Celtic Nationalists need to stop this.

[@mishapurser4439]

I imagined a 'Celtic Union' as being something similar to the Nordic Council. Individual countries have their own independent governments and languages, but they can work together on matters of shared interest and stand as a united force on these matters on the world stage.

[@BenLlywelyn]

It is interesting Finland is part of the Nordiv Council, isn't it?

[@celtictuathism4585]

@@BenLlywelyn I think that Finland is part of the Nordic Council because aside from Estonia, none of the other Finnic peoples are yet independent.

[@stella8726]

Diolch Ben. Hats off to you. Brave move. The closest thing you’ll get to united Celts is the Pan celtic music festival, each doing their own thing with their own languages, and just being happy there in their own skin.

[@BenLlywelyn]

Croeso, Stella. Music is good, celebrate. And each to their own and happy.

[@mimisor66]

Is Pan a reference to the Greek god Pan? Was he not of Thracian origin?

[@philroberts7238]

​@@mimisor66 Pan was indeed a Greek god, but that is not what the word 'pan'means. In this context it means something like 'all over', 'complete' or 'every'. It can also mean a cooking pot but, again, that's another word again!

[@molecatcher3383]

As a Scot, I value both of our nation's two surviving native languages, i.e. Scots Gaelic (a Celtic Goidelic language) and Scots (a Germanic language). I also regret that three other native Scottish languages have been lost to Scotland within the historical period i.e. Cumbric ( similar to Welsh ,probably less Latin influenced, gone by 15th century ?), Norn (similar to Old Norse - extinct by 19th century) and Pictish (probably Celtic Bythronic but probably without any Latin influence, gone by 11th century?). The "Celtic Nations" have never ever been a single country. They have always been, and continue to be, very different from each other. Southern Scots have much more in common with northern English than they do with Welsh. And Welsh have much more in common with the English living just across their border than they do with the Scots. A common Celtic nation is an impossible, and unwanted, fantasy. The best option for all the "Celtic Nations" is to try their hardest to keep hold of their surviving native languages ( and associated culture) and to, if possible, increase the number of people who can speak these languages.

[@BenLlywelyn]

Old Welsh or Cumbric, was spoken in southwewt Scotland into the 13th century. Probably later, but we don't know. Last names like Wallace and Frewe suggest a lingering presence.

[@molecatcher3383]

@@BenLlywelyn Hard to find good evidence of when Cumbric died out in SW Scotland. Languages can linger in for longer than them being in common use. E.g. Aberdeenshire Gaelic lasted until the 1980s and the last Norn speaker died in the 1850s. They still used Cumbric number system there for counting sheep until fairly modern times.

[@aaronvaughn2671]

Da iawn! As an American, I wonder how many Celtic nationalists may be Americans with Celtic ancestry LARPing with other countries without understanding the concerns of people who actually live there. Your message is much needed: “grow up”. Diolch am y fideo!

[@BenLlywelyn]

Diolch yn fawr iawn, Aaron.

[@ComeRee]

@@BenLlywelyn Two americans... larping identity they dont have to steal ours here...

[@cipherx6334]

Let me elaborate since you took the time to make a video on a quick one min comment that I made. What I meant was, a collection of Celtic nations with each keeping their identities but recognising their collective celtic heritage, forming coalitions with one another, for trade and security etc would be a good thing. As for the reborn part, at the height of Celtic Europe there were a priest class called druids, druids were also the politicians, legal experts and advisors of kings, they linked all the kingdoms throughout Celtic Europe. No king would go against the council of a druid. The epicenter of these politically and religiously linked kingdoms was a little island called Ynys Mon, where these heads of society convened. So all of the celtic kingdoms did have a political, legal and religious/spiritual unity of sorts. The power of the druids were so great that they could stand between warring armies and bring a cessation to the hostilities. To destroy the celtic kingdoms throughout Europe, the Romans had to destroy the spiritual home on the druids, Ynys Mon, killing many druids and celtic people in this genocidal attack, This campaign against the celts is recorded by Tacitus, so feel free to read up on it. Glad we agree on the Celtic languages taught all over the UK part. The Celtic nations have been attacked constantly for centuries, there is deep resentment held by many. The 'welsh not' being a more recent atrocity, the effects of which are still being felt to this day. So, being proud of one's nationality is not a bad thing. Indeed, being a proud nationalist is the only thing that preserves the culture and language over time, a language and culture that you yourself have come to know and love.

[@BenLlywelyn]

Hi. Ynys Môn was certainly something holy and a centre for Britons, but we have no evidence it was seen as such in a wider context beyond just Britain. As for druids and their kings, we have no evidence as to the political make up, and we cannot say if Celtic Iberia , tribes in lowland Scotland, and Celtic regions in Austria and Hungary, were even aware one another existed at all. It is like comparing Assyrian and Berber, they are both Semitic, but beyond that... what is there in common, really? Any Celtic Union would need to include England as they are on these islands too, otherwise it would merely a hate England Union in my opinion.

[@cipherx6334]

@@BenLlywelyn Ynys Mon was the centre of Celtic Europe, and druids from all over Europe went there to do at least some training at some point in the 20 years or so it took to become a fully trained druid. Druids made pilgrimages to Ynys Mon to further their study or to participate in annual ceremonies at some point. The celtic people spread west to east so it would make sense that Britain and specifically Wales was the oldest and most sacred of these sites. In addition to the British Isles, we can see from accounts that the druids were widespread over gaul, I have included a definition of the extent of gaul. So we see that "Gaul, French Gaule, Latin Gallia, the region inhabited by the ancient Gauls, comprising modern-day France and parts of Belgium, western Germany, and northern Italy. A Celtic people, the Gauls lived in an agricultural society divided into several tribes ruled by a landed class" There was evidence that druids were widespread and so well thought of that a king would not go against the final word of a druid. Druids were widespread enough and numerous enough at their height that everyone in Celtic Europe would have known at least one druid. Since the celts were essentially an agricultural society they certainly would have all been similar. As the druids were all connected by the same teachings and sacred locations we can assert that they knew about one another. Like I said the celts were an agricultural society and there would have been druids in all kingdoms connected by the same teachings. As for a celtic union. Wales, Scotland and Ireland want to break away from England cause of the awful state of the country, brought about by westminster and the corrupt politicians. The voting system that is in place prevents any welsh vote from being meaningful because 533 out of 650 votes belong to England. Meaning Wales can never get any meaningful democracy or make any impactful decisions in a UK wide context (see the independence organisation 'yes Cymru'). As for Wales, Scotland and Ireland, well they are better off sticking together, hence why I said a celtic union.

