When I was a kid Guy Fawkes day was very exciting. Fireworks, party, bonfire. What’s not to like?

This year I noticed Guy Fawkes referred to as Guido Fawkes. Jules calls me Quizzy Pott because it is very, very easy to get me curious about things.

So here is a brief summary of Guido Fawkes.

Guy Fawkes (1570 to 1606)

Guy Fawkes was a Catholic who plotted to assassinate the King and Parliament of England in order to overthrow Protestant rule.

At the time the Catholics were being persecuted (sometimes brutally) by the Protestants in England.

Guy Fawkes fought for Catholic armies in Europe and during this time became known as Guido Fawkes.

The Gunpowder Plot was an attempt to kill King James I, his family and the aristocracy by blowing up the House of Lords during the opening of parliament

The plot was discovered and Guy Fawkes was arrested in a cellar with 36 barrels of gunpowder.

He was tortured for information but over 3-4 days gave almost no useful information. Here is his signature on the confession.

Fawkes was sentenced to be hanged, drawn and quartered. In a last act of defiance he jumped off the ladder to the gallows breaking his neck before he could be executed.

A tradition celebrating the November 5th breakup of the plot began and persists into modern times.

The modern English word ‘guy’ comes from Guy Fawkes.