History quiz

None of them, I fear. Hopefully this will make it clear:

A European, though not from the Classical world. Was largely unknown for a long time after their death until (in rather dubious circumstances) they quite suddenly became one of the most celebrated figures in Western literary society, enrapturing many, including one of the "Great Men" of history who commisioned several pictures of them. Eventually the controversy surrounding them became so great that it was apparent that this fame was essentially undeserved and they ceased to be considered.

Big hint: Students of 18th and 19th Century literature should have heard the name, if no-one else.

Antagonist

Ossian? Even Napoleon was fooled by that one.

Yep, good catch Matteus.

I suppose I stretched things a bit by combining too only-nominally related figures, one mythological, the other fictional, but he came to mind after his name cropped up in a number of books I've read recently about the period, and as someone with an interest in literary history I found it interesting.

For those who don't know, Oisín mac Fionn is one of the main characters of the Fenian Cycle, one of the four cycles of Irish mythology, and the son of the main protagonist Fionn mac Cumhail. He was a famous bard and something of an archetype for the Celtic warrior-poet who had many adventures before dying tragically hundreds of years after all his family and friends and watching the world he had known pass away.

The historical event that prompted me to recall him however occured in the late 18th Century. In 1760 a previously unknown Scottish poet named James Macpherson published a series of poems in English which he claimed were translations of fragments of ancient Gaelic verse he had encountered while travelling in the Hebridean islands off Scotland. Their success lead him to publish several more "translations" in the following years, most famously Fingal, an epic poem ostensibly written by Oisín (anglicised Ossian) in the 3rd Century. They became a spectacular success and were translated into many languages, influencing authors like Walter Scott and Goethe, and even becoming Napoleon's favourite poem. Ultimately however a storm of suspicion grew up around the poems (particularly Macpherson's refusal to show anyone the manuscripts he claimed to have translated from) and it ultimately became apparent that it was all his own work, though it uses themes and characters from Gaelic tradition.

Anyway, there you are. One of my favourite literary episodes from the Age of Revolution. :book: Your question Matteus.

It's certainly a good 'un, and you're impressively knowledgeable about it! I have Boswell's Life of Dr Johnson to thank. Johnson, who of course remained unconvinced by Ossian, was asked whether he thought any man of their times could have written such a poem. He famously replied
'Yes sir, many men, and many women, and many children!'

Anyway...a question...

Name the event.
Both winner and loser lost their lives, it included the 'most beautiful volley in the history of warfare' and a famous painting of it caused some controversy by departing from the usual Neoclassical conventions of dress.

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Originally Posted by Antagonist

For those who don't know, Oisín mac Fionn is one of the main characters of the Fenian Cycle, one of the four cycles of Irish mythology, and the son of the main protagonist Fionn mac Cumhail. He was a famous bard and something of an archetype for the Celtic warrior-poet who had many adventures before dying tragically hundreds of years after all his family and friends and watching the world he had known pass away.

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Damn should've know this one :(, I read the fenian cycle more than once.
@question, It rings a bell, but I can't seem to come up with a name atm. I'll edit if I ever find it
Battle of the Plains of Abraham?

Correct, in 1759...Benjamin West's painting of the Death of Wolfe was controversial and drew criticism from Sir Joshua Reynolds and George III for depicting the participants in the dress of the period rather than in Greek of Roman attire. And of course, the French commander Montcalm was also killed...

over to you, Conradus!

Ahhh, too late.

Over to you Conradus. :book:

I hope it's ok if my question isn't really a 'history' one. The person I'm looking for comes from myths.

"Though I'm a mere animal, I singlehandedly defended my king's country. I left battles in a most unusual company. My frenzy was known throughout the country and my weapon sang for blood.Some compare me to Achilles. Fathered by the sun, my mother was a princess. who am I?"

I guess it's a pretty easy one

what do mean with "left" he went to the battlescene or he went away from the battlescene...?

i think i know who you mean... but i can't find the name... it's on the tip of my tongue :P... dutch expression...

When he came back from a battle, it was in a most unusual way.

I know the feeling (and the dutch expression 't ligt op het puntje van m'n tong ;)) Good to be among Dutch speakers.

ehheheh :P Nog een NL member... kom langs in de Talk Your Own/Dutch Language Thread... t is ondertussen geheel nederlandstalig!

I cant find the name, but was it a mythological creature from a eastern (persian/babylonian) myth?... cuz im fairly certain i have the right beast in my mind... but i cant find its frigging name... i also cant remember in what book i read it

No, you're searching in the wrong myths, The Stranger, I wasn't referring to a eastern monster. In fact, ask yourself whether I'm referring to a monster at all ;)

This same topic gave me the idea.

And I'll check the Talk your ... thread asap.

I think his name is Theseus (may have spelled it wrong), (I think i may have the wrong name but im not sure). Nevermind, he was the sun of neptune.



It may have been perseus but im nt sure...

nevermind, I missed that it was a beast...

your riddle confuses me... is it a animal or a person... because you say the the PERSON you are looking for is coming from myths... and later ýou say he is an animal...

anyway... maybe some more hints?

