My new-found love for Marsala
After his death in 1250, his heirs were unable to establish themselves. Within a quarter of a century, the dynastic line failed. At the imperial level, Hohenstaufen was replaced by Habsburg. As for Sicily, given the endemic violence, it is surprising that so much of the heritage survived. But the era of stupefaction gradually gave way to a more mundane existence and indeed to decay. The island came under Spanish rule. As Imperial Spain declined, so did Sicily.
The Bourbon rulers of the 19th-century Kingdom of the Two Sicilies mainly resided in Naples. Neglected, Sicilians became inward-looking and resentful. The Mafia emerged – a curious blend of proto-nationalism, a rudimentary welfare system and criminality. In a part of his glorious career that admirers gloss over, Nelson had helped to keep the Bourbons on their throne by putting down a rebellion inspired by the French revolution.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Belfast Telegraph
a day ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Rise in Irish A-level entries bucks trend with German, French, and Spanish in decline
The upward trend was in contrast to the decline seen by other languages at this level, with Irish entries up by 2.1% in comparison to last year. Numbers studying German fell by almost a third (32.9%), while French entries declined by 8%. Despite a 4.5% decline, Spanish remains the most popular language among A-level entries, followed by Irish, French and then German. "Languages help us connect with people and cultures' – Mary Mallon, British Council Mary Mallon, head of Education at British Council Northern Ireland, said the overall downward trend in language study was 'concerning'. "Congratulations to all students across Northern Ireland receiving their A-level results today,' she said. "This is a significant achievement, and we wish you every success as you move forward into the next stage of your journey - whether in further study, training or the world of work. "Although entries for many A-level languages continue to decline - a trend that is concerning given the importance of language skills - we remain committed to working with schools and educators to ensure language learning remains a vital part of education in Northern Ireland. "Through our Language Assistant Programme and other international school programmes, we help connect Northern Ireland's schools and young people with peers worldwide, enriching language learning through genuine cultural exchange and global perspectives. "Our latest Language Trends 2025 report highlights the enduring value of language skills - not just for individual learners, but for Northern Ireland's global future. "Languages help us connect with people and cultures, open doors to international opportunities and are vital for building strong economic and diplomatic relationships. Belfast History Explained: Who was Mary Ann McCracken? "We recognise that there are challenges. Teachers have shared concerns about limited uptake, pressures around enrolment and the demands of current exam structures. "These barriers must be considered if we are to give all young people the chance to benefit from the opportunities that language learning brings. "Languages are more than just subjects - they are tools for life. In an increasingly connected world, your ability to communicate across cultures will be one of your greatest strengths.'
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Daily Mirror
'I could hear my dead mum celebrating with me when I opened my A-level results'
Gabrielle Morgan, 18, was among the students celebrating - she said she had kept a promise she made to her mum before she died by getting a place at Oxford University A record number of students today celebrated top A-level results across the country - with a new milestone hit for A & A* achievements. But education leaders warned of stark divides in results between different areas of the country. The regional gap widened from 7.4 percentage points to 9.2, with 32.1% of kids in London getting top grades compared to 22.9% in the north-east of England. On average across the UK, 28.3% of entries were awarded either an A or A*, up from 27.8% in 2024 and above 25.4% in 2019. This is the highest proportion on record outside the pandemic-affected years of 2020-22- when the figure peaked at 44.8% in 2021. It comes after Gordon Brown blasted the return of 'poverty of 60 years ago' as he makes one big demand. Boys took a lead over girls in the top grades for the first time since 2018, with 28.4% of boys' A-level entries scoring an A or A* this summer, compared to 28.2% of their female classmates' entries. One happy sixth-form student said she had kept a promise she made to her mum before she died by getting a place at Oxford University. Gabrielle Morgan, 18, who is from Newcastle and who achieved straight A*s in English literature, Spanish and chemistry, said: "I could practically hear her celebrating with me when the offer came through. I know just how proud of me she is and I know she helped a lot, even though she wasn't here physically." Her mum, who moved from Malaysia to the UK in her early 20s, died from lung cancer in April last year. Elsewhere Meghan Cotty, 18, from Caerphilly, celebrated two A*s and a B, which got her into the University of Birmingham to study law with business. Megan, who balanced her studies alongside working as a part-time carer, told the BBC: 'It's taken a lot of work and patience but I'm so glad