The Hindu : Opinion / News Analysis : Britain's worst of the worst

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Wednesday, Dec 28, 2005

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Britain's worst of the worst

Jon di Paolo— © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2004

BRITAIN'S BIGGEST cads, rogues, and evil-doers from the past 1,000 years have been given special recognition by historians. Academics have put together a list of 10 rogues whose deeds and behaviour they feel sets them apart as the worst of the worst. Kings, politicians, archbishops, and mass murderers all feature in the run-down, which sees one villain nominated for each of the past 10 centuries.

The vilest character of the 20th century was said to be Oswald Mosley, founder of the British Union of Fascists. Joanna Bourke, of Birkbeck College, London, said Mosley still had a "pernicious impact" on British society as an inspiration for far-right groups. "On his death in 1980 his son Nicholas concluded that his father was a man whose `right hand dealt with grandiose ideas and glory' while his left hand `let the rat out of the sewer'," she said.

Jack the Ripper got the vote as the 19th century's worst rogue, although his real identity is still unknown. He is believed to have murdered at least four sex workers in Whitechapel, east London, in the second half of 1888. Others on the list, which was compiled for BBC History Magazine, included King John and two Archbishops of Canterbury.

Writer and broadcaster Marc Morris described King John, who died in 1216, as "one of the worst kings in English history. John committed some wicked deeds and was a deeply unpleasant person. He was untrusting, he would snigger at people while they talked and couldn't resist kicking a man when he was down." Top of the list for the 18th century was the Duke of Cumberland, nicknamed "Butcher" after his merciless defeat of the Young Pretender, Charles Edward Stuart, and his Highlanders at Culloden in April 1746.

One archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Becket, who was made a saint, was nominated by John Hudson, of St Andrews University, as the worst villain of the 12th century. He said: "He divided England in a way that even many churchmen who shared some of his views thought unnecessary and self-indulgent. He was a founder of gesture politics. He was also greedy. Those who share my prejudice against Becket may consider his assassination in Canterbury cathedral on December 29 1170 a fittingly grisly end." Dave Musgrove, editor of BBC History Magazine, said putting the list together had been a challenge.

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