The Gunpowder Plot, 5th November 1605

November 5, 2013

• Topical

Do you know the history behind Guy Fawkes Night..? Read on to discover why we have fireworks and build bonfires on this night each year…

The ultimate aim was to restore civic rights to Roman Catholics. The plotters, a group of Catholic extremists, planned to place James’ nine-year old daughter on the throne as a Catholic puppet monarch. If the Gunpowder Plot, planned for the State Opening on 5th November 1604, had taken place successfully then the Houses of Parliament would have been blown up spectacularly and been reduced to rubble. In addition to this, Westminster Abbey would probably have been flattened as well as King James I being killed with his largely Protestant government and Parliament.

The plot did not, however, go to plan. Guy Fawkes, the explosives expert, was waiting by the 36 barrels of gunpowder that had been smuggled below the Houses of Parliament and preparing to light the fuse. During this time though, a warning was sent to a Catholic peer not to attend Parliament. This aroused suspicion and meant that guards were sent to check all of the cellars where Guy Fawkes was found and arrested. He was then tortured until he named all of his co-conspirators who were then in turn all duly rounded up before being sentenced to be hung, drawn and quartered.

Unsurprisingly the Catholic cause suffered a severe setback after this night resulting in emancipation taking another 200 years. King James I declared that his subjects should light great bonfires ever year on the 5th November and this is the history behind this tradition!

Who will be enjoying a firework celebration this evening??! Or has already done so over the weekend….?? Let us know at Kings Tutors.