Can I ask something… why is it “The United Kingdom Of Great Britian and Northern Ireland”? why not just “Great Britian”?
Or even just “Britian”?
I mean, its just called that to show off.
Its not that great.
**Id rather be no one than someone with no one **
John,
It’s to distinguish it from Little Britain, the region of France which is now generally called Brittany.
The first “official” use of the title was when James I was declared king of “Great Britain, France, and Ireland” in 1604. He was a Scotsman, so if you want to argue about the Ireland bit, take it up with MadHun. At that time, Great Britain and Brittany were both referred to interchangeably as “Britain” or “Brittany”or some variant spelling thereof (believe me, there was a lot of variant spelling in those days). Brittany was also called “Little Britain” or “Britain the less”.
I’m not sure when the invariable use of “Britain” for GB and “Brittany” for Bretagne was established in English (though I know it was later than the early 17th Century). There is still no distinction in French: Brittany is Bretagne and Britain is Grande-Bretagne.
While we’re on the subject, where are Lower Volta and Inner Mongolia?
And where the fuck is the LITTLE barrier reef?
I know where the Little BigHorn is.
Crystalguy
Oooooh no. But that’s another thread. 