteorological Department to expand its activities, not only collecting weather statistics but also using the new telegraph network to send storm warnings to coastal centres even when the storm was probably already underway. Fitzroy went further and expanded his department into a unit for making weather forecasts, a term he had coined in 1855.

By 1861, Fitzroy had established a comprehensive system for issuing weather information and storm warnings, which he coordinated from his London office. He then produced a daily weather forecast that was published in The Times - something no one had seriously attempted before. However, the forecasts inevitably attracted attention when they were wrong, and Fitzroy was publicly ridiculed and condemned in the House of Commons. In his efforts to improve the quality of his predictions, Fitzroy worked until he dropped.

This is the very first public weather forecast written in FitzRoy's own hand on the Daily Weather Report for 31st July 1861. It forecast the weather for the 1st and 2nd August. On the page Fitzroy notes that he believes the forecasts might be advantageously added to the observation information already published in the newspapers and if approved of he would continue them on similar principles.(x)

When he became numb and suffered from exhaustion, depression and the fact that he had been passed over for promotions on several occasions, Admiral Fitzroy committed suicide at his home in Surrey on 30 April 1865. It was a tragic echo of the fate of the captain of HMS Beagle, whose post he had taken over. When the Finisterre maritime area was renamed in 2002 to avoid confusion with the Spanish maritime area of the same name, the Meteorological Office chose the name Fitzroy in honour of its founder.

[scotianostra]

On 18th  December 1661, the ‘Elizabeth of Burntisland’ sank while returning 85 barrels of historic records to Scotland, after Oliver Cromwell removed them from Stirling Castle.

Among the state documents that went down with the Elizabeth were charters and records dating back to the reigns of King  Robert the Bruce and his son King David II.

But why were these important historic documents being shipped north from London in a storm? To answer that question we must go back to 1650 and Oliver Cromwell’s military campaign into Scotland.

In 1650, Oliver Cromwell’s New Model Army entered Scotland after the Scottish parliament, led by Covenanters, declared Charles II king. The defending forces were no match for Cromwell’s army of well-trained and well-provisioned professional soldiers. The Scots suffered severe losses as the city and castle of Edinburgh fell.

The Records of Scotland were held in a special register house in Edinburgh. After its capture the state and legal papers were allowed to be moved to Stirling Castle for safekeeping.

The precious archive, however, was not safe for long. In August 1651,  Cromwell’s military commander, General Monck, laid siege to Stirling Castle. Monck set up artillery around the castle, including in a nearby churchyard, “whence for three days a fire was kept up causing considerable damage to the Castle.”  When the Castle fell, Cromwell’s forces, carried off their ‘spoils of war.’ These included not only the Earl of Mar’s coronet and robes but also the national records.

The records were sent to the Tower of London, Cromwell may have wanted to have all records of  his new ‘commonwealth’ in one archive, or he may have wished to demonstrate his power over a subjugated nation. Either way, it became very difficult to bring any legal cases in Scotland with the records in England.

After the restoration of Charles II in 1660, arrangements were made for the records to be returned to Edinburgh. However, a series of ill thought out decisions were to lead to their destruction.

Firstly, the ship carrying the records was due to sail during a period of particularly stormy weather. Secondly, it was well known that the Elizabeth of Burntisland was not the most seaworthy of vessels. Her Captain was reluctant to take the precious cargo. Ultimately, the Elizabeth was loaded with two tonnes of papers stored in 85 barrels.

The Captain’s apprehension was justified when the ship began to take on water off Northumbria. She sank, taking with her barrels of Scottish Royal charters and legal documents, documents whose loss leaves a hole in Scottish archives to this day.

[cappymightwrite]

Loved you breakdown of Sansa’s future. I also think that both Bran and Sansa can’t be childless. That’s just way too much instability in a realm with multiple succession crisis leading up to this point. The lords will want/demand, some kind of stable plan for the future after everything.

(post being referenced)

Thanks! 😍

I suppose I just think the promise of a new generation, of life continuing in spite of the death that preceded it, fits in well with what I understand 'a dream of spring' to be. So, certainly, for me, Sansa is very much intrinsic to that. Though, of course, I completely understand the uncomfortableness around that discussion, but it's important to consider that what we prefer and what might happen aren't necessarily going to be one in the same... and pointing out the foreshadowing for the latter, however enthusiastically, does not always equate to the former. But when in doubt, politely asking for clarification on someone's opinion is always a good practice, I'd say.

But anyway, yes, I agree with you on Sansa and the fate of the North, and my preference would be that occuring in an epilogue and/or when she's an adult. With regards to Bran, however... the thing with Bran is presumably he's going to be elected king, which raises a few questions. So, with that in mind, it might be that the person who follows Bran is likewise elected to kingship/queenship. @agentrouka-blog has talked about the possibility of a Great Council at Harrenhal, and building on that it could be interesting if we get a council of nobles that somewhat mirrors the Anglo-Saxon 'Witan.'

(A King with his Witan, Old English Hexateuch, 11th century)

The Witan, which literally translates to 'wise men,' was composed of leading magnates, both ecclesiastic (senior clergy) and secular (noblemen, e.g. ealdormen + thegns). It had the primary function of advising the king on subjects such as:

Promulgation of laws

Judicial judgments

Approval of charters transferring land

Settlement of disputes

Election of archbishops and bishops

Other matters of major national importance

Now, you could say this is comparable to what we already find in Westeros with the small council. However, the key difference is that the Witan also had the authority to elect and approve the appointment of a new king. An example of this is the acension of King Alfred to the throne of Wessex, which he inherited from his brother, Æthelred. Alfred succeeded as the only adult contender, setting aside Æthelred´s infant sons. It´s still keeping things in the family, I'll admit, yet it still nonetheless highlights the administrative power of the Witan to set aside direct heirs in favour of someone else.

If we apply that to whoever might succeed Bran, it could be that his ´Witan´ goes with a relative, either a child of Bran´s (though the show eliminated that possibility) or a niece/nephew... or this new institution could be even more radical and choose a successor based on merit, bringing things closer to a democracy. Maybe that does make things less stable than simply following a patrilineal succession... but then again, the old way of things had it problems too. So, I don't think Bran has to have children, because the fundamental question still kind of remains... why Bran? If we're keeping things patrilineal, why not a legitimised Baratheon, such as Edric Storm? Why elect someone, from a family unconnected to the previous royal dynasties, only to then revert back to the old way of doing things? That's my sticking point... the election of a king, specifically Bran, feels like a radical, fairly democratic act, and I think it should have some impact on the institution of kingship in Westeros (or whatever combo of kingdoms he governs) moving forward.

Thanks for the ask! 😄