The lessons of history?

In the Luke Ballard series, I’m always torn between the real and the imagined. The real history of the mid 16th century has enough drama, conflict and excitement to rival anything I can conjure up. And, because Luke is an elemancer, who performs good magic using the power of the elements, I use the word ‘conjure’ on purpose.

I cannot agree with those who maintain that history is useless. If we don’t know where we have been, how can we know where we are headed? A study of history should, in theory, prevent mistakes being repeated. I’ve never forgotten a scene in David Niven’s “The Moon’s a Balloon”, where during a walk with Winston Churchill in November 1941, he asked what the great man thought would happen next.
“Whatever it is,’ Churchill replied, ‘it will be momentous.”
‘How do you know?’
‘Because, young man, I study history.’

Two weeks later, the Japanese invaded Pearl Harbour and America entered the war.

When you look back over the centuries of British history, one of the things that always amazes me is the blindness of power. The other day, I went to hear the historian, Alison Weir, talking about two English queens who have moved her to write. Eleanor of Aquitaine, wife of Henry II and Isabella of France, wife of Edward II.

Edward’s sexuality was questionable, to say the least. His first favourite, Piers Gaveston was so rapacious in gathering money and lands and so arrogant that he was eventually toppled by the nobles and executed. Fast forward a few years and Hugh le Despenser did exactly the same thing. He was hanged, drawn and quartered and castrated. Then Isabella began her notorious affair with Mortimer, fled to France with the future Edward III and the two lovers invaded England. Result, Edward II was deposed and Edward III who was about 13 at the time, was crowned king.

But in reality, Mortimer ruled England through Isabella and the boy king was merely a cipher. The lovers went on a vicious spree, accumulating lands and money by whatever means worked. How surprising then, that Edward III waited until he attained his majority and overthrew them. And yes, Mortimer was hanged. So why did none of them learn from the mistakes made by Gaveston? Would it have been perceived as a sign of weakness? Surely, getting all the nobles on their side would have strengthened their power, so why go down any other route?

Fast forward to 1989. Revolution is rife in Eastern Europe. Dictators are being challenged. Why could none of them see that their days were numbered and act accordingly? Why did they think they were invincible? Ceausescu could not believe that he no longer controlled the mob and when he did realize, it was too late.

A few months ago, Mubarak in Egypt thought exactly the same and Gaddafi is currently certain he will maintain his position in Libya. None of them can believe that their power days are over.

Perhaps they should have studied history.