[@MarcOCymru]

I agree it’s really important to not become hateful. It just gets used against us as a portrayal of “angry welsh nationalism”. It’s easy to read the history of Cymru and be angered by what happened given we’re still essentially in a post-colonial rule by the colonising country, but don’t become the same as that. Be better. Don’t put every English person in a single box either - some English do support our language revival and culture. Some don’t, but every country has small mindedness, and likewise for open mindedness. Some English (though not a majority in my experience) support Welsh independence. The average English person has less to do with the faults of the UK than the ruling classes / elites. To add, it’s perfectly acceptable to support independence as a serious political viewpoint in the belief that Cymru could do better - or a Celtic Union - nothing wrong with that whatsoever.

[@BenLlywelyn]

For some of the most supportive of each culture, it is coming from another culture that makes them able to appreciate its beauty so deeply.

[@ComeRee]

@@BenLlywelyn Ben - Welsh in name only. Unionist by nature aka A Ffycin disappointment to all invovled.

[@gregcampwriter]

I once had a conversation with a white supremacist who asked me if Shirley Bassey is Welsh, she having been born in Cardiff. I said that I imagined Wales being proud to claim her, as any group would be to have an association with a voice that good.

[@brianboru7684]

The Irish Republican Ruairí Ó Brádaigh was in favour of a pan-Celtic federation, but then look at how Yugoslavia turned out.

[@BenLlywelyn]

Quite.

[@YChwibanwr]

I’m not sure If I’ve understood the full idea of the “Celtic Union” and the benefits that’s going to bring to the countries. I believe this whole Celtic union thing is mostly just americans romanticising something that seems “cool”, medieval like, not quite sure. I’m a fluent welsh speaker and happy how people are interested in celtic languages, but I think that the idea of a Celtic Union is simply impossible in today’s politics.

[@ComeRee]

Niclas, you know the UK? Can you imagine that, but with Celtic nations who work alongside each other - instead of top down Westminster/England dictatorship... if you can, then you can understand what a Celtic Union would be.

[@YChwibanwr]

@@ComeRee I understand Wales, Scotland being an independent country, but I don’t understand what benefit it will bring if we somehow create a Celtic Union. Nobody here in Wales, Scotland nor Ireland identify themselves as Celtic, the word is usually just to classify Brythonic and Pictish language or used in history class. The desire for a Celtic Union is just a romanticisation and I can’t see it happening

[@ComeRee]

@@YChwibanwr Brawd, does being British make sense to you - or more poignantly - do you not understand how it fits the very bill you described as being Celtic [however, without being fictious]. We each speak *celtic languages* in Proto P Celtic and Proto Q Celtic. Its only romanticised and made as such by people belittling the very idea of a political union whilst unconsciously [or without remarking] about the very British romanticisation that is made of a ficitous "equal union" called the UK. Though, isn't it peculiar how you highlight how people learn to address others via history class: out of curiosity, who were the authors and sources of those history books? Don't suppose they are written by those from within the occupying empire of the time? Who sought to erase other perspectives [languages] to install their own, and is the reason we're using this language now... The benefit is simple - for think of it like Aneurin Bevans concept behind a national healthcare system - i.e. - by grouping together contracts it gives you a greater negotiating ability. Imagine if you will, a republic of republics - each with self autonomy - but where we collectively and equitably work together upon improving access to the tradeways and travel ways and markets across the world: equally. Where instead of power being strongholded in one place [ *coughs loudly looking at Westminster* ], thats not equitably representative of each nation, imagine if you will a Scando style pact where governance and economic expenditure is shared amongst them in joint areas of interest. By joining together as nations in a political pact - it would increase our bargaining in rejoining the EU/Single Market/EEA, as well as be the kind of governance that actually respects each nation within it and equally working to develop each other and our joint interests... just like many other countries do. From being under occupation for so long, I can understand why many people struggle to grasp this - or - they stall at the thought of gaining independence from Westmisnter and give up on anything else as being fanciful, but the sun is shining on what is known as the british Empire and Common Wealth - where the ship is sinking and I don't want to be given the captains hat at the end by Westminster to be "given the privilege of going down with the ship". I'm not talking of merging languages, or "picking a superior one", I'm literally talking about respecting each of each others perspectives and making greater efforts to learn of each other - like many european countries do [its not uncommon for them to speak 3-4 languages]. Where, language is of perspective as well as utility, but often gets overwritten as *only* having purpose of utilitarian needs which I firmly believe is the viewpoint out of empire. Though heres a question: Do you have a problem with neighbouring countries working together and respecting each others heritage, cultures, languages or how they can work together to overcome greater problems that impact their shared trade and travel ways? If no: then I don't understand whats your problem with a Celtic Union [as it doesnt mean the *only* union we could be in - i.e. I'd see a Celtic Union work well in the EU/Single Market/EEA]. If Yes, then your problems are greater than I am able to help with.

[@YChwibanwr]

@@ComeRee I definitely think you’ve pointed out some really interesting things over there. I don’t have a problem with Celtic Union, I’m just saying that a Celtic Union is impossible, it may be nice Idk but I’ve never saw any desire for Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Brittany, Cornwall and Galicia for an union. All I can see is probably making public holidays where “Celtic” culture and heritage is celebrated and appreciated, that’ll be amazing. I’m just thinking realistically, I’ve seriously never heard anyone in Wales saying they want a Celtic union. This is completely down to the population of Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland which the majority are still in favour of staying in the U.K. People from Brittany are french which would be really hard for them to agree with this. Celtic languages are still on their way on developing their identity, thinking about a Celtic Union now is a bit of a fantasy and currently unrealistic.

