h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: The Black Prince's Ruby and some of the Misfortunes that Befell the British Monarchy since its Aquisition - A87912778
Author: Galaxy Babe - eclectic editor - U128652

I've seen the Black Prince's Ruby. I was intrigued that the Queen said it was her favourite among the Crown Jewels, so I decided to research its history. Enjoy.

GB

Congratulations on this entry - it's a real tour de force, a gallop through the history of the monarchy since the Black Prince.

A few comments:
I think the man from whom the ruby was stolen was Sultan of Granada in Spain (not Grenada, which is an island in the Caribbean).

Richard II was presumably only involved in part of the 100 years war!

Elizabeth I almost certainly had a lover - Robert Dudley Earl of Leicester. He was married and, when his wife met a suspicious end, the Queen may have decided she couldn't marry him without condemnation.

I got a bit confused when you said that George II's son Prince Frederick had died, so his son George became king. Do you mean George II's son, or Prince Frederick's?

As for the ruby bringing bad luck to the royal family, I don't think the case has been proved!

MVP has said it all!

An excellent read Well done

An excellent read, I love the way you tell history. The other comments are good, I will only add a few;

Could you give a footnote about what a 'spinel' is? I did a very brief google search and I am still not sure how to explain it. It is better not to make readers look elsewhere.

Could you tell just a little more about his black armor? Today we tend to equate black with evil, every-time I read about the 'Black Prince' I thought he was bad.

I would not use the word 'stolen' if he removed it from his dead body. Looted might be a better term.

Thank you for including the story about the princes in the tower (for some reason I thought they were murdered by the Black Prince).

Do we know where the jewels were stored during WWII?

I don't know that I would call the Boston Tea Party THE spark that ignited the war, but it was certainly an important one. I would put the major spark as the attempted seizing of weapons and gunpowder that actually lead to open fighting, but then again I am an American

Your final question about 'is the ruby cursed? It certainly was not 'bad luck' at the Battle of Agincourt . Three of the longest raining monarchs possessed the stone, at least as part of their crown jewels - so I think not. However you have rightly given this decision to each reader, which is how it should be.

Thanks very much for the feedback everyone! I am glad you enjoyed the romp through British Royal history

I have updated the entry

This is a great Entry - a romp through history indeed while the gemstone looks on, and you have the perfect pensive yet breezy tone!

Terrible diseases, 'confinements' and medical treatments that ensued 'Grumbletonians' Lovely romance stories included too

Great to bring together threads from other Entries in the Guide too - linktastic!

Superb image as well - the Black Prince's Ruby can be very clearly seen there

Thanks very much Sasha

I borrowed the image off the Crown Jewels entry but I know it's not the correct size now. I am hopeful FWR will have some ideas for this, perhaps King Henry VIII giving his crown a polish

Your update has fixed the points I queried.

I found this well-done and deeply, deeply funny.

I have two questions:

You've said 'Colonel Blood' and 'Captain Blood' in the same paragraph. Could you sort this out for us in a phrase, perhaps? I'm guessing he was Sabatini's Captain Blood, played by Errol Flynn in the movie, but how did he get from Colonel to Captain? Was it shifting from land to sea?

>>lesser German-sounding Windsor<<

I think it should be 'the less German-sounding Windsor', although the term 'lesser German-sounding Windsor' sounded like a hilarious bird-watching description of some minor Royal...

The image is fine and dandy - it is a jpeg, which is the main thing!

Well spotted Dmitri! I can only apologise as I have been watching Poldark and my mind is somewhat distracted

It's definitely Colonel Blood http://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofEngland/The-Theft-of-the-Crown-Jewels/ and that's been corrected now.

As has the lesser German-sounding Windsor

Anything else required here?

Just looking at this again, I notice it is long, but overall it has a breezy tone to it so it is enjoyable in one sitting.

I wonder if your first two paragraphs could be tightened up, though, as you mention the Ruby is a spinel in the Imperial State Crown twice.

The first paragraph of Edward the Black Prince could be tightened up as well, I think - you mention two reasons why he is remembered by history as 'The Black Prince' so you could perhaps avoid repetition of the words in inverted commas.

There is repetition of Jane Seymour and Edward VI in the paragraph "Henry VIII finally got what he wanted" that could perhaps be improved.

Otherwise, it reads well and the concluding paragraph sums everything up nicely

Thanks for the thorough read-through! I have tweaked the suggested bits,

Just having another look at this, I still really like it but it still worries me that it is rather long... (5,400 words)

I wonder if it could be tightened up even more to really focus on the jewel and the events. You cover the Imperial State Crown well in your Crown Jewels entry, so that section is perhaps a distraction here.

The first paragraph of the Crown Jewel section is particularly good - very focused indeed

"Edward IV had two younger brothers, George Plantagenet, 1st Duke of Clarence and Richard, Duke of Gloucester. George met his end in the Tower of London, after being found guilty of treason he was unceremoniously dumped into a butt of Malmsey wine and the lid nailed shut. [...] Their uncle and protector, Richard, Duke of Gloucester,"

There's a bit of repetition here and I wonder if it could be tightened up, eg:

"Edward IV's [youngest?] brother George Plantagenet, 1st Duke of Clarence, met his end in the Tower of London; after being found guilty of treason he was unceremoniously dumped into a butt of Malmsey wine and the lid nailed shut. [...] Their uncle and protector, Richard, Duke of Gloucester,"

There's repetition in the first two paragraphs of Henry VIII too. I like the phrase "Desperate for a legitimate male heir" so that could perhaps be moved up as it is presumably also a reason why he married Catherine of Aragon.

Good mention of the Crown Jewels in relation to Elizabeth and you can perhaps highlight the 'Ruby' there too

The mention of Handel seems like a non sequitur - I think I'm a bit confused about the Georges and Prince of Wales but on third reading I see George Augustus was the Prince of Wales there... I don't know if there is anything you can do to help - a confusing time with all the Georges!

Edward VII "The king's second son and heir, Prince George" - was there a first son and heir?

The concluding paragraph is excellent

Hi Sasha, thanks again for the thorough read-through!

I've removed all the superfluous stuff you've suggested and tried to make the Georges clearer.

Edward VII "The king's second son and heir, Prince George" - was there a first son and heir? - yes, Prince Albert who had died, it's in the previous section but as Mary of Teck was engaged to him and then married his brother (the new heir) I've added that info so as not to repeat myself.

Added the unique spinel in the Elizabeth I section

Thanks again!

Excellent - thank you very much

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