I know it's a little confusing with the animal/man thing, but if you knew his name, all would be clear. He carries the name of an animal, I guess that made it hard to find. And indeed, he's a mythical person, I can't imagine he really existed.

And no it isn't Theseus or Perseus, Motep dra Uha Dnia Mazzat.

Another tip, this man killed his own son.

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Correct, in 1759...Benjamin West's painting of the Death of Wolfe was controversial and drew criticism from Sir Joshua Reynolds and George III for depicting the participants in the dress of the period rather than in Greek of Roman attire. And of course, the French commander Montcalm was also killed...

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Damn it, I new about this picture and the controversy over the realism, just couldn't remember the name of the battle. :no:

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"Though I'm a mere animal, I singlehandedly defended my king's country. I left battles in a most unusual company. My frenzy was known throughout the country and my weapon sang for blood.Some compare me to Achilles. Fathered by the sun, my mother was a princess. who am I?"

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Another tip, this man killed his own son.

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That seals it, barring some pretty remarkable mythological coincidence, the answer is surely Cúchulainn, the Hound of Ulster. Named after an animal, single-handedly defeated entire armies, had a terrible "warp-spasm" that was feared, fathered by the sun god Lugh, also known as the "Celtic Achilles" because of similarities in personality and abilities, etc. Killed his son too.

Antagonist

hmmm... never would have found it... guess its right

And Antagonist is correct ~:cheers: :bow:
I was indeed referring to Cuchulain, the Hound of Culann. An animal because he changed his name into Cuchulain. He defended Ulster on his own by challenging the invading armies at rivers to meet him in a duel. Ulters armies lay home, victims of a curse. He once came out of battle in a chariot pulled by deers, and with ducks flying over him, attached to the chariot. He had a sort of warrior rage which was almost impossible to stop. And he killed his own son when this one refused to identify himself.

Just like Achilles he chose for a short life of glory instead of a long one. There are other similarities too. He killed his own son like some persian hero.

Antagonist, your turn.

hmmm... i actually know this dude... just never knew his name as Cuchulain. He indeed has much similarities with other heros, mostly greek ones... since greek mythology is full of family murder and incest so when you kill your son... you inmediatly have a lot in common :P

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I was indeed referring to Cuchulain, the Hound of Culann. An animal because he changed his name into Cuchulain. He defended Ulster on his own by challenging the invading armies at rivers to meet him in a duel. Ulters armies lay home, victims of a curse. He once came out of battle in a chariot pulled by deers, and with ducks flying over him, attached to the chariot. He had a sort of warrior rage which was almost impossible to stop. And he killed his own son when this one refused to identify himself.

Just like Achilles he chose for a short life of glory instead of a long one. There are other similarities too. He killed his own son like some persian hero.

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He is also said to have defeated an assassin by throwing an apple at him so hard it went right through his head. Truly a paragon of martial valour. :book:

Anyway, I should be back in a few hours to post my question. Hopefully.

Antagonist

Apologies for my tardiness, my PC basically died after a power cut the morning after my last post in this thread and I've only got it running again now (needed a new PSU) and it's not really stable yet. I'll post a new question as soon as I am able.

Antagonist

is it going to take long? maybe we can do a bonus question or sumthing... just for fun untill you can post again... and we continue with you...

Okay, here I am. Unfortuantely me original question proved not to be as "historical" as I thought, so I give you a fairly off-the-cuff replacement. Another "who am I?" (historical figure, promise :yes:) I just hope it isn't obvious to anyone but me:

I'm looking for an insane nobleman. Raised unwillingly between two powerful nations, he served in a great war, fighting in a place not to be confused with Spain. Subsequently dispatched to a far-flung outland, he refused to raise a white flag when the regime he served was overthrown and rebelled against those who had taken power, though in practice he actually impeded the war effort against them. As time went on, he became fascinated by the culture he had found himself in and became increasingly immersed in its traditions and beliefs. These became the basis in his unbalanced mind for a fantasy future in which he and his ragged band of followers would sweep away all those who had ruined his nation and put everything to rights. These grandiose visions culminated in a short-lived attempt to resurrect one of the greatest and most terrible names in history, but in truth was never more then the megalomanical dream of a madman. Extraordinarily cruel and violent, his brutality was rewarded by posterity with a ghoulish ephithet, though he was by no means the first person from his part of the world to receive it, and some might say he was but one of a long line of colourfully psychotic figures.

Apologies again for keeping anyone waiting. :book:

Antagonist

Sounds a little like Napoleon but I know it isn't him!

Considering the "revival" part it sounds like Tamerlane. Don't get the part about "not to be confused with Spain" though.

Hitler?

Can't be Hitler, he was lower middle class, no noble blood at all. I'm cluelss about who else it is though.

José Victoriano Huerta Márquez? 19th century Mexican nasty military type...known as 'The Jackal' at some time.

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Originally Posted by pleasy

Can't be Hitler, he was lower middle class, no noble blood at all. I'm cluelss about who else it is though.

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Aye, I know, but some of the other things sound like Hitler

Ivan the Terrible?