[@ComeRee]

@@YChwibanwr how is it impossible? For once again, you struggle to jump the hurdle of independence to think how we'd get that *and then* what we'd do with/for ourselves. You've never seen or heard it because: who owns the media channels? Who wrote the history books [empires]? All you can see, is limited, but yet here I am - Cymro | a Welshman - literally speaking these ideas which are not far fetched, but a sight into a future of equal representation and safeguarding of each others heritage and trade and travel ways i.e. our collective places in the world. You can only work with what you have, where Scotland and Cymru need to do the heavy lifting out of the UK [due to political disrepect and dictatorship from Westminster], but Ireland is already a republic where we would basically be working with whats there for now and seeing what happens later for others [Isle of Man being a crown dependency, Brittany in the hands of the French Empire, and what happens to places within England that don't want to stay part of England in our independences]. What is being unrealisitc is not looking at all pragmatic options and unions of collective interest to help relatively small nations in the world be able to compete on the international stage - because as much as I dislike brexit and the fact we've been removed from the EU - it is literal wishful thinking that we'd be accepted back in by ourselves as a nation by nation basis [albeit Scotland has a greater chance of that than Cymru because... strategic position and oil/energy]. Also, the common welath is beginning to erode and its a ticking time bomb waiting to go off, which means if we don't start these conversations then what will be unrealistic is maintaining wtf we do have in the face of an empire thats had its leashes removed and can do wtf it wants [I of course speak of Westminster and the "British" empire]. Where, buying into the triviality as how unionists like Ben portray the topic - only muddies the waters for any actual progress to be made. Rome wasn't built in a day - and we're not trying to recreate a "Celtic Empire" - we're trying to make a Celtic union, for we're geographically located upon the same part of the world and use the same seas for travel and trade ways. How is it unreasonable to think that we can't create a union with each other *devoid* of British Empire or British unionism? How about a Celtic league of a variety of sports? Theres many which ways that we can work to grow each others economies and languages/heritages - all with mutual respect. The options are limitless, but only limited because of Westminsters stronghold over us *politically* speaking. Riddle me this: What would work better? 1- British unionism [one language rules] 2 - Celtic unionism [all languages used]

[@rets0c572]

Recently discovered your videos as a Welsh learner (101 day Duolingo streak as of today!). Super engaging. The drone shots of my city in this video are magical too. Keep it up Ben!

[@BenLlywelyn]

Oh thank you. May get a drone of my own in the future for you guys.

[@jamieaubre8215]

I think independence is more the concept or independent governance, like in the USA each state has its own governance and decision making powers, independence’s for the Celtic fringe is about that, rather that Westminster controlling them. E.g. Why do people in wales’ tax money go towards HS2, which is not in wales. Scotland has the only oil reserve in the UK and has higher poverty rates than England, why? Cos of Westminster control.

[@BenLlywelyn]

America is a Federal Union. Why stop with other so-called 'Celtic' nations? We have just as much in commonnwith England, Belgium and France as we do with each other.

[@JuwinRosebud16]

Ben. I’ve had a look at this Celtic union map. It seems to include Somerset and Devon. I’m Somerset born and bred. What exactly are they proposing ?because most of us wouldn’t accept being a part of it. I don’t think people in Devon would be either plus most of us have family in Devon and Cornwall and the West Country is a thing in itself even if most of us don’t speak Cornish. I think they are totally insane…… they would have to fight Somerset , Devon and probably Cornwall as well……. I don’t think their idea is thought out at all. The people in Somerset love Somerset and identify with it, the fact they don’t have a Celtic language is neither here nor there. I think you are right. I don’t think anyone in the West Country would accept being forced out or dictated to about what language they’re speak. Who ever thought up THAT daft idea sounds like a couple of little boys planning world domination. They must assume they are either going to kill us all. or we are going to support such an idea. It’s utterly crazy! Plus to have one big Celtic nation would degrade ALL of them by slowly making them all the same. I don’t think any individual Celtic nation would accept the dictates that told them who they are They would lose the diversity that makes them diverse and beautiful. Being different isn’t wrong! Why do people always try and force everyone to be the same? It’s a stupid idea. Each of the Celtic countries has their own identity they don’t need a bunch of fanatics diluting their unique identities. Yep! I agree, whoever thought up that idea didn’t think about it ……..

[@BenLlywelyn]

Our common bonds should not bring us so close together we cannot see ourselves.

[@ambidexter2017]

I understand very well where you're coming from. I'm of Slavic descent myself and if I had a nickel every time I meet some ridiculous "pan-Slavist" idea I think I'd be a millionaire. Of course, in terms of bickering and fighting among themselves Slavs are, well, let's just say there's a very long and very unfortunate tradition of this, maybe longer and more tragic than within any other particular culture group.

[@BenLlywelyn]

I think bickering is just human nature.

[@nurval1093]

it is neccesary that we the celts can be united in order to protect our cultures and languages. however, i don't think the six celtic nations could create a single country because a lot of differencies ofc.

[@dylmassey9395]

When i think about a Celtic union I’ve never thought of it as one nation thats insane, an ideal ‘Celtic Union’ for me would be something simple that would benefit us culturally and economically. Share our languages, England included. But im neither an economist nor politician.

[@MP-hz6iz]

There are some common lessons and even work to be done in terms of language, music and other bits of culture. I think the Urdd have some useful exchange relationships with youth organisations in Ireland and Brittany for example. But ideas like a 'pan Celtic state' almost certainly belong to the sort of weirdos who pop up saying they want to 'revive' Gaulish or Cumbric, despite the fact that you would probably struggle to fill a page of A4 with the entire known corpus from both languages. Unfortunately nationalisms of any description tend to attract their fair share of cranks.

[@BenLlywelyn]

The Urdd is to be treasured and it is on the right path to language revival.

