Rule Britannia was written to celebrate The Royal Navy becoming powerful enough to stop the barbary pirates from attacking British fishing vessels and coastal villages and selling men and women into slavery in North Africa.
I am sorry,but(originally) it had nothing to do with the Royal Navy,and Barbary pirates. Rule Britannia is from an Opera called "Alfred",written in 1740 by Thomas Arne. The following synopsis is based on the work as performed in London in 1740 The setting is the Isle of Athelney in the year 878. Following a defeat by the Vikings, Alfred has taken refuge in the hut of the shepherd Corin and his wife Emma who wonder about the mysterious stranger. Alfred expresses his anguish at the state of affairs of his kingdom and prays to the Genius of Britannia. Alfred's wife Eltruda and his son Edward arrive and rejoice at finding him alive. Corin and Emma still have no idea who their guests really are. Later, Edward brings news that twelve hundred Britons loyal to Alfred are camped nearby and awaiting his command. Emma and Corrin now realise the true identity of their guests as Alfred departs for battle. When news of his victory reaches them, all rejoice. Edward praises the return of British values. Alfred exhorts his people: "Britons, proceed, the subject deep command, awe with your navies ev'ry hostile land". In response, all sing "Rule Britania", an ode in honour of Great Britain.era, and was written by Thomas Arne.
This is the first anti slavery song . It helped to bring out our anti slavery law where the British navy tried to stop the slave ships leaving Africa. The same law that also bought slaves from the plantations to free them. The couldn't afford to free the white slave in the Arabic nations because their were toi many of them and it would be to expensive. There were not so many African slave. We were paying off the national debt for this act of Parliament until 2015.
Yes the British saved many thousands of Enslaved Africans from off the ships and got them clothed fed and housed at their base in Seirra Leonne. . Many got jobs there and were able to use their wages to get back home to Nigeria etc on board a passenger ship
@@cerijames5216 only empire to enforce the abolition of slavery across the world... how saying a group of people shouldn't be slaves is somehow racist baffles me
Remember (because they'll never remind you) that they only won the Revolutionary War with the help of massive financial and military (naval) assistance from the French. Even American historians acknowledge that the rebels could never have won all by themselves. Isn't it funny how Americans always fail to mention that crucial fact?
@@lorddaver5729 Yea but Britain at that time wasn't a world power yet... Only when Britain invaded India around 1800's they took over the title of the world super power from Spain? Dutch?
@@KT-vs6cy You need to do some proper research, instead of simply guessing. Britain did not "invade India in the 1800s". The British East India Company had been established in India since the 1700s.(There was no "invasion" as such. The BEIC expanded over time in India with the help of local rulers). And Britain WAS a superpower by dint of having by far the largest navy in the world, which was necessary to secure Britain 's trade routes to Canada, Australia (convict transfers) and to fight off the incursions of the French fleet in the American colonies (which were lost - yes, we know), Canada and the Caribbean. As far as the Dutch were concerned, they were never a world superpower. Their colonies were far too few to be a match for the British. And Spain had ceased to be a world power after its initial "empire building" in South and Central America in the 1600s.
@@lorddaver5729 Yes I know British didn't do a full fledged invasion on India per say but it was only during the 1800s that GB managed to take over from british east india company and finish up taking over the whole of India... "During the 17th century, the navy of the Dutch Republic was the most powerful naval force in the world and played an active role in the Anglo-Dutch Wars, the Franco-Dutch War, and wars against Spain and several other European powers." Read up on Royal Netherlands Navy and the Dutch East India Company and the Dutch West India Company....
Rule Britannia isn’t the British national anthem. That’s God Save the Queen (King when the monarch is male). Rule Britannia is a popular patriotic song. It’s a bit like My Country ‘Tis Of Thee in the US; not the anthem but a well-known patriotic song nonetheless. Side note, GSTQ and MCTOT have the same tune
@igeto12 it was to instill a sense of pride too...of which i do believe it does. Also the "Britons shall not be slaves" owes in part some origins to a multitude of factors against nations and their treatment against the British, be it the Spannish, Barbary pirates and indian rebels who starved british captives. :)
@igeto12 it's also a resistance song, given the British whilst still a minor power were oppressed by the continental Catholic powers, but yeah, keep getting hung up on events centuries ago that we have been apologetic for plenty
@igeto12 I'm not really hurt, just baffled that this is still brought up every time a slither of British/English nationalism is brought about, at the world cup on RU-vid when the anthem was sung, always comments like yours about tHe BrItIsH eMpIrE dId BaD tHiNgS and then go I'm only talking facts tough don't get salty. Why if your only talking facts don't you go on a Portuguese national anthem and tell them they started the slave trade and were the first to set up colonial states, but nooooooo, the British empire was bad. Do you see why a lot of people are kinda sick of it now?
"Britannia rule the waves" - It's telling Britannia to rule the waves, not saying that it already does! That would be far too boastful for the British understated and inclusive style of patriotism.
