| Font Size |
An analysis of the histories of almost 200 nations found that only 22 countries, including far off Luxembourg, Guatemala, Tajikistan and the Marshall Islands in the Pacific have never experienced a British assault.
The study – part of a new book – comes against the background of maps which show that at its height the Empire ruled over almost a quarter of the world's population, the 'Daily Mail' reported.
Author of the book 'All the Countries We've Ever Invaded: And the Few We Never Got Round To' Stuart Laycock worked his way around the countries on the globe alphabetically to see if British forces had ever strayed into each territory.
However, only a very small proportion of Laycock's total list of invaded countries made up formal dominions of the Empire.
The remainder have been included if a military incursion was achieved through force, the threat of force, or by negotiation or payment.
Raids by British pirates, privateers and armed explorers have been included if they were acting on the behalf or approval of the government, the report said.
Many countries that once formed part of the Spanish empire and seem to have little historical connection with the UK, such as Costa Rica, Ecuador and El Salvador, made the list because of the repeated raids they suffered from state-sanctioned British sailors.
The earliest invasion launched from the British Isles was an incursion into Gaul, northern France, at the end of the second century.
Clodius Albinus led an army, thought to include many Britons, across the Channel in an attempt to seize the imperial throne.
Other invasions highlighted in the book include that of Iceland in 1940 after the nation refused to enter the war on the Allies' side, the report said.
Laycock began the two-year research after being asked by his 11-year-old son, Frederick, how many countries the British had invaded.
"I was absolutely staggered when I reached the total.
"I like to think I have a relatively good general knowledge, but there are places where it hadn't occurred to me that these things had ever happened. It shocked me," Laycock said.
The only other nation which has achieved anything approaching the British total, Laycock said, is France – which holds the record for having endured the most British invasions.
British Empire was a mirage. It was moth eaten and built on shifting sands of political and economical adjustments. They won, lost, abandoned, gave up kingdoms as quickly as they acquired them. It wasn't exactly planned. It was one blundering mistake after another. They only managed to retain control of places like Africa, Australia, America because they had weapons and new diseases that killed off the natives. Even in India, British empire was a mish mash of Indian kingdoms and British controlled areas. Until 1857, East India Company ran the British areas, with the crown acquiring it post first war of independence. So the "British government" controlled parts of India for only 90 years and not 200 as most Indians are taught. BTW - divide and rule is the oldest political policy known to man. If rulers (past and present) are foolish to fall for it, more fool them !
And yet the British don't teach their current generation about the EMPIRE ! They go on and on about the two world wars, but only casually mention the Empire in passing. Why are the British so shamed of their own history ? What are the British ashamed of ? Could it be the moral, ethical, political and economical embarrassment of having had the empire and lost it ?
What's new? If the treasures in British Museums and other archives are returned to their rightful owners, "The Great Britain" will be with the begging bowl requesting funds/aids from Eritrea. They raped, pillaged and did what the pirates could not do. They claim that they provided stable administration to a ravaged country and only assisted in maintaining law and order and collection of revenue. The Britisher perfected the art of divide and rule and left the legacy across all the countries they ruled, with a clear vindictive motive. By virtue of agglomerating the riches from all the countries, London is the financial capital and all the International Societies will have a Royal tag attached. But as fate will have it, the roar of the British Lion( from Assyria, Africa and India) has become a feeble voice, as the British Isles may not even have an Ant-lion , leave alone a "Panthera Leo". sic gloria transit mundi.And the curtain falls on the British.
