THE FORBIDDEN CITY

The Forbidden City is a palace complex in central Beijing, China. The former Chinese imperial palace from the Ming dynasty to the end of the Qing dynasty, it now houses the Palace Museum. It was declared a World Heritage Site in 1987. It is called The Forbidden City as no "ordinary" people were allowed in without permission.

This City was used as a Palace from 1420 to 1912, and served as the home of Emperors and their households as well being the ceremonial and political center of Chinese government for almost 500 years. Having been constructed from 1406 to 1420, the complex consists of 980 buildings and covers over 180 acres.

After being the home of 24 Emperors --- 14 of the Ming dynasty and 10 of the Qing dynasty --- the Forbidden City ceased being the political centre of China in 1912 with the abdication of Puyi, the last Emperor of China.

Religion was an important part of life for the Imperial Court. In the Qing dynasty, the Palace of Earthly Harmony became a place of Manchu Shamanist ceremony. At the same time, the native Chinese Taoist religion continued to have an important role throughout the Ming and Qing dynasties. There were two Taoist shrines, on in the imperial garden and another in the central area of the inner court. Another prevalent form of religion in the Qing dynasty palace was Buddhism. A number of temples and shrines were scattered throughout the inner court, including that of Tibetan Buddhism or Lamaism. Buddhist iconography also proliferated in the interior decorations of many buildings. Of these, the Pavilion of the Rain of Flowers is one of the most important. It housed a large number of Buddhist statues, icons, and mandalas, placed in ritualistic arrangements.

The Symbolism within the actual building itself was meticulously planned to reflect philosophical and religious principles, and above all to symbolize the majesty of imperial power. Two examples are =
YELLOW is the colour of the Emperor. Almost all roofs within the Forbidden City bear yellow glazed tiles.
The main halls of the Outer and Inner Courts are all arranged in groups of three --- the shape of the Qing triagram, representing Heaven.

Being the largest Imperial Palace in the world, it has over 8,728 rooms and is the world's largest collection of well-preserved medieval wooden structures.

THE TOWER OF LONDON (part 2)

                                                          THE TOWER OF LONDON

Construction of The Bell Tower started in 1190 and was completed in 1210. The bell at the top of the tower (again, hence the name "The Bell Tower") was rung to warn of emergencies, such as a fire or impending enemy attack.

The Wardrobe Tower was also commissioned in 1190 and completed in 1199. Again, as the name indicates, the tower was used to hold the Royal Garments and the famous Crown Jewels of England.

                                                          THE WAKEFIELD TOWER

                                                         THE LANTHORN TOWER
10 years after the completion of the Bell Tower, King Henry III ordered  construction of The Wakefield and Lanthorn Towers, the latter being the old English spelling of the present day word "Lantern". Again, as the name suggests, a lantern was positioned at night at the top of the Lanthorn Tower to help guide ships entering the River Thames and the historic part of London.

THE TOWER OF LONDON

                                                             THE TOWER OF LONDON
The Tower Of London is one of the world's oldest and most famous prisons. However, It's original purpose was to protect London, the Capitol City of the British Empire. The Tower, which is actually a complex of several towers and structures, was built in the latter part of the 11th Century as a fortress.

                                                                THE WHITE TOWER
The oldest structure in the Tower of London complex, the initial construction of "The White Tower" started in 1078 and was completed in 1100, during the reign of King William II. It was designed and built by Gundulf of Rochester, a Norman Bishop. Being made from white limestone (hence the name "The White Tower") imported from Caen in northwestern France as well as a local building material called Kentish Ragstone.

While designed as a battlement, the Tower of London soon found use as a prison. When King Henry I  assumed the throne in 1100, following the assassination of William II, his brother, one of Henry's first acts was to order the arrest of the Bishop of Durham, Rannulf Flambard. Flambard was charged with selling administrative positions in the church for money and became the first prisoner within the Tower of London, though later he escaped.

The Kings of the Medieval Era

During the Medieval Era, we had several Kings and Queens in England, starting from 1066 through to 1377 :

WILLIAM I   1066 - 1087
William the Conqueror founded Windsor Castle at "New" Windsor.

WILLIAM RUFUS   1087 - 1100
Was buried at Winchester

HENRY I   1100 - 1135
Kept Court at Windsor for the first time in 1100

STEPHEN   1135 - 1154
Buried at Faversham Abbey, Kent.

HENRY II   1154 - 1187
Held a Great Council (Parliament) at Windsor in 1175

RICHARD I   1189 - 1199
Richard Coeur de Lion (Richard the Lion Heart).

JOHN   1199 - 1216
Of Magna Carta fame.

HENRY III   1216 - 1272
Buried at Westminster Abbey.

EDWARD I   1272 - 1307
Made Windsor a Free Borough and granted the town its first Charter in 1276. He stayed often at Windsor Castle.

EDWARD II   1307 - 1327
Stayed at Windsor regularly, some if his children were born there.

EDWARD III   1327 - 1377
Born at Windsor and known as Edward of Windsor.