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The Rebecca Riots
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Salah ad-Din View Drop Down
Samurai
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Posts: 138 		  Quote Salah ad-Din Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: The Rebecca Riots
    Posted: 20-Oct-2012 at 23:48
In 1843 the toll charges placed on public roads caused a minor revolt to break out in Wales. Likely history would have completely forgotten this had it not been for the bizarre manner in which the rioters conducted their resistance.

The rebels, predominately Welshmen, formed a secret society. Each of its chapters was headed by a man calling himself 'Rebecca', with those under him styling themselves 'daughters of Rebecca' - some members of this movement even took to cross-dressing.

Inevitably, soldiers were sent into Wales to extinguish this tiny rising. But why on earth did these rebels adopt the image they did, and what is the significance of the name Rebecca?
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Nick1986 View Drop Down
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Posts: 7940 		  Quote Nick1986 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27-Oct-2012 at 11:08
It was normal for women to recieve more lenient punishments than men because they were deemed irrational and child-like. A man who destroyed a tollbooth would be transported, but a woman would be fined (normally paid by her husband or father)
Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains!
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Centrix Vigilis View Drop Down
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Posts: 7392 		  Quote Centrix Vigilis Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28-Oct-2012 at 01:18
Originally posted by Salah ad-Din

In 1843 the toll charges placed on public roads caused a minor revolt to break out in Wales. Likely history would have completely forgotten this had it not been for the bizarre manner in which the rioters conducted their resistance.

The rebels, predominately Welshmen, formed a secret society. Each of its chapters was headed by a man calling himself 'Rebecca', with those under him styling themselves 'daughters of Rebecca' - some members of this movement even took to cross-dressing.

Inevitably, soldiers were sent into Wales to extinguish this tiny rising. But why on earth did these rebels adopt the image they did, and what is the significance of the name Rebecca?
 
 
 
 
I'm not even going to try and speculate why they cross dressed other then obvious...disguise.
 
As for the name? Perhaps it was a reference to the biblical Matriarch who was known for steadfastness, generosity, kindness and loyalty. As she was also famous for her birthing travails of her twin sons....perhaps the rioters saw these tolls as their travails.
 
Alas all of those wonderous traits are usually offset by trained troops and firearms...
 
...unless you got the same.Wink
"Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence"

S. T. Friedman


Pilger's law: 'If it's been officially denied, then it's probably true'

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