[@ComeRee]

Language is perspective - and trust you not to understand it only speaking one. Ffyc you.

[@MP-hz6iz]

@sxnap3 rubbish, nations are built by the ascendant and respective ruling class, whether it be the Founding Father's in America, European monarchies and their aristocracies and merchants, or tribal Ironage overlords. They all had their court jesters and useful idiots though, I'm sure.

[@ComeRee]

@sxnap3 I think M P either standards for Member of parliament [as they seem on the take] or it's a misspelling of B P - British Person [failing to recognise the cranks made up in Westminster and the entrenched little englander identity - used to uphold and maintain whats left of 'The Empire']. It's ironic that people like M P claim others perspectives to be skewed, but has "lived in a house of mirrors" and thinks that one's reflection is meant to look like a corkscrew! [cranked viewpoint]. Cariad fawr teulu

[@JuwinRosebud16]

@@ComeRee MP probably is just the initials of his name. Paranoid much? Did you assume you were the crank/weirdo? Because to be so sensitive to what is probably just a set of initials is hilarious! 😂

[@garmit61]

Not sure the Irish would be too happy about joining any union involving the UK. It took them a few centuries to get rid of British Rule. The so called Celtic Union map looked something like what Putin is trying to do in eastern europe. It’s also worth remembering that before ‘England’ unified the British Isles under a single ruler, there was a lot of infighting amongst Celtic Barons. The reason that the Anglo Normans ended up going and overstaying their welcome in Ireland was because one such Baron called them in to beat up his rival. Seems to me to be leaning a bit too far towards fascism to me. Looks like it’s just intended as a dig at the English. There are not many people on these islands that are thoroughbred Welsh, Scottish, English or Irish due to centuries of migration within and without the british isles. I’m not deliberately excluding Breton either but their situation is slightly different. As someone born and raised in England , with Welsh, Irish, Scottish and English heritage I can’t understand why anyone would say you can’t be Breton and French. Countries are a man made construction used both to unite and divide people. We really ought to be wiser than to be ludicrously over nationalistic. Save that stuff for the football/rugby pitch.

[@thegreenmage6956]

Then we should unite as a strong Britain.

[@BenLlywelyn]

We take our rugby very seriously. And thank you.

[@bradwilliams7198]

I watched a video a couple days ago about the mutual (un)intelligibility of Irish and Welsh. It's worth remembering that the Goidelic and Brythonic branches had diverged for something like 1000 years before the Romans showed up. Each of the Celtic regions seems to be in a different place in terms of politics, economics, culture, and language preservation. I don't see how a "one size fits all" approach can work for all concerned, regardless of what exactly that approach ends up being. For Cornwall and Brittany, one of the best things that could happen would be for the national governments to drop the notion that Cornwall is just another County in England, and Brittany is just another region in France, and acknowledge that both have distinct histories, cultures, and languages, that are worth preserving. A bigger problem has to do with modern-day economic forces, which tend to concentrate money and power in a few large population centers. The "Celtic Fringe" is well, just that, causing it to be disadvantaged economically (with a few exceptions such as Dublin, Glasgow, Cardiff). This phenomenon isn't unique to the British Isles; in the US there's a huge urban/rural divide in terms of politics, culture, and economics. But the question of how to make places that are largely rural and often geographically isolated economically viable is a key prerequisite for the well-being of the people who live there.

[@BenLlywelyn]

We also face a prestige struggle with out native languages which isnexacerbated by that rural - economic heart divide.

[@vincentsheldrake2834]

This is my favourite video of yours so far Ben, even though I think a Celtic Union is self-evidently silly you made important points about the value everyone has to give to the Celtic nations. As a Cornishman living in Wales now I celebrate more than ever our differences as well as our shared experiences. Good on you for mentioning the Italians and Polish too, I couldn't care less whether Joe's or Mario's ice cream is Celtic or Pan-Celtic, it's Welsh, it's Italian, it's god damn delicious

[@BenLlywelyn]

Croeso. Glad you are here and enjoyed this.

[@toadsmoothy]

This seems like a silly subject. Why don't we all move back to Gaul and role play 'The Adventures of Asterix?' My Wallace ancestors came from Ayrshire. That family descends from Strathclyde Britons. That subject is my particular passion. However, I would no sooner move to Scotland than fly to the moon. I'd probably get jailed for making mean Tweets or some other nanny-state nonsense. Where it comes to the U.S. or U.K. - it's better the devil I know. Pick a Celtic subject and dive in. Share your passion with others. There's a pan-Celtic festival near me every year. It's interesting to talk with people passionate about other "Celtic" countries. We are all a mix of this, that and the other. The ancient Celts were too! They drew genes and cultural influences from all the European peoples around them. So, what exactly is "Celtic?" Beyond that, we're all some mix of Neanderthal and Homo Sapiens out of Africa. We share a lot in common with our fellow Indo-Europeans, like all those Latin and Germanic folks that came to our islands. Why dis them at this point? The average Sassenach today probably has as many "Celts" in his family tree as anyone else. What about the Neolithic folks who played with the big stones? They didn't go away. They're in us too.

[@BenLlywelyn]

It was a silly video, but got a spike in my views, and brought some attention to Wales. So I did it. Thank you very much for watching.

[@slloyd7926]

CELTIC UNION I got an idea Ben 💡🤔!! Celtic Union make it a Bank with different money and exchange rates. Wales could have the leek. Scotland the thistle. Cornwall the pixie. England keeps the pond £. Now exchange rates will vary in the Celtic Union. One leek could equal one pound £ or 4 pixies. Now the thistle will be very much linked to the market demand on Scottish shortbread by the English, so it could trade as low as two leeks or 8 pixies. Keep the good work up Ben like watching your stuff.

[@BenLlywelyn]

Leeks as a currency. Tasty.

[@ComeRee]

@@BenLlywelyn Patronising Unionist.

