The official name of the United Kingdom is a ruthlessly long one called "Great Britain and the United Kingdom of Northern Ireland", and the name of the United Kingdom is not often used in Japan, and the United Kingdom takes the acronym of United Kingdom as the United States is called USA. Translated as UK.
Just as Britain's national football team is dispersed in four regions, Britain is also a coalition of several countries, just like the United States. It's a little difficult for Japanese people to understand, but it's easy to understand if you think that the human body is made up of cells, which are several living things.
The United Kingdom is now divided into four regions, but even if one England is taken, it cannot be unified, and England was first unified in 937 and China was first unified in BC. Considering that it is 221 years, it is quite late.
It is a story that shows how amazing Qin Shi Huang is, but aside from that, it was Azerstan who first unified England and became King of England.
Maybe 95% of the Japanese are who? Let's take a look at the person who used the title of King of England for the first time in history.
Grandson of Alfred the Great
After the withdrawal of Rome, the land of England was dominated by the Anglo-Saxon tribe of the Germanic tribes, which were divided into seven kingdoms. However, the massive invasion of the Viking Danes devastated those kingdoms, and the Anglo-Saxon kingdom was on the verge of extinction.
It was Alfred the Great of the Kingdom of Wessex who made up for it. When he expelled the Danes, he strengthened the Wessex kingship and gained the right to issue a "territorial certificate." He now has the right to appoint a lord who governs each region.
That right was passed on to his firstborn, Edward, and then to his grandson, Azerstan.
Azerstan ousted the still-attacking Danes, occupied York, a city in northern England, and began using the name "King of England" around this time.
Northern forces such as the King of Scotland dissatisfied with this and proceeded south, and although the two armies clashed at the battle of Brunenburg, Azerstan won the battle brilliantly and completely established the advantage on Great Britain Island.
Azerstan was dispatched from the aristocrats (counts) and kingdoms who ruled each region, forming a "state system" based on his grandfather Alfred, forming a county under the state, and a ten-member group (tithing) under it. The policy was to gradually integrate the deputies.
He also began casting silver pennies, making it the unified currency of England.
Qin Shi Huang made China the unified currency of the later Qin, and made the ban liang the unified currency of China, which made trade much more prosperous, but later in 1200, a unified currency was finally born in England. It is a translation.
Azerstan's Foreign Policy
Azerstan was also enthusiastic about foreign policy.
He succeeded in marrying Otto the Great, the first Holy Roman Emperor, and Hugh Capet, King of the French Tudor dynasty, to marry his sister, which formed an alliance between Britain, France and Germany today. is what happened.
This is the first and last time an alliance has been formed between these participating countries. To put it a little further, Britain is the only participating country that still has kingship.
Witan and Christianity
Azerstan's achievements do not stop there.
He is said to have set up the Witan Council, which later became the basis of the British Parliament.
The wise men's meeting itself was already there at the time of Alfred the Great, and for that matter, it was already seen around the 7th century, but it was Azerstan that established the system, and he frequently held this wise men's meeting. known.
This refers to a conference that convenes aristocrats called Eardermans from all over England, as well as priests of a large church centered on Canterbury Archbishop, and aristocrats called Thane, and various things such as diplomacy and justice centered on legislation. It was a place to discuss issues. It can be said that it is the beginning of the current parliamentary system.
Not only the prince but also many Christian priests participated in the conference, which was held three times a year, Christmas, which is the birthday of Christ, Easter, which is said to be the resurrection of Christ, and Pentecost, which is said to have descended the Holy Spirit. There is also a big feature in what was done.
You can see how powerful the Christian power, centered on the Pope, was in Europe at that time.
Although Azerstan himself did not do it, his nephew Edgar, who succeeded him and became King of England, invited Archbishop of Canterbury to hold a large coronation on his coronation.
Some have emphasized this coronation and made Edgar the first King of England.
* There are three kings from Azerstan to Edgar.
Azerstan itself was single and had no children throughout his life, and his throne was succeeded by his younger brother Edmund I. Edgar is his son.
Personal evaluation of Azerstan
It can be said that he was a very good monarch.
He was the man who pushed England to the ranks of power in military, domestic and diplomatic affairs, and was the one who developed the country by successfully linking secular and religious authority, and should be taken up in the history of parliamentary democracy. It will be a person.
It is strange that such a person is almost unknown in Japan.
I think he is a person who can be evaluated a little more in Japan.
At least, the achievement is far greater than that of Lion Heart Richard I.