Gunpowder is the simple but nonetheless evocative name of an upcoming BBC historical thriller about the Gunpowder Plot, which might be familiar to some people as the event that inspired Guy Fawkes Night. Regardless, the historical thriller will see Kit Harington of Game of Thrones fame starring as Robert Catesby, who was the leader of the English Catholics behind the plot. Meanwhile, Liv Tyler will be playing a women named Anne Vaux who had an indirect role in the plot, while Tom Cullen will be playing Guy Fawkes, who has a presence in pop culture because of the stylized Guy Fawkes masks used in V for Vendetta. Regardless, people who are interested in learning more should check out the trailer that has been released, though they should know that events did not turn well for the plotters to say the least.
What Was the Gunpowder Plot?
For those who are unfamiliar with the Gunpowder Plot, it is important to understand the English Reformation. In brief, England became Protestant because King Henry VIII of England needed a male heir to secure the English succession, which he believed would be impossible with his first wife Catherine of Aragon because the Book of Leviticus prohibits men from getting married to their brothers’ widows. Unfortunately for Henry, the Pope had excellent reason to be fearful of Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, who happened to be Catherine’s nephew. As a result, Henry broke off the Church of England from the Roman Catholic Church to get an annulment of his marriage, though there were other reasons behind his choice as well.
Regardless, freedom of religion was not in vogue at the time, meaning that there were numerous conflicts between Catholics and Protestants throughout the European world. Over time, Protestants became more and more preeminent in England, while Catholics became more and more mistreated. As a result, a lot of English Catholics were enthused upon hearing that King James VI of Scotland would be the one to succeed his first cousin twice removed Queen Elizabeth I of England as King James I of England. In part, this is because James was believed to be more lenient than Elizabeth. However, it also helped that a lot of Catholics suspected that he had Catholic sympathies because his Catholic mother had been executed by Elizabeth for sanctioning an assassination attempt against her.
In time, the English Catholic enthusiasm for James cooled. He was more lenient on them than Elizabeth, but he showed no interest in increased tolerance for their faith. As a result, there were a number of plots against James carried out by English Catholics, which made him even less receptive towards their interests. Like its name suggests, the Gunpowder Plot consisted of a plan to blow up the House of Lords at a State Opening of the English Parliament while a rebellion in the Midlands would provide the plotters with a chance to kidnap James’s daughter Elizabeth. Once the English government had been decapitated, the plotters would enthrone Elizabeth as a puppet ruler while putting themselves as the powers behind the throne.
The Gunpowder Plot was revealed when someone sent a warning to a baron named William Parker, who proceeded to warn the authorities. As a result, a search was conducted of the House of Lords, which uncovered Guy Fawkes as well as more than enough barrels of gunpowder to blow up the building. This prompted the plotters to flee, though some made a last stand at Holbeche House. Those who survived were tried, convicted, and sentenced to be hanged, drawn, and quartered, which is to say, they were hanged for a time, cut down while still conscious, castrated, disemboweled, and then quartered. Guy Fawkes was fortunate in that he broke his neck by jumping from the gallows, thus saving himself from the full extent of his sentence.
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