[@jameshumphreys9715]

In 2005, I went to a Scout World Jamboree, they would have the name of the place and the country, ours had, Vale of Glamorgan, Wales, UK if I I recall, they was a camp from Catolonia but they just had Spain, they crossed Spain out, they went, not Spain, not Spain.

[@BenLlywelyn]

Spain has had periods of severe cruelty toward Catalans.

[@jameshumphreys9715]

@@BenLlywelyn I would like to see it become independent.

[@JuwinRosebud16]

I went on holiday once to Catalan and didn’t know anything about it and how sensitive a subject it is. The waiter really didn’t like it when I tried to speak a bit of Spanish. I didn’t know as I had never been to “Spain “ before. I still feel to this day he should have explained it politely instead of getting snotty …….. Holidaymakers don’t always understand automatically. It’s like with Cornwall officially they are a county like Devon or Somerset but they dispute this. Someone visiting Cornwall and looking at the map may not realise they see themselves differently. My map said Spain 🤷‍♀️

[@BenLlywelyn]

@@JuwinRosebud16 Spain has had 4 civil wars in the last 180 years, and then a 40 year long dictatorship followed. That they have gone over 40 years without another falling out is astounding.

[@ce5894]

Hmmm, I feel you've strayed a little to far with this tbh. With a little insensitivity. Perhaps because you are, in fact, American (by birth I assume) and - of course - Welsh. And while you can rightly consider yourself Brythonic, you'll herald from lots of different places. I really don't know if you're trying to instigate the typical arguments that ensue on such matters. So, let's give this a shot. I'll go through your points as I find them. For context, I'm Scots - with a lot of Gaelic ancestry, and a Welsh wife. My children are Scottish and Welsh. We are not English. We are certainly not 'British' - which is by any definition a glamour for the greater reality of the Anglo-state to which we all belong. And to which many of us are working hard to escape. 'Breton are not French'. You're quite right. Any civic model and all round decent human being should have no issue with how people wish to identify. The civic model in Scotland, as pursued by the Scottish National Party, the Scottish Greens, and others emphasise this as a fundamental. Within this model, if you so choose to ID as 'British' please do so. However, you should perhaps tread with some thoughtfulness here. Many Breton people feel they have suffered seriously - culturally, linguistically and otherwise, at the hands of the French state. That's documented fact. To the same end, if you spend some time in museum of Islay life you can read (if you can read through tears) of the systematic destruction of the Scots Gaelic language at the hands of that nascent British state. Racism. Punishment. It's all there. Thus, I choose to identify as Scottish. I am from these people. And some Breton people might, justifiably, regard themselves as Breton only. They may even have animosity towards the French. Does that mean your point is wrong - no, it certainly does not. But please understand many people can, righteously, acclaim they are Breton, or Scots, or Welsh only. What they can't do is force their own ideas on other people. To the same end, English nationalists cannot insist other people are 'British'. 'A Celtic Union'. You began by describing it as 'absurd', before then telling us you don't know what the idea refers to. Be it economic union or otherwise. There is no Celtic Union. It does not exist. There is no serious intent with the content you're drawing on. We see this image a lot in SNP circles. So cracking on about how daft it is, well, is a little daft itself. It's a purported idea, albeit crudely used to suggest people from Celtic nations are somehow better than the English. They are not. We are all people. Again, look to the civic model in Scotland. It's not serious. As such, your additional content here about official language of such a Union is all a little pedantic and silly mate. Although drawing on historical context to draw a 'stronger' Franco-Welsh tie than Irish-Welsh ignores hundreds of years of cooperation inside the British Empire and, critically, obvious political movements, sympathies and potential alliances today. In 2023 do Welsh people feel a little closer to Ireland than France. Well, of course they would. However, should Scotland become independent - which is obviously a real possibility - then it's not beyond the realms of the imagination to suggest that Scotland and Ireland expand and build on their own relationship. Both are very much pro-EU. Scotland has huge Marine Territory, as does Ireland. Making them something of a lynchpin in the NW Atlantic. Economically, that relationship will surely prosper. In doing so, it's also not so ridiculous to think that the people of Wales would look to the NW - and not the East - for assurance of well being. Perhaps with the added boon of European citizenship. A formal Celtic Union? Unlikely, increased economic cooperation between these Celtic nations - very likely, if Scotland leaves. Silly point about people in each Celtic country having their own language, pan Celtic nation, reunited UK and Ireland, blah blah blah. A nonsense comment. But, truly, almost parody. 95% of people in SNP and Plaid Cymru circles do not revolve around such daft discourse. So why would you be pushing this as an example of 'Celtic nationalism'. Weird. You're running with your ego here a little here mate. And you're quite right, Ireland (and increasingly Scotland) have no desire to unite with rUK. You're bit about 'solutions', extrapolated from that silly comment, was beyond ridiculous. I assume the intimation here is that Celtic national movements are fascist? O h dear. Not cool Ben. You're way off. The comment about the Celtic nations joining the EU. Again, there is no Celtic Union. It's not beyond imagination to think that Scotland and Ireland, as EU members, would have their own local agreements, economic or otherwise. Likewise, your extrapolation of the really silly comment about a Celtic nation. Lol. You're repeating yourself as per the previous comment RE: 'what would be the official language'. There is not going to be a Celtic nation. There never was one. And if there were a union, unlikely (previous points), there would be a host of 'official' languages anyway. NOR would there be any centralised governance. For that, we look to the Anglo-state and Westminster. Again, it's a two bit social comment to which you commit lots of time, and lots of hyperbole it seems. Umm, Wales take over Scotland? Where is that implied? Your point about the Welsh being closer to the English than the Irish, again - an inflammatory one - and your *opinion*. It's not, however, fact Ben. My Cymraeg missus feels Welsh, she doesn't feel she's from the same nation as the Irish, but she feels she has MUCH more in common with the Irish, in 2023, than the English. History? Haven't the Welsh and Irish been exchanging peoples on the North Coast, via early medieval pirates etc? :) I say the comment tongue in cheek Ben. Good luck with getting the English to support Cornish. A great idea. One that should be normal. But, it's imperial Westminster Ben, not Switzerland. I fear even if the Cornish voted for it, nothing would happen. Look at Scotland. The comment about Welsh language and people leaving England. A comment from a racist numpty. Next. Although English people *should* be encouraged to engage with the language, and the advantages therein. A sad fact is that on this spectrum, we have eejits like this on one side - and then many people who DO move from England to Wales with zero interest in the language or culture. I remember my driving instructor, in Bangor, telling me that Welsh was 'a silly language' and that English people shouldn't have to cope with 'the stupid road signs'. In my experience this is the view of most people who move from England. All people? No, of course not. One of the best Welsh teachers I know is...drumroll...English! To the same end, there is a visceral hatred of Scottish Gaelic from English nationalists in Scotland. Again, that's a fact Ben. How to address that little elephant in the room? The comment about invading England. An obvious Jest. Why even analyse this Ben? Hebrew and Scythian immigration. Lol. Let's leave that alone. You're right. The focus is now. Not the historical soup from which we sprung. But that does not mean any idea of increased cooperation between Ireland and Scotland in 2023+ etc. is a nonsense. If Scotland gains political independence, it's very likely. Obviously so. Not a formal union. But Celtic nations working a little more together. Btw, Native American groups DO come together but DO NOT lose their individual cultural identities. This'd be case with Scotland and Ireland. To be fair Ben, your video is going to appeal, I fear, largely to English nationalists. So, for balance, very much looking forward to your follow on video 'English nationalists need to stop this'. Can you do that? I can easily source you some hundreds of comments, many more detailed and specific than the things you've sourced here, citing that the Senedd and Scottish Parliament need to be dissolved. Welsh is a 'dead language' anyway. 'Funding for Welsh needs to stop'. Let's get back to FULLY centralised control, because it was such a '...hassle for us to drive into Wales and be subject to different Covid laws...' (the temerity, huh!?). Critically - the centralised 'British' project, do something on that. I live in Scotland. We go about our business inside a 'political union' where Scots voices, and Welsh voices, cannot actually influence anything. The mechanics don't exist. Because the 'British' project, is ultimately about ensuring control via the Anglo-state. If my kids have calls, in unison with the nation of Scotland, about nukes on Scots land, joining the EU and Brexit, or actually going to war, there's *nothing* they can do. Their voices are meaningless. That is the reality. Yes, do something on that. Cheers.

