A Bit History before Guy Fawkes Facts – Guy Fawkes, also known as Guido Fawkes, was an experienced soldier turned conspirator. He, along with other members, plotted the gunpowder treason of 1605 in an attempt to blow up the ‘House of Lords’ to end the oppressive regime of the Protestant Church.
Born on 13th of April, 1570 in York, England to a house of Protestant couple, Guy Hawkes later converted to the Catholic Faith after his mother married a Catholic Man.
23+ Guy Fawkes Facts & Bonfire Night Facts in 2018 – Updated
As this faith was not tolerated by the King and the dominant Protestant faith, Guy Fawkes involved in a plot to fire up the ‘House of Lords‘ to kill all the members and the King James 1. Fortunately, he was caught and then tried for his conspiracy.
Therefore on 5th of November every year, there are great celebrations in the name of Guy Fawkes Day/Night or Bonfire Night.
Guy Fawkes Facts One – Birth & Education
No. 1 of Guy Fawkes Facts is about His Birth and Education
Guy Fawkes, or Guido Fawkes as he also liked to be known, was born on April 13th, 1570 in Stonegate in York. He was educated at St. Peter’s School in York.
Guy Fawkes Facts Two – Real Name & Acquired Name
Another Guy Fawkes Facts is that Guy Fawkes was also known as Guido Fawkes because when he was fighting in Spain he gave himself this Italian nickname. Guidos is similar to ‘Guy’ in meaning.
Also, Guy Fawkes gave himself a false name of ‘John Johnson’ when he got caught.
Guy Fawkes was an Experienced Soldier – Bonfire Night Fact Three
Guy Fawkes fought in the eighty-years long battle for the Spanish King. As the two states were ruled by separate monarchs leading separate faiths. This provided much experience & battlefield exposure to Guy Fawkes, which proved useful in the Gunpowder Treason Plot.
Fact Four of Guy Fawkes – St Peters
Interestingly, Guy Fawkes fought for the St. Peters, who now do not celebrate the bonfire night.
Day of Gunpowder Plot – Guy Fawkes Facts Five
Remember Remember the 5th of November? Yes, the 5th of November, 1605 was the decided day to blow up the ‘House of Lords’ and to kill all the ruling members including the King James 1.
This was the of State Opening, so the attack on this day would have been a terror for everyone and anyone.
Guy Fawkes Fact Six – A Letter Gave Him Away
An anonymous letter was received to Lord Monteagle, who was the friend of one of the plotters, warning him not to go to the House of Parliament on 5th of November.
Interestingly, King James read this letter, which led to the investigation and the failure of the plot.
Guy Fawkes was a Tough Man – Fact Seven
Guy Fawkes was so dedicated & committed to his ideas that he bore the agonizing pain of brutal torture for Four Long days, before confessing the crime and giving in the names of other plotters.
Different Names of the Same Event – Bonfire Night Facts Eight
Another fact about Guy Fawkes is that the event celebrated on the 5th of November is known as different names throughout the world. Such as Guy Fawkes Day, Guy Fawkes Night, Bonfire Night or simply Firework Night.
The Greatest Briton? – Bonfire Fire Night Fact Nine
Interestingly Enough, despite the evil plan of blowing up hundreds of people and the main building of Europe, BBC listed Guy Fawkes as the 30th Greatest Briton in 2002.
Even after the confessions!
Confession of Guy Fawkes – Fact Ten
Britonwkes signed a confession, which is still in the National Archives.
After the brutal torture for four days, Guy Fawkes finally gave in and confessed all his crimes and the details of the plot. His confession is actually recorded and saved in the National Archives of the United Kingdom.
King James liked the Guy Fawkes – Fact Eleven
Another interesting Guy Fawkes fact is that he won the unlikely admiration of the very person he planned to kill, King James 1. Upon asking the reasons for collecting explosive in such a huge quantity, Guy Fawkes provided the reason that he wanted .”to blow you, Scotch beggars, back to your native mountains.”
This won him the admiration of King James 1.
Names of the Gang – Guy Fawkes Facts Twelve
We have listed among the Guy Fawkes Facts that he was a tough guy.
After suffering from the pain and agony of severe torture Guy Fawkes finally gave the names of all gang members. Which are as follows:
- John Wright
- Thomas Percy
- Francis Tresham
- Sir Everard Digby
- Ambrose Rookwood
- John Grant
- Thomas Bates
- Robert Keyes
- Robert Wintour
- Thomas Wintour
- Robert Catesby
Of all these 11 members, only two people rose to the major ‘fame’. Namely, Guy Fawkes & Robert Catesby.
Guy Fawkes had His Reasons – Fact Thirteen.
You might incline to think that Guy Fawkes was purely evil and planned this massive attack to satisfy his evil impulses. But there is another side to the coin as well.
When you look to the history to know the real Guy Fawkes Facts, you learn that Guy Fawkes converted to Catholicism when he was around 16.
Catholic Faith was not tolerated by the ruling Protestant faith. So the Catholics were quite oppressed in their regime. Other than this, the new ruler, King James 1, was Scottish as well. There was a huge number of people who didn’t want to be ruled by a Scottish king, therefore, they plotted the gunpowder attack, but fortunately, failed.
