Scipio Africanus (slave): Difference between revisions
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[[Image:Scipio Africanus grave.jpg|thumb|The grave of Scipio Africanus, [[Henbury]], [[Bristol]], [[England]]]] |
[[Image:Scipio Africanus grave.jpg|thumb|The grave of Scipio Africanus, [[Henbury]], [[Bristol]], [[England]]]] |
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'''Scipio Africanus''' (1702 |
'''Scipio Africanus''' (1702 – 21 December 1720) was a [[slavery|slave]] born to unknown parents from [[West Africa]]. He was named after [[Scipio Africanus|Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus Major]], the third century BCE Roman general, famous for defeating the [[Carthage|Carthaginian]] military leader [[Hannibal]]. |
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==Life== |
==Life== |
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:Whose glorious [[Second Coming|second coming]] here I wait |
:Whose glorious [[Second Coming|second coming]] here I wait |
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:With saints and Angels him to celebrate |
:With saints and Angels him to celebrate |
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[[File:Scipio Africanus grave Henbury Bristol England arp.jpg|thumb|A general view of the grave of Scipio]] |
[[File:Scipio Africanus grave Henbury Bristol England arp.jpg|thumb|A general view of the grave of Scipio]] |
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It is thought that 10,000 [[Black people|black]] slaves and servants were in [[Kingdom of Great Britain|Britain]] in the early 18th century, but this is one of the very few memorials to them. Curiously, there is no record of his burial in the church registers.<ref>{{cite web | title=The 18th century: church records | work=Discovering Bristol | url=http://discoveringbristol.org.uk/slavery/after-slavery/bristol-in-black-and-white/african-caribbean-bristol/the-18th-century-church-records/ | accessdate=1 August 2013}}</ref> |
It is thought that 10,000 [[Black people|black]] slaves and servants were in [[Kingdom of Great Britain|Britain]] in the early 18th century, but this is one of the very few memorials to them. Curiously, there is no record of his burial in the church registers.<ref>{{cite web | title=The 18th century: church records | work=Discovering Bristol | url=http://discoveringbristol.org.uk/slavery/after-slavery/bristol-in-black-and-white/african-caribbean-bristol/the-18th-century-church-records/ | accessdate=1 August 2013}}</ref> |
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==Cultural references== |
==Cultural references== |
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The author [[Eugene Byrne]] featured Scipio Africanus in his alternate [[history]] [[novel]], "[[Things Unborn]]". In this novel people who had suffered an untimely [[death]] were '[[Reincarnation|reincarnated]]' in an [[England]] recovering from an [[Nuclear weapon|atomic]] war; Scipio Africanus was a famous [[war]] hero and a [[Detective Inspector]] in the [[Metropolitan Police]]. During the course of the novel he twice saves the life of the [[King]], the reincarnated [[Richard III of England]].{{ |
The author [[Eugene Byrne]] featured Scipio Africanus in his alternate [[history]] [[novel]], "[[Things Unborn]]". In this novel people who had suffered an untimely [[death]] were '[[Reincarnation|reincarnated]]' in an [[England]] recovering from an [[Nuclear weapon|atomic]] war; Scipio Africanus was a famous [[war]] hero and a [[Detective Inspector]] in the [[Metropolitan Police]]. During the course of the novel he twice saves the life of the [[King]], the reincarnated [[Richard III of England]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Silver|first1=Steven H.|title=Things Unborn|url=https://www.sfsite.com/~silverag/unborn.html|publisher=Steven Silver|accessdate=24 October 2015}}</ref> |
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Also: |
Also: |
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The 1980s Bristol based reggae band 'Black Roots' wrote a song about Scipio Africanus which they performed live at Trinity Hall, Bristol on Channel 4's 10 part series 'Rockers Roadshow' produced by Mike Wallington and hosted by Mikey Dread in the 1980s. They featured a short cut scene of the grave back in the 1980s.{{ |
The 1980s Bristol based reggae band 'Black Roots' wrote a song about Scipio Africanus which they performed live at Trinity Hall, Bristol on Channel 4's 10 part series 'Rockers Roadshow' produced by Mike Wallington and hosted by Mikey Dread in the 1980s. They featured a short cut scene of the grave back in the 1980s.<ref>{{cite web|title=Black Roots|url=https://www.atpfestival.com/artist/blackroots|publisher=All Tomorrow's Parties|accessdate=24 October 2015}}</ref> |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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Revision as of 19:05, 24 October 2015
Scipio Africanus (1702 – 21 December 1720) was a slave born to unknown parents from West Africa. He was named after Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus Major, the third century BCE Roman general, famous for defeating the Carthaginian military leader Hannibal.
Life
Very little is known of his life. He was the servant of Charles William Howard, 7th Earl of Suffolk, who in 1715 married Arabella Morse and lived in the "Great House" in Henbury, Bristol. It is not known how he was acquired, but he died there aged, according to his headstone, eighteen. His master and mistress would die two years later.[1]
Grave
He is remembered because of the elaborate grave, consisting of painted headstone and footstone, in the churchyard of St Mary's in Henbury, which is a grade II listed building.[2] Both stones feature black cherubs and the footstone bears the unusual epitaph:
- I who was Born a PAGAN and a SLAVE
- Now sweetly sleep a CHRISTIAN in my Grave
- What tho' my hue was dark my SAVIOR'S sight
- Shall Change this darkness into radiant Light
- Such grace to me my Lord on earth has given
- To recommend me to my Lord in heaven
- Whose glorious second coming here I wait
- With saints and Angels him to celebrate
It is thought that 10,000 black slaves and servants were in Britain in the early 18th century, but this is one of the very few memorials to them. Curiously, there is no record of his burial in the church registers.[3]
Cultural references
The author Eugene Byrne featured Scipio Africanus in his alternate history novel, "Things Unborn". In this novel people who had suffered an untimely death were 'reincarnated' in an England recovering from an atomic war; Scipio Africanus was a famous war hero and a Detective Inspector in the Metropolitan Police. During the course of the novel he twice saves the life of the King, the reincarnated Richard III of England.[4]
Also: The 1980s Bristol based reggae band 'Black Roots' wrote a song about Scipio Africanus which they performed live at Trinity Hall, Bristol on Channel 4's 10 part series 'Rockers Roadshow' produced by Mike Wallington and hosted by Mikey Dread in the 1980s. They featured a short cut scene of the grave back in the 1980s.[5]
See also
Sources
- Macquiban, Tim (2004). "Africanus, Scipio". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Online. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
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References
- ^ Macquiban
- ^ "Memorial to Scipio Africanus 10 metres NW of south porch of Church of St Mary". Images of England. Retrieved 16 March 2003.
- ^ "The 18th century: church records". Discovering Bristol. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
- ^ Silver, Steven H. "Things Unborn". Steven Silver. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
- ^ "Black Roots". All Tomorrow's Parties. Retrieved 24 October 2015.