[@BenLlywelyn]

Please identify as the nationality you wish, and that is good. Wonderful you have a Welsh wife by the way. pob dymuniad da. As for British, I have Scottish / Cornish ancrstry, married an Englishman, learned Welsh and settled here - I'm British by inclusion and Welsh by depth.

[@ce5894]

@@BenLlywelyn thanks Ben, wonderful also that you have settled with an English husband. You've still not addressed any of my points mind. British, on any inspection in 2023, is a profoundly (and demonstrably) meaningless term, if democracy is actually denied the constituent members of said 'union'. You're playing with fire here mate. Will you do a piece on English nationalism, and it's impact on the Welsh language? By way of parity?

[@ce5894]

Gotta laugh at the idea of 'inclusive Britain' - lol, cheers Ben :)

[@realitywins9020]

I'm Scottish in origin but have lived in England since I was a child. I've heard English people with both positive and negative views towards Celtic nations, languages and cultures. They confuse Britishness with Englishness and they definitely have a superiority complex. I've spent much of my life correcting English friends and colleagues. But some of them do respect our cultures and some even support independence. I have an English accent myself but I dream of moving to Scotland and learning Gaelic and I'd vote for independence too

[@franksiegle7823]

Quite agree, but the slogan "Six Nations: One Soul" I think is of value, given the history of Celtic speaking peoples as minorities in lands dominated by - well - "foreigners." Cymru,. Kernow, and Alba are parts of Great Britain, as well as are the English, and the first three are different from English for many people in those geographical regions. And what of immigrants to these area, particularly Wales, who wish to fit in, even ti to the point of learning Welsh? And there is more affinity in DNA in the West that diminishes somewhat as you go east, but even the English share, I seem to remember, at least 50% of the ancient DNA of the isles prior to the coming of the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes. Lot of mixed kids , even from the early days of Anglicizastion. It should be left at Six Nations. Each one is distinct enough for its own identity, yet with common affinities worth preserving and celebrating. The Six Nations shouldn't seek to emulate their historical oppressors. Celebrate"Celtishness" through pan-Celtic festivals and maybe mutual support, but not the fantasy of a "Celtic State."

[@BenLlywelyn]

I suppose pan-Celtic cultural festivals. Absolutely.

[@noahtylerpritchett2682]

I agree. I support Welsh culture and English culture blending. I remember seeing Englishman sometimes with pride proclaim they have Celtic "ancestors that king arthur once ruled over" but proclaiming Celtic ancestry is paper until they learn the literature and language and poetry outside of basic Anglo-French ideas of King Arthur on the generic knowledge. Since I'm myself probably have more Brythonic blood than Germanic as I'm American who's English ancestors are from WESTERN England near the historical border such as Hereford and Shropshire and Gloucester, which has an abundance of Welsh surnames and speakers, and was adjacent to Wales as a larger Wales with Glouvia, Powys, Pengwern, Luitcoyt and ... were protruding out of Wales into England before the Mercians arrived. Who btw was led by the Iclingas dynasty. The Iclingas deriving from iceni. A cognate name. I'm learning Welsh. Adore the Welsh culture and poetry. But laugh when I see a Englishman casually says he's just a Anglicized Celt with there being grains of truth. But then this Briton just keeps the English culture and language no adjusting to Welsh influences. Which I always found hilarious

[@BenLlywelyn]

Celtic and King Arthur have become quite meaningless and a flippant version of English Romantic nationalism, which has little, often null, to do with the livingB British culture of the Britons (Welsh) for whom King Arthur was essentially a guerilla war leader fighting a war of liberation with ill-trained peasants and farmers to save his people from being wiped off the earth by barbarian tribes from the east. It was dark, there were plagues, the economy was ruined, the empire had crumbled, the cities were being abandoned. It was apocalyptic. Our of that, a Welsh nation slowly climbed after taking refuge in the hills to the west from this disaster.

