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Red Flag (battle Ensign)
Often called bloody flags or blood flags (among other names, see ), pattern free ''red flags'' was the traditional Maritime flag, nautical symbol in European waters prior to the invention of flag signal codes to signify an intention to give battle and that ‘no quarter, no quarter would be given’, indicating that surrender would not be accepted and all prisoners killed, but also vice versa, meaning that the one flying the flag would last stand, fight to the last man (defiance to the death). Such flags were traditionally plain but examples with motifs also existed, such as skull and crossbones on some pirate examples (see Jolly Roger). The origin of bloody flags is unknown, but deep red coloring is strongly associated with the color of blood and thus symbolises suffering and combat. Historical sources mentions bloody flags being used by Normans as early as the 13th century, but red-painted shields were used similarly by Norsemen, seafaring Norse warriors in previous centuries. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
No Quarter
The phrase no quarter was generally used during military conflict to imply combatants would not be taken prisoner, but killed. According to some modern American dictionaries, a person who is given no quarter is "not treated kindly" or "treated in a very harsh way". Etymology The term may originate from an order by the commander of a victorious army that they will not quarter (house) captured enemy combatants. Therefore, none can be taken prisoner and all enemy combatants must be killed. A second derivation, given equal prominence in the ''Oxford English Dictionary'' (''OED''), is that quarter (n.17) can mean "Relations with, or conduct towards, another" as in Shakespeare's ''Othello'', Act II, scene iii, line 180, "Friends all ... In quarter, and in termes, like bride and groome". So "no quarter" may also mean refusal to enter into an agreement (relations) with an enemy attempting to surrender. The ''OED'' mentions a third possible derivation but says "The assertion of De ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Miscellany On The Life Of St
A miscellany is a collection of various pieces of writing by different authors. Meaning a mixture, medley, or assortment, a miscellany can include pieces on many subjects and in a variety of different forms. In contrast to anthologies, whose aim is to give a ''selective'' and ''canonical'' view of literature, miscellanies were produced for the entertainment of a contemporary audience and so instead emphasise ''collectiveness'' and ''popularity''. Laura Mandell and Rita Raley state: Manuscript miscellanies are important in the Middle Ages, and are the sources for most surviving shorter medieval vernacular poetry. Medieval miscellanies often include completely different types of text, mixing poetry with legal documents, recipes, music, medical and devotional literature and other types of text, and in medieval contexts a mixture of types of text is often taken as a necessary condition for describing a manuscript as a miscellany. They may have been written as a collection, or repr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