When did heaven command this???? It’s pushing a mythology. It’s a myth. There is nothing in any sacred text that gives Britain the right over any waves.
@@Negs42 I think that the house of Hohenzollern should take back Germany in a constitutional role. It’d be like Britain! Plus, the amount of extra tourism money is ridiculous!
This song holds pride as it is an anti-slavery song. The British fought against slavery… and sent boats to patrol Africas coast to try to prevent slave ships leaving for America.
#Information: Promenade concerts have a tradition going back to the 18th century. "The Proms" started in 1895 conducted by Sir Henry Wood and are an annual season of concerts held every evening from July to September The Proms have been performed at the Royal Albert Hall in London since the 1940s but over the last 30 or so years there have also been Proms in concert halls and parks around the UK. Giant screens are set up around the UK for people to watch the Last Night and join in the singing. The second half of the Last Night always features "Rule Britannia", "Land of Hope and Glory", "Jerusalem", "Auld Lang Syne", and the National Anthem ("God Save The Queen"). "Rule Britannia" is always sung by an operatic soloist - not necessarily from the UK (the great Peruvian tenor Juan Diego Flores sang it in 2016 dressed in Inca costume).
"I don't know if this is in Britain...". lol. Rule Britannia, Royal Albert Hall, BBC Symphony Orchestra, a Royal Navy uniform from the time of Nelson, an English narrator, a caption saying 'Hyde Park, London' and thousands of Union Jacks... Hmmm... The clues are there methinks. Mind you, they didn't seem to be taking much in. I'm not sure I've ever seen two such blank looks. :)
Unfortunately I wasn't alive when the amazing empire was alive but I am fortunate to be born in the uk and I am extremely proud and glad of what this beautiful nation accomplished and extremely embarrassed at what it is today
This stirs up so much pride it can make you cry. If you had the misfortune of being subjected to a left leaning education from the mid 90's you will feel nothing.
bri-TAYNIER ?!? hahahahaa. this is a song..... its a bit more than just a song,its part of our pride at being British and celebrating our glorious and long long history.
The proms is held each year from Jun to sepl when they have this giant Festival. Every one is welcome and Hyde Park is also crammed in front of a screen just being joyful and celebrating our country. To get a ticket into the hall it well nigh impossible!. So the poor among us go to the park. Worth watching!.🌹
Rule Brittania was written in the 18th century, for a play about King Alfred, who was King of Wessex and the Anglo Saxons ans is considered to be the first King of England, which he dominated by the end of his reign. He defended much of England from constant attacks, raids and invasions from the Vikings who were the largest slave traders in Europe, and with the Irish Kings had the largest slave market in western europe based in Dublin, Ireland. Alfred tried to develop an early navy and built larger ships to defend the coasts of England. This theme was used in the 18th century (1745) , when the UK was under threat from Spain and other conflicts with european powers, linked to the War of Jenkins Ear and the War of the Austrian Succession (also linked to the earlier War of the Spanish Succession). There was also trouble in the UK associated with the wider european succession issues...the Rising, or the '45 and tensions regarding the Hanoverian and deposed Stewart rule over the UK. At the same time Barbary pirates were also attacking the UK to raid for slaves who were then transported to North Africa and the Ottoman empire and sold into slavery and then trafficked throughout the world. This song harks back to Alfred defending England and exhorting the UK to develop her Navy against invasions centuries later. It also draws on the attacks from the Barbary slave traders and the subsequent action taken in the 17th and later 18th and 19th century to force Tunis and Tripoli amongst others to stop attacking and trading British slaves. This is what is reflected on when Rule Brittania! is sung today.
No, this is not the British National Anthem...surprised you haven't heard of this patriotic British song before ....Also, having been clearly told that the orchestra was the BBC Symphony and that this was taking place in The Royal Albert Hall, in London, one of the most famous concert halls in the world, you still had some doubts about whether it wa or was not in Britain...How much information do you need to be given?
The other countries flags were England, Scotland and Wales, which make up Britain. Another Flag present may have been Northern Ireland, which is part of the UK, a country of countries. :-)
All that unity, patriotism and people having fun. It's like you've never seen it before. You guys smell of liberalism lol. Thanks for your perplexed reaction, it was hilarious.
This is not the anthem, this is an old patriotic song from when Britain was an empire. Their national anthem is "God save the queen". Greetings from Sweden.
This is an 18th century song but by the 19th century Britannia really did "rule the waves". And thank God they did. It was the might of the Royal Navy that stopped the trans-Atlantic slave trade.
The Royal Albert Hall, where this performance took place, is located in London. The Proms are held every year from July through to 11th September; on the last performance of the year, it's known as "The Last Night of the Proms". No, it is our National Anthem, though it would make a great one - God Save the Queen is our anthem, although many people would like our anthem to be Jerusalem. People from all over the world try and get to attend these performances. Remember too, the United Kingdom is made up of FOUR separate countries: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and we each have our own flag - the English flag is a simple red cross on a white background. The Union Jack is a combination of our countries which make up the United Kingdom.
