General Chat

Well we had the Greatest now Historians have put together a list of the 10 'worst' Britons of the last 1,000 years. Wonder what do other People think of the choices made. Pat x

One rogue from each century of the last millennium was chosen to compile the list for the BBC History Magazine. Magazine editor Dave Musgrove said the different 'definitions of wickedness' of the 10 historians questioned had led to a diverse list. Mr Musgrove said deciding on the worst Britons was 'not an easy choice'. 'Is it the person who murdered the most citizens or the one who led the country into the most desperate straits of poverty or war, or perhaps just he who trod most unscrupulously on those around him?' he said. 'We left the criteria up to the 10 historians we spoke to, and it's their definitions of wickedness that give us such a diverse selection of figures on our list of evilness.' 10 'WORST' BRITONS 1900 to 2000: Oswald Mosley (1896-1980) 1800 to 1900: Jack the Ripper ? 1700 to 1800: Duke of Cumberland (1721-1765) 1600 to 1700: Titus Oates (1649-1705) 1500 to 1600: Sir Richard Rich (Lord Rich of Leighs) (1496/7-1567) 1400 to 1500: Thomas Arundel (1353-1414) 1300 to 1400: Hugh Despenser (The Younger) (died 1326) 1200 to 1300: King John (1167-1216) 1100 to 1200: Thomas Becket Archbishop of Canterbury (c.1120-1170) 1000 to 1100: Eadric Streona (died 1017) I agree with some on the list others I can’t remember enough about them so will need to go & look up their nasty claim to fame. Pat x

I read the list and was surprised they didn,t include my daughter in law. Seriously, i thought i was pretty well educated, but two of them i have never heard of. Happy days

What's so bad about Thomas Becket?? :-)

Hi Pat Merry Xmas my dear. Hope you had a lovely one. Was a bit suprised about Beckett. History books don't make him out to be a bad one. Oswald at least told us what he stood for. Where was Thatcher in that list?

I would suggest David Lloyd George. If he had done what he should have for returning soldiers after World War One , Moseley would never have entered the contest Rupert

I thought Arundel was OK actually.

Harry that's what happened to me I didn't recognise a couple of the earlier entries, I have looked them up since and wonder about their contempories, its hard to say without knowing what to compare these 'worst Britons' with. Lucia I agree about Becket and also Arundel must be just something to do with the different Churches and conflicts that occured. Hiya Aileen :-))) Very nice thanks hope you had a good one? Mrs Thatcher may have been bad but not the Number one 'worst' maybe top three but definitely top five lol. Pat x

I didn’t know anything about Hugh the Dispenser I think his execution must rank as one of the most horrific. I cannot add it here as I think it’s most shocking, I read Wikipedia’s account, be warned it’s very nasty. I agree with Mosley being named for the 20th Century although I agree with you as well Rupert. David Lloyd George seemed to be a man of deep set views that changed from extremes such as Pacifist to Warmonger it was this English born Welsh man that has most often been cited as the most ruthless of all the British Prime Ministers against the Irish & Ireland itself. He is spoken about as the main course for the Continuing of the troubles and the Civil War in Ireland. I believe he was also against Welsh Nationalism A nasty man who instead of being confrontational to anti War American President Wilson could have done far more for the British Troops during World War 1 with the help of the pacifist Woodrow Wilson. Trouble is Rupert The Brits would be speaking German by now if Mosley had had his way and he the son of a Jewish mother disgraceful :-( Wondered about the Ripper seen as we don't & never will know who he really was even if people say it may have been Duke of Clarence we don't know for sure was he a BRIT? He could have been French, German or anything else for that matter. Just a thought. Pat x

Yes, what a very odd list... Wouldnt have put Jack the Ripper on it, myself...ok, he was a nasty murderer, but so were lots of others, just not quite as sensationalised. King John also...not a nice man, but had his (political) reasons, and anyway, I thought his mother was French???? Moseley was a nasty bit of work alright and I agree with that - he stirred up dissent against the Jews, who already had enough to contend with. He was doing it for his own agenda, always a dangerous thing in a leader. Olde Crone

ouchie - that is a nasty way to go for Hugh - but I then read on and saw what happened to Edward AAAAAAAAAARGH - very ouchie

Hi Sheila Just been to have a look at what happened to Edward bloomin' awful thankfully unlike Hugh the Dispenser it was in private, rather than in public. I for one am glad we have gone well passed the 1300-1400's Pat x