Three glorious suns, each one a perfect sun;
Not separated with the racking clouds,
But sever'd in a pale clear-shining sky.
See, see! they join, embrace, and seem to kiss,
As if they vow'd some league inviolable:
Now are they but one lamp, one light, one sun.
In this the heaven figures some event.
Not separated with the racking clouds,
But sever'd in a pale clear-shining sky.
See, see! they join, embrace, and seem to kiss,
As if they vow'd some league inviolable:
Now are they but one lamp, one light, one sun.
In this the heaven figures some event.
William Shakespeare Act Two Scene One of Henry VI, Part 3:
On the
morning of February 2nd 1461, in the county of Herefordshire, two
armies prepared to face in battle. For
six years, the Yorkist and Lancastrian forces had battled for the English crown
and this was to be the next major installment. The Yorkist army was now led by the 18 year
old Edward, Duke of York. The Welsh Lancastrian armies of Sir Owen
Tudor and other nobles loyal to King Henry VI were attempting to meet with the
other supporting forces in England. The battle was a key event in continuing
the separation of the Lancastrian armies and defeat for the Yorkists would have
been a calamity for their cause.
On the dawn of battle, a rare an unusual celestial phenomenon occurred, a parhelion or ‘sun dog’. The sun appeared to be split into three, rising over the horizon in unity. This was taken by the Yorkist men as an ill omen until Edward convinced them that it was a positive sign from heaven, the holy trinity and possibly representing the three sons of the Duke of York who were present in the army.
At Tretower court in the south of Wales, there is a replica tapestry depicting the event.
On the dawn of battle, a rare an unusual celestial phenomenon occurred, a parhelion or ‘sun dog’. The sun appeared to be split into three, rising over the horizon in unity. This was taken by the Yorkist men as an ill omen until Edward convinced them that it was a positive sign from heaven, the holy trinity and possibly representing the three sons of the Duke of York who were present in the army.
At Tretower court in the south of Wales, there is a replica tapestry depicting the event.
The Battle was decisive in the Yorkists favour , Sir Owen Tudor was captured
and put to death while the Lancastrian forces were severely weakened and
dispersed. The phenomenon occurs when light is refracted off plate-shaped ice crystals high in the upper atmosphere- one of many halo effects- and can occur anywhere on the planet with the right conditions present. Very cold weather and cirrus or cirrostratus clouds at the same time.
