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David Petley
10th Vice-Chancellor University of Hull
Assumed office
2022
Preceded bySusan Lea

Professor Dave Petley is a an academic, Earth Scientist, and is Vice-Chancellor at the University of Hull.[1] Previously he was Vice-President for Innovation at the University of Sheffield.

Education

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Petley has a BSc in Geography from Kings College London (1990) and a PhD in Earth Sciences from University College London.

Career

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He worked as a lecturer at the University of Sunderland and later at the University of Portsmouth. In 2000 he moved to the University of Durham where he established the Institute for Hazard and Risk and Resilience; in 2012 he became Dean of Research at Durham and also Dean of Global Engagement. Following a move to the University of East Anglia, he was appointed Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Enterprise. He became Vice-President for Innovation at the University of Sheffield in 2020.[2]

Interests

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Petley's major research interest is landslides. In particular landslide mechanics, via both laboratory modelling and monitoring in the field. He has also worked extensively on the human and economic costs of landslides.[3]

References

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  1. ^ [1]


Pattern 1831 sabre for General Officers
Production history
Designed1831
ManufacturerVarious
Produced1831 to present
Specifications
LengthBlade - 31.0 in (79 cm)

Blade typeCurved, slab-sided, asymmetric point, false edge.
Hilt type'Mameluke hilt' with simple cross-guard.
Scabbard/sheathBrass, wood liners, 2 loose suspension rings later steel scabbards were introduced.

The Pattern 1831 sabre for General Officers is a British army pattern sword prescribed for the use of officers of the rank of major-general and above. It has been in continual use from 1831 to the present.

Background

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British Pattern 1831 sabre for the rank of major general and above. This particular sword is mid-Victorian and was retailed by J.B. Johnstone of London and Dublin, who were tailors and military outfitters.

Both French and British army officers encountered kilij and shamshir sabres as a result of Napoleon's expedition to Egypt. Termed 'mameluke swords' after the Mamluk warrior caste of Egypt, they became a fashionable accessory for officers, particularly senior officers. Similar swords were also found in India, and these probably influenced British officers also. Mameluke swords, both Middle Eastern and copies made in Europe, were adopted, unofficially, by officers of light cavalry regiments in the first decade of the 19th century, some were used as 'walking out swords' (for ornamental wear on social occasions on foot) but others were employed on active campaign. They are prominent in images of officers of the British Hussar regiments painted by Robert Dighton in 1807.[1] As officially regulated dress or levée swords they first appear in 1822 for lancer regiments. Soon, other light cavalry and some heavy cavalry regiments also adopted similar patterns.[2]

In 1822 generals and staff officers adopted a variant of the 1822 infantry officer's sword (often referred to as the 'Gothic hilt sabre'). It differed only in minor decorative elements of the guard and in the decoration of the blade.[3] The decision to introduce a mameluke sword as the official regulation sword for officers of the rank of major-general and above is generally ascribed to the Duke of Wellington who is known to have favoured this type of sword himself.[4]

Design

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Hilt of the Pattern 1831 sabre. This sword has grip scales of mammoth ivory.
 
Detail of frost-etched decoration of the blade, showing a crown over the 'VR' monogram of Queen Victoria.

The 1831 pattern general officer's sabre was directly influenced by existing mameluke swords worn by officers of various cavalry regiments. It differs from the levée sword of the 3rd Light Dragoons only in very minor elements of decoration.[5]

The hilt and blade retain many features of the of the Turkish kilij from which it was derived. These include the simple cross-guard with two opposing langets and the down curving 'pistol-grip' shaped pommel'; the blade retains the yelman false-edge and the step to the back of the blade (latchet) close to it. As a dress sword, it is of relatively lightweight construction. The weight of the sword is about 1lb 10.5oz (751g) and the scabbard about 1lb 1oz (482g).[6] The 31 inch-long blade is slab-sided and of a 'V' shaped cross-section, it is double-edged for its last 12 inches (the yelman) and comes to a relatively acute asymmetric point. The flat sides of the blade afford a large area for decoration. This decoration, of acid-etching (often described as 'frost-etched'), varies greatly between makers but usually includes: a crossed baton and sabre, the monarch's monogram under a crown, and sprigs of oak or palm (or both). Acanthus leaf and scrolling plant motifs may also be present. Many blades were produced with a reserved section where the purchaser could have his initials or family crest added.[7][8]

