Paul Seaward, British Academy/Wolfson Research Professor, History of Parliament, London
Susan Skedd, independent scholar and heritage consultant
Glenn A. Steppler, military historian
Ann Swailes, OP, Assistant Chaplain, Fisher House, Cambridge
Richard Tames, Adjunct Professor of History at Syracuse University’s London Centre
Andrew Thompson, Professor of Global Imperial History, University of Oxford
David E. Thornton, Assistant Professor of History, Bilkent University
Jason Tomes, Lecturer in London for Boston University
Matthew Vickers, Chief Executive of Ombudsman Services, UK
Andrew Wareham, Reader in Medieval Economic History, University of Roehampton
Ian Whyte†, sometime Emeritus Professor, Lancaster Environment Centre, University of Lancaster
Abbreviations
ADAnno Domini (Latin, ‘In the year of our Lord’; year 1 and forwards)Aug.Augustb.bornbap.baptizedBCBefore Christ (before year 1 and backwards)BPBefore PresentCcentralc.about (Latin circa)d.diedd.pence (Latin denarius/denarii)Dec.DecemberEeastEECEuropean Economic Communityest.estimatedEUEuropean UnionFeb.Februaryfl.flourishedFr.Frenchftfoot or feethahectare or hectaresHMSHis (or Her) Majesty’s ShipJan.Januarykmkilometre or kilometresNnorthmmetre or metresMEMiddle Englishmimile or milesMPMember of Parliament, referring 14th century—1707 to the English Parliament (including Wales from 1544); 1707—1800 to the British Parliament; 1801—1922 to the UK Parliament (for Great Britain and Ireland); from 1922 to the UK Parliament (for Great Britain and Northern Ireland)MtMountNnorthNATONorth Atlantic Treaty OrganisationNov.NovemberOct.OctoberOEOld EnglishOFr.Old FrenchOIr.Old IrishpopnpopulationR.RiverSsouths.shilling or shillings (Latin solidus/solidi)Sept.SeptembersqsquareStSaintTDTeachta Dála (officially ‘Deputy to the Dáil’, the lower house of the Irish Parliament)USUnited StatesUSAUnited States of AmericaUSSRUnion of Soviet Socialist RepublicsWwest
Acknowledgements
In addition to the Advisers and Contributors listed on previous pages, we are indebted to numerous people for assistance of various kinds. In the first instance we wish to acknowledge former and current members of staff at the publishers, particularly the late John Davey who commissioned the book, Tessa Harvey who long provided wise counsel, and Ajith Kumar who advised on production‐related matters. We are especially grateful to Jennifer Manias for encouragement and help during the final stages of preparation.
We wish to express thanks too for comments on draft entries and other kinds of support from the following: Dr Kate Adcock, Dr Virginia Bainbridge, Professor Jeremy Black, Professor Paul Brand, Kevin Brown, Dr Beatrice Clayre, Professor Peter Coss, the late Michael Crosby, the late Professor R.R. Davies, Charles Dickerson, Dr Rosamond Faith, Dr Dorian Gerhold, Alan Godwin, Dr Matthew Grimley, Professor Steven Gunn, Dr Andrew Hegarty, Arkady Hodge, Revd Dr Gordon Jeanes, David Lane, the late Aidan Lawes, Dr Chris Lewis, Revd Raymond and Joan Moody, Professor Richard Moore‐Colyer, Dr Pamela Nightingale, Professor Nicholas Orme, Bernard and May Peberdy, Ian and Linda Peberdy, Dr Max Peberdy, Dr David Pelteret, Professor Carl and Dr Gill Petrokofsky, Professor Charles Phythian‐Adams, Dr Nigel Ramsay, the late Dr J.M. Roberts, the late Professor Jack Simmons, Dr Graham Speake, John and Elaine Steane, Rosalind Tolson, Peter Truesdale, Jane Waller, Dr Peter Watson, Dr Elizabeth Wells, Dr Hilary Davan Wetton, Professor Chris Wickham, Roger Willson, the late Patrick Wormald. We are also grateful to the staff of the Bodleian Library in Oxford, particularly at the History and Law libraries, and thank Holly Regan‐Jones for checking the text and Giles Darkes for composing the maps.
A
ABBOT, GEORGE
(b. 29 Oct. 1562 at Guildford, Surrey, England; d. 4 Aug. 1633 at Croydon, Surrey, aged 70). A clothworker’s son and Church of ENGLAND clergyman, Abbot was appointed bishop of Coventry and Lichfield (1609), bishop of London (1610), and archbishop of CANTERBURY and privy councillor (1611) by JAMES VI/I. He lost favour with the king in 1613 for opposing annulment of the countess of Essex’s marriage (see SOMERSET, ROBERT EARL OF). As a CALVINIST who tolerated moderate PURITANISM, Abbot welcomed the condemnation of ARMINIANISM in 1619 by the international Synod of Dort in the Dutch Republic. In July 1621 he accidentally killed a gamekeeper with a crossbow while hunting. Thereafter he was frequently taunted about the incident.
Abbot was disregarded by CHARLES I (king from 1625) who preferred advice from the anti‐Puritan William LAUD. He was effectively suspended from office during 1627–8 for rejecting a royal order: he had refused to license publication of a sermon that advocated absolute obedience to the king.
ABDICATION CRISISEvents of 1936 which led EDWARD VIII to renounce his position as king of Great Britain and Ireland. On 16 Nov. Edward expressed determination to marry Wallis Simpson, an American socialite. The prime minister, Stanley BALDWIN, and archbishop of Canterbury, Cosmo Lang, judged it impermissible for the titular head of the Church of ENGLAND to wed a twice‐divorced woman. DOMINION premiers agreed. The British press refrained from reporting the matter until 3 Dec. By then the authorities had ruled out a morganatic marriage (i.e., Mrs Simpson remaining a commoner rather than becoming queen). Edward abdicated (11 Dec.) in favour of a brother (see GEORGE VI). He went abroad, as duke of Windsor, and married in June 1937.ABDICATION CRISIS AND IRISH FREE STATE
The premier, Éamon DE VALERA, opportunistically used the ABDICATION CRISIS (late 1936) to minimize the role of the British Crown. Meeting in emergency session, the Free State’s Parliament passed a constitutional amendment Act (11 Dec.) which removed all references to the Crown from the constitution (and thereby eliminated the Crown’s role in internal affairs, such as appointment of the premier and ministers by the governor‐general). The External Relations Act (12 Dec.) confirmed the abdication of EDWARD VIII and permitted his successors to represent the IFS in foreign relations. (The post of governor‐general was abolished in May 1937.)
This legislation prepared the way for de Valera’s 1937 CONSTITUTION, which instituted an elected president, although it remained unclear whether president or monarch was head of State. The situation was clarified in 1948 when the External Relations Act was repealed and a republic, outside the COMMONWEALTH, was declared (effective from 1949).
ABERCONWY, TREATY OFAgreed on 9 Nov. 1277 (at Aberconwy, GWYNEDD, NW Wales); between LLYWELYN AP GRUFFUDD, prince of Gwynedd, and EDWARD I, king of England; it followed Edward's 1277 invasion. Llywelyn retained the title PRINCE OF WALES, but was fined for disobedience; he conceded territories (including Y BERFEDDWLAD) and the release of DAFYDD AP GRUFFUDD (brother). See also ANGLO‐WELSH RELATIONS, 6TH–13TH CENTURIES.ABERDEEN
A city in NE Scotland. Centre of Aberdeen sheriffdom