It was written in the first half of the 18th century. The Spanish had several victories over the royal navy and the Barbary states (yes Africans(, funded by the ottomans were coming to the south coast of England and kidnapping people for ransom or to use as slaves. This song was a morale booster for the people of England.
God Save the Queen is our national anthem, the henry wood promenade concerts are British and over 100 years old , they run for about 8 weeks over the summer and the last night is held in September at The Royal Albert Hall in London
Britain’s anthem should be this song! I’ve had enough of people saying it’s racist because it says the word slave doesn’t make sense now it’s racist when it’s says we will never ever ever be slaves
Correct. Britain was threatened before 1940 by the Spanish, Dutch and French who would have enslaved the country on both race and religious grounds. Thanks to the Royal Navy (which included blacks) that never happened. Trouble is you mention slaves and the woke push rise up demanding an end including in the Proms. They fail to realise it was the armed forces that preserved them to pout and spew their hatred as free speech.
the BBC proms is a musical extravaganza that runs every year in the UK the last night is so popular that ticket prices rival top rock concert prices, in the summers they also do proms in the parks all over northern Europe and the UK come rain wind or sun with a picnic champagne beer or wine, normally in the evenings ending with a spectacular fire work display ending to Beethoven's 1812 overture even sitting on groundsheets in waterproofs or umbrella's if it is raining, it really is worth being on your bucket list as unforgettable experience, also the albert hall has presented rock concerts from many artists over the 20th century because of its natural amplifying sound to any type of music or song
@@oliva6352 for most of history that's what almost every nation/tribe/society tried to do. It was eat or get eaten and after years of getting invaded by Europeans Britain had its moment and was able to form an empire and we found something we were good at. Yes many things were done that were immoral today but those things occurred in almost every nation and under almost every empire and culture. The British empire was actually nicer than many of the other big European ones.
@@Joshie_-oz9vz Not sure what you mean as I don't see my comment. I take it you are English and I agree your sentiment, not sure I missed that point. But I suggest you start with ensuring the Proms are not changed and such songs removed because the woke see them as racist or celebrating England's nasty imperialist history. I stand with these anthems and hymns 100%, they are a part of our heritage as well, especially Rule Britannia, Land of Hope and Glory, and My Country Tis of Thee
The other country flags …one, the Red Cross on the white background is the English, flag, the flag with the red dragon is the Welsh flag. A blue x on a white background is the Scottish flag. Together they form the Union Jack 🇬🇧 which is the flag of the United Kingdom. The performance is held at Albert Hall in London.
I wish this was our anthem, god save the queen is bloody awful The last night of the proms is the culmination of an entire classical concert season, at the Royal Albert hall, which spans from July to September is have televised concerts too. When I played in the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, ewe played a concert there every year and I was always involved and it was broadcast not just on the BBC (TV) but also BBC radio 3, and the BBC world service . Playing there was the highlight of the yea. It was great
The crowds in the audience will fly all types of flags! Obviously mostly the Union Flag or St. George’s Cross, since it is in England, but there were people flying the French, Italian, German and American flags in the audience. Whether you’re born in Britain or not, the proms are a true celebration of our culture and enjoyed by us and our friends from all around the world!
In a million houses people like me are singing along. Its our day to remember we are a nation united. It's not our anthem it's on 9f 3 or 4 songs that everyone knows. Most are sung on this night lol, try Jerusalem and Land of Hope and Glory.
Rule Britannia is an order rather than a statement, it is not saying that Britannia is the ruler of the waves but more so ordering Britannia to rule the waves.
King William The Conquer banned slavery in Britain in 1102 and was reconfirmed by the famous Mansfield English High Court decision that found that as soon as a slave set foot on English soil they became free. In 1807 British legislation banned to slave trade right across the British Empire and 1833 legislation freed all slaves across the British Empire. In 1808 the British Royal Navy established an anti slavery squadron of ships to blockade slave ships operating out of Africa this squadron operated for more than a century. Britain has the proud history of ending the slave trade and making what had been normal practice for thousands of years to become totally unacceptable.
its not our national anthem its a patriotic song. although many brits think it should made our national anthem, currently god save the queen is our anthem
The Charter of which she sings was created by William Ist ( The Conqueror ) & Abolished Slavery (Surfdom) across England from 1066 this later meant any Slave setting foot on Brittish soil was Immediatly Freed !!
This is NOT the national anthem (that's 'God save the Queen), but a song celebrating the hundreds of years when Britain was by far the superior naval power in the world! Hence, "Rule Britania, Britania rules the waves, and Britains never never never shall be slaves"
From the time when the British Navy was twice as powerful as the next two nations put together - by law. This is why we ruled over a third of the planet.
You should try Jerusalem ( Englands unofficial anthem because of all the countries in the UK we do not have one ) at the last night of the proms . 2022 proms are this August and the last night at the proms is 10 September 2022 at 7:15pm UK time , might be on BBC America
