National Personifications and Historical Events of the United Kingdom

National Personifications

Britannia - a national personification of the United Kingdom. The name 'Britannia' symbolizes Britain and British patriotism.

Caledonia

Latin name given by the Romans to the land north of their province of Britannia, roughly corresponding to modern-day Scotland.

Cambria

Name for Wales, being the Latinized form of the Welsh name for the country, Cymru.

Hibernia

Classical Latin name for the island of Ireland.

Eire

Irish for 'Ireland', the name of an island and a sovereign state.

Erin

Hiberno-English derivative of the Irish word 'Éirinn'.

The Emerald Isle

Poetic name for Ireland due to its green countryside.

the Union Jack

National flag of the United Kingdom.

John Bull

National personification of the United Kingdom.

Historical Events

Wars of Roses

Series of English civil wars for control of the throne of England.

Act of Supremacy

English act of Parliament that recognized Henry VIII as the 'Supreme Head of the Church of England.'

Elizabeth I

Queen of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death on 24 March 1603.

the Civil War

Series of civil wars and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists.

Bloodless Revolution

November 1688 deposition and subsequent replacement of James II as ruler of England, Scotland and Ireland.

Bill of Rights

1689 landmark Act in the constitutional law of England that sets out certain basic civil rights.

Robert Walpole

First Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

House of Windsor

Reigning royal house of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms.

Government

The role of the monarch

Constitutional and representational duties of the Monarch.

Collective responsibility

Members of the cabinet must publicly support all governmental decisions made in Cabinet.

Single party government

Form of government where the country is ruled by a single political party.

Councils

Part of local government with various functions such as social care, schools, housing, and planning.

The Cabinet

Collective decision-making body of Her Majesty's Government of the United Kingdom.

Cabinet Office

Responsible for supporting the Prime Minister and Cabinet of the United Kingdom.

Prime Minister

Leader of Her Majesty’s Government and ultimately responsible for the policy and decisions of the government.

Cabinet Reshuffle

Rotation or changes in the composition of ministers in the cabinet.