The hilt has a cross-guard with its écusson decorated with an oak leaf and acorn civic crown containing a crossed baton and sabre. The hilt elements (guard, grip scales and strap) are held together and attached to the blade tang by two bolts hidden by brass rosettes. the prominent sword knot bushing also screws together and adds to the solidity of the hilt. All the metallic hilt elements are of gilt-brass.[9] The grip scales were originally of ivory, either elephant or mammoth, but in late Victorian times synthetic ivory-substitutes (such as 'ivorine') began to be used. Recent and modern swords are only produced using synthetic ivory.[10][11]

The 1831 sabre was initially produced with two scabbards, a black leather scabbard with elaborate gilt mounts intended for lévees and evening functions and a brass scabbard for all other occasions. In practise the leather scabbard was soon dispensed with and the brass scabbard used universally. The brass scabbard has wood liners, two cross-shaped mounts for loose suspension rings and a square toe with a vestigial shoe/drag. In 1898 the brass scabbard was replaced by a steel scabbard of the same form.[12]

The pattern was also adopted for field marshals, royal equerries and lords lieutenant of counties, with only minor differences in decoration. The cross-guard écusson decoration of crossed baton and sabre is replaced by two crossed batons for field marshals, royal equerries employ the monarch's cypher and lords lieutenant use national symbols appropriate to their county (rose for England, thistle for Scotland, shamrock for Northern Ireland or 'Prince of Wales' feathers' for Wales).[13]

Despite the blades of the 1831 sabre having to pass an official proving test (many specimens have brass 'proof slugs' inset into the blade near the hilt) the sword was never intended for combat use. The description of the proof test includes the phrase, "The blade recovers straightness after being subjected to a weight of 10 lbs vertically with 1 inch depression".[14] The blades are of too light a weight for effective cutting and too flexible for thrusting. Throughout its 19th century use, generals when on active campaign employed the service swords particular to the corps they were employed in before their promotion. This was officially recognised in the Dress Regulations of 1900. The sabre was and is intended for dress wear, at levées, parades, inspections and other formal occasions when full-dress would be worn.[15]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Mollo, plate 13
  2. ^ Robson, p.69
  3. ^ Robson, p.143
  4. ^ Robson, p.145
  5. ^ Robson, p.71
  6. ^ Stephens, p.140
  7. ^ Robson, pp.144-145
  8. ^ Busch, P.
  9. ^ Stephens, p.140
  10. ^ Robson, p.145
  11. ^ Busch, P.
  12. ^ Robson, p.145
  13. ^ Robson, p.145
  14. ^ Stephens, p.140
  15. ^ Robson, p.145

References

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  • Busch, P. (2016) The 1831 Pattern British General Officers Ivory Hilted Scimitar, Arms and Armour Blog, Oakshott Institute (online source) [4]
  • Mollo, J. (1997) The Prince's Dolls: Scandals, Skirmishes and Splendours of the Hussars, 1739-1815, Pen & Sword, Barnsley
  • Robson, B. (1975) Swords of the British Army, Arms and Armour Press, London
  • Stephens, F., (1976) Edged weapons: A collectors guide, Spur Books, Bourne End
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Scarf colours of other UK universities

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Victoria University of Manchester UMIST
  Panhypersebastos award
For excellent and valuable contributions to Byzantine articles, you are hereby "Honoured Above All" You may now wear yellow shoes!
User:Urselius


Rhiainfellt
Bornunknown, flourished c. 630
Diedunknown
SpouseOswiu
IssueAlhfrith,
possibly Eahlflæd
HouseRheged
Father'Royth' (Rhaith) son of Rhun
ReligionCeltic Christianity

Rhiainfellt, name variants including Rieinmelt and Rieinmelth, was a British princess of the royal house of Rheged. Her name means "Lightning Maiden" or "Lightning Queen" in Early Welsh[1] She was a wife of Oswiu, King of Northumbria.