[@noahtylerpritchett2682]

@@BenLlywelyn your arguments are true. But I was still meaning the myths of the Britons exist in England

[@ReiKakariki]

A confederations of celtics nations can be a nice thing if have solidarity and descentralization. It's healthy idea for celtic people. If the Celtic country is to be born, it will have to be plurinational, it cannot be uninational and unilingual. It will have to be plurinational and multilingual, the idea was never a bad one, it just has to be more humane and supportive. even the Basque country must participate in this union as well.

[@BenLlywelyn]

Do the Basques get a choice?

[@ReiKakariki]

They can have choice, Ben I dont know why basques stopped to fight they are other culture non latines, a celtic culture.

[@ReiKakariki]

Ben I see you sick and tired and alone, buddy that's not good for your job. I see that your broken foot affected your perception of reality, you committed injustices, you confused warmongers and Celtic imperialists with Celtic patriotism. The warmongers are the centralists, the guys who defend a language and a single state from the Celts. Patriots and Celtic nationalists accept multiple lands and a confederative cantonal model and a plurinational state. Politically you lack vision, tact and experience with the Celtic world. If you look at things from a Celtic angle a plurinational state including the Basque country and Cornwall in this plurinational and plurilingual union. The Celts were heavily attacked by the Latin and Germanic peoples and have rights to have countries, lands and governments and state of their own. Irrational and unfair and advocating full Celtic assimilation by Latins and Germanics, that's the absurdity. Reflection is for you. ps: I'm not a Celtic warmonger, I'm a Celtic patriot, they are different worlds, don't mix things up. Be safe .

[@TroyTempest0]

Thanks Ben - I really enjoyed this video and it got me thinking. I wasn't aware of these Celtic Union ideas. It all sounds a bit like "Beschäftigungstherapie" to me (as the locals would say). Keep up the good work.

[@BenLlywelyn]

There is indeed some cartharsis there. Thank you.

[@ComeRee]

British isn't a country, but you're happy with that default? It's not Celtic nationalism - It's Celtic unionism or a greater republic of Celtic republics. Why do you default to imperical thinking here Ben? Why do you insinuate that there has to be one language in a Union? It's not been that long since we were forced to leave the EU, but riddle me this: what is the single langauge of the EU? Wait - there is not *one, but many*. What is so hard to understand that we should have an economic union for mutually beneficial projects along the Celtic Sea [or can it be called a Celtic sea in your eyes?]. Sincerely Ben, I love your work on language but this is just below you to fish for content. "A Celtic Union wouldn't work in the EU"... "not going to take a stance on brexit" ... well you just did you tit, because reading between those lines it was okay for a nation state of countries to be apart of the EU [known as the UK], but not *this* union. I've lost alot of respect for you being a simp for empire and stuck in impirical thought and lacking such imagination to think of the alternative. "We're much closer to the English in Wales" - yeah, some more than others evidently. Cachu'r bant Saes.

[@ce5894]

Indeed. I felt Ben was very lop-sided on this.

[@MarcOCymru]

You can make your point without being disrespectful you know... I actually agree with some of what you’re saying but for change to happen we need respectful political debate and not name calling. That applies to all people of all sides of any debate.

[@ComeRee]

@@MarcOCymru Ahh, so the reason we're in this unionist cesspit is because all the people explaining our freedom used swears to speak the truth... thanks for explaining the pedantic reason why we're still not free of empire. Difference is - I'm making a comment not a video, Ben had ample opportunity to do his research but no - he's high on his own supply and you can see a pidyn emerge where there was once a pen. How is it respectful to mischaracterise a political/economic union between countries with a strong history and a shown ability to work with/alongside each other [on the celtic sea] - and to gaslight it with "comments from the internet"!? Ben has made it clear he voted brexit and he's a unionist, so wheres your comment with regard to his lack of respect? Double standards is all you know - not political points so its funny how you agree with others yet don't make your own points [as you're incapable].

[@BenLlywelyn]

Im open to reform within a Federal UK, with constutional Monarchy (with an actaul constitution), since you asked. I offer other views for our country, which direly needs discussions broader than the romanticised oppressed Celtic peasant fighting a war of justice against a cartoon figure Tory landlord from England, which is rather fanciful most of the time. I respect we can disagree and be well, amicably. There are many roads we can take.

[@ComeRee]

@@BenLlywelyn though you'll happily steer people away from other conversations by using character assassination and social media comments. You can say you're open, but from your words, actions and creating this video - shows you for the cosplayer you are. Welsh name in, not in nature.

[@Ensign_Cthulhu]

"...because people who want to be king so ardently seldom should be king." Yes. "...and then we can worry about those other things, but it's a bit much to think about now." But we'll get around to it later? LOL. (You would make a very good supervillain. You have the right delivery for it.) Pan-Celtic... or pan-Anglophobic? I detect an undercurrent of a historical grudge being borne.

[@BenLlywelyn]

Quite so, yes. Any economic or cultural union of these isles will need to include England.

[@MarcOCymru]

I haven’t read or thought much about a Celtic Union, but if people support independence as they believe England has not ruled with our individual (country level) interests at heart, and imagining if all countries went independent, a union for trade etc doesn’t seem that bizarre to me. If each country kept its uniqueness, language, culture and sovereignty (over local matters) and any union just dealt with the cross country matters (trade imports / exports, movement of people, security and intelligence, university applicants, job visas etc), then I wouldn’t necessarily oppose it, provided it was explored at length by people who know their stuff (far more than I do). As for the de facto language, as we know there are unions around the world where people speak different languages that use English and other languages, but I’d like to explore an “Esparanto v2” as a de facto language eventually that incorporates more worldwide languages than just European based over English but that would be something that could come in decades, if people even showed a desire for it. Yes this would mean something outside the box, with a hybrid alphabet (letters from different alphabets) and variety of rules, plus creativity to make it flow, but it could be done.