it paid off. I want to be a solicitor so it's a stepping stone to get that. I am just so glad my hard work paid off.' Sam Perret, 18, from Staffordshire, received better results than he thought he would get with his A*AA. He spent 45 minutes on the phone with three universities as he went through clearing but in the end stuck with Loughborough University to study economics. He told the BBC he was going 'straight to the pub' to celebrate. Ucas said a record 439,180 applicants have gained a place at university or college - up 3.1% on last year. The number of T-level entries has increased by 61.4% on last year, while the number of A-level entries has fallen by 0.5% compared to 2024. T-levels are two-year courses, which are broadly equivalent to three A-levels, focus on more vocational subjects and offer a mix of classroom learning and industry placements. While the number of T-level entries soared, stats showed more than a quarter of students in England who started T-level courses did not complete them this summer. However the overall drop-out rate has fallen, with 73% completing the technical qualifications this summer, up on last year's 71%. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson branded yesterday a "day of celebration" for young people who have worked hard and got the results they wanted. She said: "My message to young people is that if you've got what you've needed to move on to the next step in your journey, that's fantastic. But if you haven't there's lots of support and advice that's available, either from your school or college, but also through Ucas.' She added that the "entrenched divide" in outcomes and the lack of progress for white working-class children is "concerning". Jill Duffy, chairwoman of JCQ board of directors and chief executive of the OCR exam board, said: "Regional inequalities are getting worse, not better. The gap at top grades (A*-A) has grown again. London is once again the top performing region and is now 9.2 percentage points ahead of the North East." She added: "These regional inequalities need more attention."
The Herald Scotland
a day ago
- The Herald Scotland
Missing American hiker Cole Henderson found dead: Spanish authorities
Authorities are transporting the recovered body to a forensic medicine institute to "confirm his identity," El Espanol reported. The search for the Rhodes College alumnus has drawn international media attention since his friends posted pleas for help on social media in finding him. Several of his friends had hiked with him in Spain's remote Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park. According to friends on Facebook, Henderson decided to hike alone after putting his cell phone on airplane mode to save battery power. The friends said they became concerned when Henderson didn't show for a June 14 flight from Spain to Amsterdam, where Henderson was living. Parents informed about body discovery Spanish authorities have told Henderson's parents, Trevania and John Henderson, that they believe they've recovered their son's body, according to loved ones in Nashville who spoke to The Tennessean, part of the USA TODAY Network. Henderson's parents, who now live in New England, traveled to Spain for at least a week to help with daily search efforts. His mother, who grew up in Nashville, still has connections to the area and visits Tennessee often, loved ones said. The US Embassy in Spain and the Spanish Civil Guard both declined to comment in an email to The Tennessean, requesting further information. Who was Cole Henderson? Henderson was a 27-year-old who attended high school in Delaware and graduated from Rhodes College in Memphis in 2020 with honors with a degree in computer science. He is the grandson of the late Guilford Dudley Jr., who founded Nashville's annual white-tie gala, known as the Swan Ball, and the former US Ambassador to Denmark under the Nixon administration, according to The Tennessean. His former employers include software companies in Wellesley, Massachusetts, and San Francisco, as shown on his social media profiles. According to his LinkedIn profile, he was living in Amsterdam while working as an engineer for the software company Dexter Energy. A self-described avid packer, social media posts show that he has traveled across the world, from skiing in Breckenridge, Colorado, to hiking in South Dakota's Badlands National Park, and from volunteering in Costa Rica to trekking along the famed Tour du Mont Blanc through Switzerland, Italy and France. "Cole is an experienced traveler, a kind and curious soul, and someone who means the world to me," friend Eric Simon said in a July 15 Facebook post asking for help finding Henderson. Where was Cole Henderson hiking? Henderson was set to hike through the Ordesa Valley in the Pyrenees Mountains to a mountain hut known as Refugio de Pineta. He parked his car in the Spanish village of Torla and his friends believed he was going to catch a ride back to his vehicle. Friends also said he planned on camping while in the Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park, located in the mountains on the border between northern Spain and France. Officials do not know how long Henderson planned on hiking or whether he would attempt any of the peaks along the way. On July 10, hikers reported rain and severe thunder, the day after Henderson began his hike. They also mentioned that there was limited to no cell service on the route Henderson was possibly using. Contributing: Amanda Lee Myers, USA TODAY
