of the Irish Princes' (1317). Expeditions into English‐held lands (1315–16, 1317, 1318) won little support because the Anglo‐Irish viewed Bruce as an Irish king. He was killed on 14 Oct. 1318 during the battle of Faughart (E Ireland). The invasion permanently reduced revenues received by the English colony's government. See also SCOTTISH–ENGLISH RELATIONS 1290–1357; GAELIC REVIVAL, IRELAND 13TH–15TH CENTURIES.
BRUCE KINGSsee BRUCE FAMILYBRUNANBURH, BATTLE OFFought at an unidentified location in NE England or the E Midlands in 937. West Saxons and Mercians (English), led by King ATHELSTAN, defeated an invading army led by Kings CONSTANTINE II of Scotland, Owain of STRATHCLYDE, and Olaf Guthfrithson of DUBLIN. The invasion was probably revenge for Athelstan's invasion of Scotland (934) and intended to enable Olaf to re‐establish the Viking kingdom of YORK.BRUNEI PROTECTORATEsee BORNEOBRUNEL, ISAMBARD KINGDOM
(b. 9 April 1806 at Portsmouth, Hampshire, England; d. 15 Sept. 1859 at Westminster, Middlesex, England, aged 53). The son of Marc Isambard Brunel (1769–1849), a French royalist émigré civil engineer, Brunel was educated in England and France. In England from 1822, he worked from 1825 as assistant engineer on his father’s Thames tunnel at London, but suffered injury (1828). While recovering at Clifton (near BRISTOL, SW England), he won a design competition for a bridge across the Avon Valley (completed posthumously).
In 1833, aged 27, Brunel was appointed chief engineer of the Great Western Railway, for which he constructed over 1000 mi (1600 km) of ‘broad gauge’ track and innovatory structures (e.g., Saltash Bridge). He also designed three pioneering large steamships: SS Great Western (inaugurated 1838), the first successful trans‐Atlantic steamship (paddle‐driven); Great Britain (1845), the first large iron‐hulled and screw‐propelled steamship; Great Eastern (1859), the first ship with a double iron hull. Brunel was one of Great Britain’s greatest civil engineers. See also RAILWAYS, ENGLAND; ENGINEERING, GREAT BRITAIN.
BRUTON, JOHN
(b. 18 May 1947 at Dunboyne, Co. Meath, southern Ireland). A barrister and farmer, Bruton became a FINE GAEL TD (1969) and served in the governments of Liam COSGRAVE (1973–7) and Garret FITZGERALD (1981–2, 1982–7). In 1990 he was elected party leader, succeeding Alan Dukes with whom Fine Gael TDs had become dissatisfied.
In Dec. 1994, following collapse of the FIANNA FÁIL–LABOUR coalition government of Albert REYNOLDS, Bruton became taoiseach (premier) of a coalition with Labour and the Democratic Left, nicknamed the ‘Rainbow Coalition’ (Ireland’s first instance of a new coalition government formed without a general election). During Bruton’s premiership divorce was legalized by referendum (1995), economic growth accelerated (reaching 10% in 1997), and the Northern Ireland PEACE PROCESS was pursued vigorously. Bruton lost office in 1997 because of Labour’s losses in a general election. He was replaced as party leader in 2001 for fear that Fine Gael would perform badly at the 2002 election. See also SOCIAL PARTNERSHIP; AHERN, BERTIE.
BRUT Y TYWYSOGION(Welsh, meaning ‘Chronicle of the Princes'). A late 13th‐century chronicle, in Middle Welsh; an outstanding source for Welsh history 682–1282. Three versions survive, probably separate translations of a lost version of the ANNALES CAMBRIAE . At least one came from STRATA FLORIDA.BRYCHEINIOG
An early medieval kingdom in WALES (5th or 6th–10th centuries); later a lordship in the MARCH OF WALES (11th–16th centuries) based around the upper R. Usk and encircled by mountainous terrain. It was named after Brychan, a legendary Irish immigrant (5th or 6th century).