Rhiainfellt is identified in the Historia Brittonum as the wife of Oswiu and the granddaughter of Rhun son of Urien Rheged.[2] Her status as Oswiu's wife is confirmed by her appearance in the Durham ‘Liber Vitae’, where, under the anglicised name 'Raegnmaeld' she appears in first place in a list of Northumbrian queens and abbesses.[3] It is considered, on grounds of chronology, that Rhiainfellt was the mother of Alhfrith King of Deira.[4] More circumstantial evidence suggests that she was also the mother of Oswiu's daughter, Eahlflæd.[5]

According to British sources a connection between the rulers of Rheged and Northumbria predated Rhiainfellt's marriage, as her grandfather Rhun is credited with having baptised King Edwin of Northumbria. Bede, however, states that Bishop Paulinus baptised Edwin. The apparent conflict could be reconciled if Rhun in reality had stood sponsor at the baptism, thus becoming Edwin's godfather.[6]

In the 1950s Jackson made the suggestion that Oswiu may have acquired Rheged peacefully, through his marriage. Becoming the legitimate successor to both Rheged and Northumbria.[7]

Whatever the precise political relationship between Rheged and Northumbria, that a Northumbrian prince married a princess of Rheged shows that the British royal house retained high status, and probably political power. Rhiainfellt's father, 'Royth' (Rhaith - meaning 'Justice' in Welsh), was possibly the last king of an independent Rheged.[8]

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  The Original Barnstar
For defending reason and the full range of scholarship from agenda pushers and people who invariably get the wrong end of the stick, then want to beat everyone with it. Thank you! User:Urselius (talk) 15:09, 21 November 2011 (UTC)

Manuel I Komnenos
Andronikos Angelos
John Angelos
Baldwin of Antioch
John Kantakouzenos
Andronikos Lampardas
Theodore Mavrozomes
Constantine Makrodoukas
Andronikos Kontostephanos
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FLSThis user is a Fellow of The Linnean Society of London.
University of Hull
 

Comparison of combatant vessels

Battleship class Main armour belt
(maximum thickness)
King George V (Britain) 15in
North Carolina (USA) 12.0in
South Dakota (USA) 12.2in
Iowa (USA) 12.1in
Scharnhorst (Germany) 13.78in
Bismarck (Germany) 12.6in
Dunkerque (France) 11.1 (Strasbourg)
Richelieu (France) 13in
Littorio (Italy) 11in
Yamato (Japan) 16in
 
Emperor John II Komnenos and his wife Eirene, grandparents of John Komnenos Vatatzes, flanking the Virgin and Child

Though a number of authors have asserted that Richard did not know the English language, this is an argument made from lack of evidence. No contemporary source states that Richard knew no English. Indeed contemporary English prejudice against foreigners was used by his brother John to help destroy the authority of Richard's chancellor, William Longchamp, who was a Norman. One of the specific charges laid against Longchamp, by Hugh, Bishop of Coventry, was that he could not speak English.[9]

  • Prestwich, J.O. (2004) The Place of War in English History, 1066-1214. Boydell Press.
 
 
 

 

 
 
 
 


  1. ^ Williams, Ifor, Nodiadau ar Eiriau, Bulletin of the Board of Celtic Studies, x (1939–41), pp. 36–44
  2. ^ H.M. Chadwick, H.M. (1954) Vortigern, in Studies in Early British History, ed. Nora Chadwick (Cambridge, 1954), pp. 21–33.
  3. ^ Ker, N.R. (1957) Catalogue of Manuscripts Containing Anglo-Saxon (Oxford), pp. 186–87
  4. ^ Fraser, J.E (2009) From Caledonia to Pictland, Edinburgh, pp. 177–78
  5. ^ Bede, H. E., Book III, chapter 24
  6. ^ Corning, Caitlin (2000) The Baptism of Edwin, King of Northumbria: A New Analysis of the British Tradition, Northern History, 36:1, 5-15, DOI: 10.1179/007817200790178030
  7. ^ Jackson, K.H. (1955) The Britons in Southern Scotland, Antiquity, xxix, pp. 77–88
  8. ^ Andrew Breeze (2013) Northumbria and the Family of Rhun, Northern History, 50:2, pp. 170-179, DOI: 10.1179/0078172X13Z.00000000039
  9. ^ Prestwich, J.O., p, 76.