Will it Really Blow? – Fact Fourteen
Even though the Gunpowder Treason members managed to collect a massive amount of gunpowder under the house of lords, it is claimed in the Guy Fawkes Facts that the actual gunpowder was decayed when Guy Fawkes was caught guarding it.
Scientists say that if Guy Fawkes would have been successful in lighting the gunpowder, it would not have blown.
Conversation in King’s Bedchamber – Fact Fifteen
As King James 1 was the main target of this attack, Guy Fawkes was taken to his bedchamber shorty afterward he was caught.
He and King James 1 had an interesting conversation there which won him the admiration of the King.
Upon asking the reason for the attack and the intention of killing the King, Guy Fawkes calmly answered the famous words which have now become the ‘Guy Fawkes Quotes’.
Fawkes said that he regarded the King as a disease and that all major diseases require a major cure.
Upon asking why did he require so much gunpowder to carry out his plan, Fawkes answered: “To blow you, Scotch beggars, back to your own native mountains!”.
This sentence won him the admiration of the King and became one of the most interesting Guy Fawkes Facts.
Bonfire & The Guy Fawkes? – Fact Sixteen
It is a popular belief nowadays that Guy Fawkes was burnt after being hanged. But when you read the history, you actually come to know that this ‘Guy Fawkes Fact’ is wrong.
Actually, Guy Fawkes ran from his punishment and fall off the gallows and broke his neck, and died.
But still, it is a fact that children make a dummy of Guy Fawkes and burn it during the bonfire night.
Guy Fawkes Island – Fact Seventeen
You might be surprised by knowing that such an evil person can have an Island to his name. But this another interesting fact about Guy Fawkes.
In the Galápagos Islands, there is an Island named “Guy Fawkes Island”.
But fortunately, it is Uninhabited.
Parents & Caste – Guy Fawkes Fact Eighteen
The name of the Guy Fawkes Parents are as below:
- Guy Fawkes Father: Edward Fawkes
- Guy Fawkes Mother: Edith Blake (or Johnson)
His caste is still unknown.
Expert in Explosives – Fact Nineteen
As we have already mentioned that Guy Fawkes was an experienced soldier, let us mention that he was actually an expert in explosives due to his experience in the eighty-years war.
Therefore, he was given the responsibility of guarding and lighting up the explosives in the grand plot of Gunpowder Treason.
The Fear Has Not Gone – Fact Twenty
Even after 400+ years, the fear of this massive Gunpowder treason is not completely gone.
The Houses of Parliament, before the annual State Opening of Parliament, are still searched every year to ensure that there is no ‘GunPowder Treason’ being plotted again.
Every Year, the Houses of Parliament are searched by the Yeomen of the Guard and this has become a long-standing tradition as compared to an act of fear and terror.
The Power of Explosives – Fact Twenty One
As we know that the GunPowder treason involved a lot of explosives, 36 barrels to be precise, therefore they intended to shock the whole country by putting up a massive explosion.
According to a report in 2003 by the Centre for Explosion Studies at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, it is estimated that the total amount of gunpowder was around 2,500 KG and it would have blown hundreds and hundreds of people in the vicinity of the Houses of Parliament and the Westminster Abbey.
A WorldWide Event – Fact Twenty-Two
As we all know that the Britishers had their colonies all around the World, we all know as well that their traditions went with them to the world as well.
Similarly, Guy Fawkes Night or the Bonfire Night is almost a worldwide event nowadays.
In the 18th-19th Century, it was celebrated in a different manner and with the different name of Pope Day or Pope Night.
In New Zealand, Canada, Russia, and other places, Bonfire Night or Guy Fawkes Night are celebrated in the same manner as it is celebrated in the United Kingdom.
Also, till 1959, it was illegal ‘not to celebrate’ the bonfire night in Britain.
As to the question whether the Guy Fawkes Night or Bonfire Night is celebrated in Ireland, the answer is no. Because they have a rival event name as the 11th Night, where they celebrate the victory of King William (Protestant) over the King James 2 (Catholic).
Fight Against New Oppression – Fact Twenty Three
In modern times, Guy Fawkes Night has taken a new meaning. As we have discussed that the Guy Fawkes and the gang were fighting against oppression as well, some modern-day people have taken this meaning more seriously and now mark this day as the day against oppression.
The Million Mask March started in 2002-3, is now a worldwide event where youngsters wearing the Guy Fawkes Mask march together in a protest against the oppression of the elite against the masses.
Contrary to the plans of Guy Fawkes to use explosives against the oppressors, these Guy Fawkes Night Protests are peaceful and weapon free.
Guy Fawkes & Bonfire Night Facts – Conclusion
We have collected the above 23 Guy Fawkes Facts with much diligence and sincerity if you find anything which is misrepresented and/or missing from this collection of Guy Fawkes Facts or Bonfire Night Facts than let us know in comment sections below.
We hope that you have enjoyed reading these Guy Fawkes Facts as much as we enjoyed collecting them.
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