The 'Stone of Destiny' and a self-proclaimed Emperor

The History Hour

BBC

History, Society & Culture, Personal Journals

4.4 • 879 Ratings

🗓️ 5 May 2023

⏱️ 52 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Max Pearson presents a collection of this week's Witness History episodes from the BBC World Service.

We hear about the Scottish students who removed the 'Stone of Destiny' from Westminster Abbey in London. Former King Simeon II of Bulgaria explains how he went from child King to Prime Minister of his country. Also, why the body of Oliver Cromwell was dug up and executed in the UK in 1661. The son of Jean-Bédel Bokassa explains why his father proclaimed himself Emperor of the Central African Republic. Plus the story of the King found under a car park in England.

Professor Cindy McCreery speaks to Max about royal thefts and repurposing of regal items.

Contributors: Ian Hamilton, student who removed the 'Stone of Destiny. Cindy McCreery, Associate Professor in History at the University of Sydney. Charles Spencer, historian. Dr Gabriel Heaton, specialist at Sotheby's auction house. Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, former King and former Prime Minister of Bulgaria. Jean-Charles Bokassa, son of Jean-Béddel Bokassa. Dr Richard Buckley OBE, leader of the team which dug up Richard III's remains.

(Photo: Jean-Béddel Bokassa after he crowned himself Emperor Credit: Getty Images)

Transcript

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0:00.0	15 years ago 23 year old Norwegian student Martina Vic Magnison was killed in an apartment near Mayfair.
0:07.0	23 year old Martin Vic Magnison was found partially buried in the basement.
0:12.0	Before being questioned, the only suspect in the case had fled the UK to Yemen.
0:17.0	I made a promise to Martina's family to find out what happened.
0:21.0	Murder in Mayfair, part of the documentary, find it wherever you get your BBC
0:25.7	podcast. Hello and welcome to the History Hour podcast from the Witness History team at the
0:36.5	BBC World Service with me Max Pearson the past brought to life by those who were
0:40.7	there a special week of royalrelated features in recognition of King Charles's
0:45.2	coronation. We'll hear about a ritual and a royal execution from the 17th century.
0:50.3	Oliver Cromwell's hand was everywhere in the trial and the execution of Charles.
0:55.0	For a long time I think he thought there could be a reconciliation and then he became convinced that the only way forward was to have the death of the king.
1:02.0	Also the president who proclaimed himself, Emperor,
1:05.0	the child king who became prime minister in Bulgaria.
1:08.1	It was really quite a surprise.
1:10.8	It was actually rather, I would say, frightening as a responsibility.
1:16.0	And a king discovered under a car park.
1:19.0	The whole thing for me was a bit like an out-of-body experience.
1:22.0	I just couldn't believe it. I think I sort of stamped on the ground and uttered a few
1:25.6	repeatable words. That's all coming up later in the podcast, but we're going to begin with a slab of rock which plays a central role in the coronations of English
1:35.3	kings and queens.
1:36.6	On Christmas Eve 1950, four young Scottish students stole the so-called stone of Destiny from Westminster Abbey.
1:44.0	And Yodoradeko has spoken to one of those involved in that audacious theft.
	...

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