An Irish‐style CRANNOG at Llangorse (possibly the seat of Brycheiniog's kings) and Irish OGHAM stone inscriptions give plausibility to the legend of Irish foundation. Brycheiniog is mentioned from the mid 8th century. Around 885 King Elise ap Tewdwr, under pressure from the dynasty of RHODRI MAWR of GWYNEDD, submitted to the overlordship of King ALFRED of WESSEX (SW England). But relations with England were sometimes stormy (e.g., in 916 ÆTHELFLÆD attacked Llangorse, capturing the king's wife and 33 others). The dynasty survived until the 930s: the last known king, Tewdwr, submitted to ATHELSTAN in 934. By the 980s Brycheiniog had fallen to DEHEUBARTH (SW Wales).
In 1093 King RHYS AP TEWDWR of Deheubarth was killed in Brycheiniog by NORMANS – probably followers of BERNARD OF NEUFMARCHÉ, who took over Brycheiniog and founded the lordship of Brecon. It passed to the earls of Hereford (c.1125), to the families of BRAOSE (c.1165) and BOHUN (1241), and eventually (1399) to the duchy of LANCASTER. In 1536 Brecon was combined with BUILTH to form Breconshire. See also IRISH COLONIZATION OF BRITAIN, 4TH–6TH CENTURIES.
B SPECIALSsee ULSTER SPECIAL CONSTABULARYBUCHANAN, GEORGE
(b. Feb. 1506 at Moss, C Scotland; d. 29 Sept. 1582 at Edinburgh, SE Scotland, aged 76). In 1538 Buchanan, a private tutor who had studied at French and Scottish universities, was imprisoned by David BEATON for writing a satire on Franciscan FRIARS (commissioned by King JAMES V). He escaped abroad (1539) and was imprisoned for heresy (Protestantism) in Portugal (1548–51).
In Scotland again from 1561, Buchanan became tutor to MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS. He accepted Protestantism (see REFORMATION, SCOTLAND), and though a layman was moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of SCOTLAND (June 1567). In the MARIAN CIVIL WAR after Mary's forced abdication (1568–73) he supported JAMES VI's party, and was tutor to the king (1570–8). Buchanan developed views about limited monarchy to justify Mary’s deposition, which remained politically controversial well into the 17th century. He was also the first to claim, in his 20‐volume (Latin) History of Scotland, that the Scots, Welsh and Irish were Celts (see CELTIC CULTURE). See also HUMANISM.
BUCKINGHAM, DUKE OF
(b. 28 Aug. 1592 at Brooksby, Leicestershire, England; d. 23 Aug. 1628 at Portsmouth, Hampshire, England, aged 35). George Villiers met King JAMES VI/I in 1614. Knighted in 1615, he replaced the earl of SOMERSET as royal favourite and became influential. He was created Viscount Villiers (1616), earl of Buckingham (Jan. 1617), appointed a privy councillor (Feb.) and raised to marquess (1618) and duke (1623). In 1623 Buckingham accompanied James’s heir Charles to Spain (see SPANISH MATCH). His subsequent demand (1624) for war against Spain won popularity. But an expedition against Catholic Habsburg forces in Germany, Jan.–March 1625, failed.
Buckingham’s continuing influence after the accession of CHARLES I (1625) caused Parliament to limit further funds (summer). After a naval expedition against Cádiz, Spain, failed (Oct.), Parliament attempted to impeach Buckingham (May 1626). Charles dissolved Parliament and ordered a FORCED LOAN. Buckingham led a naval expedition to aid French Protestants in La Rochelle, to weaken France (July–Nov. 1627). After its failure Parliament attacked Buckingham in a remonstrance (June 1628). Buckingham was murdered by John Felton, a discontented soldier.
BUCKINGHAM PALACE
The principal LONDON residence of monarchs of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It is the second royal residence on its site. The first was Buckingham House (built 1702–5), which was acquired in 1762 by King GEORGE III and renamed the Queen’s House, for Queen Charlotte.
GEORGE IV, king from 1820 (formerly prince regent, resident at Carlton House), thought the monarchy required a more imposing residence. The government funded a new palace (1825–30, 1832–7), designed by John Nash and completed by Edward Blore. It comprised three ranges of buildings round a courtyard with a triumphal arch on the east side. The palace was occupied by VICTORIA (from 1837) and subsequent monarchs.
The east side was enclosed with a building in 1846–50 (and the ‘Marble Arch’ relocated). In 1913 a new façade was added to the east range (designed