[@BenLlywelyn]

Would it not make sense for any union on these islands to include England?

[@ce5894]

@@BenLlywelyn errmm, no - because there would be NO appetite from the English electorate.

[@MarcOCymru]

@@BenLlywelyn possibly but really depends on context, terms and inclinations. For example as the current English government is looking to refuse Scottish independence and deploying all the unionist media to denounce the SNP to influence popular consensus I don’t see that as being fair and reasonable. If they do the same to Cymru then I wouldn’t see it as appropriate to join a union with them, at least not with the current government. If I saw an English government that really took supporting Cymru including Cymraeg seriously (plus other native Brythonic and Goidelic languages), stopped profiting of us (why is Cymru paying 5bn to HS2 for example, plus they’ve never properly paid Cymru for the water they take and various other instances), closed the poverty gap which is linked to the previous point (why is Cymru not only the poorest country of the UK but also was similar to Eastern European countries for poverty? Not looking down on these countries, I wish them prosperity for the future the same as us. Then we’re told England pays for us - from benefits perspective yes only because they’ve made us poorer, plus it’s all our tax money in the UK pot) and if they supported the will of the countries, even if that means dismembering the union, then I would see it as appropriate. But if they won’t work respect our needs then it would be reasonable to stop working with them for the time being. Ultimately good friendly neighbour relations is the desirable outcome, but there’s a lot of harm been done unfortunately.

[@jaimiepotts7638]

@@MarcOCymru HS2 has benefits for Wales because it frees up capacity amongst the whole of the British rail network.

[@MarcOCymru]

@@jaimiepotts7638 does it hell, even Westminster’s own report concluded it would damage the economy of Cymru. So that’s nonsense.

[@tedi1932]

I practice 4 foreign languages in online language groups and I always find it so annoying how people in general, always seem to go to English when they are unable to explain themselves. Germans, Scandinavians, Italian, Polish etc do not search their mother tongue for inspiration or use google like I do. They just ruin the ambience by using English, which is banned in our house, where we only use Welsh. I just hate how it is always the dominant language.

[@BenLlywelyn]

Problem fwyaf y Gymraeg yw safle fyd eang o fri Saesneg.

[@macinnes800ad]

I don't think that a Celtic Union is necessarily taking away from the individual nations. The Celtic Union as a whole (at least to me) is more about brotherhood and unity of different people - celebrating our unity in diversity and avoiding things like imperialism because that's what got us here to begin with. There are things that do unite Celtic people though - like our shared struggle for identity and independence, and imperialism under so many different people groups. However I do understand your points about generalizing the Celtic nations, or excluding others (which I am against, I think if such a union did exist that it should be a place for everyone). But in term, as a Pan Celtic Nationalist, I don't necessarily believe in a singular Celtic Nation. I would be just as happy to see Kernow, Cymru, Alba, Eire, Breizh and Mannin independent as I would together, because the most important thing (to me at least, and I'm sure many other Pan Celtic Nationalists) is the continued existence of our languages and cultures. Thank you for the amazing video :)

[@BenLlywelyn]

Thank you for watching an appreciating. My own view is more of a British Federal model. Ireland and Breizh are in such different situations to us, I don't know where to begin there!

[@macinnes800ad]

@@BenLlywelyn Yea exactly! A federation would be good, kinda like Germany or America. Mannin especially needs it as its an overseas territory. I could potentially see Eire joining but I completely agree that Breizh is a completely different situation. All I know is that, as the recent Westminster intervention in my homeland of Scotland has shown, the celtic nations under English control needs to end or at least give us more autonomy

[@macinnes800ad]

@@liam1561 Oh I know Westminster doesn't speak for the English people but the first past the post system in England means that most voices in England aren't heard. I was moreso on about the recent veto of Nicola Sturgeons Bill which Westminster only did because of the current Tori government. And the reason why so many Scots only want to leave now, as opposed to before in the 2014 referendum, is because of Brexit - many Scots want to be in the EU and the UK made Scotlands choice for us (if you look on a map of voting for Brexit I'm pretty sure there's only like 1 or 2 constituencies that actually voted to leave the EU). Also, it doesn't matter (again, to me) if it's legal or not for a country to leave the UK through the act of union, because surely land belongs to the people living there, not a bunch of tori pricks down south. If the Scottish could be given a referendum before, I don't see why they can't again. Alba was only brought into the Union after the Anglification of the Scots nobility and not the will of the people (which by the way has lead to the near extinction of Scots Gaelic in Alba) and Wales was brought into the Union through military conquest. Seems a little unfair that we have to remain apart of it

[@macinnes800ad]

@@liam1561 Omg you're from the north too? Here's a secret, my dad's side is Scottish but my ma's is from Grimsby and spoilers, I live in Yorkshire. A clean slate would be amazing. I read a really English-centric book called the shortest history of England, and in it was the proposal made in the 1800s called the British Federation to make the north, the Midlands and the South their own entities within the UK, and to give more autonomy to those regions - something like that would be great considering how much the north and the celtic nations have been affected by most control being in Westminster. For example, Germany which is roughly around the size of the UK has waaaaay more local control than the UK with something like 6 states, meanwhile the UK has 4, all varying in size and types of voting systems from the first past the post of England to whatever the voting system in Northern Ireland is called. And yea, I don't think Scotland would get into the EU anytime soon if it did leave because Spain would veto their joining because of their issues in Catalonia, but it's more about having the choice to pursue it. Like people explain over and over to Scots how difficult it would be to achieve independence, what currency would we use ect, but we still want it anyway. And even if we did, I'd rather have the kind of relationship with England that Eire has than anything else because there is no disputing the fact that there is a lot of connection between the two countries both culturally (in the border regions) and geographically

[@macinnes800ad]

@@liam1561 Definitley, so remember to vote for the NIP (Northern Independace Party) in your next general election! Back to that book again, they often said it was the south against the north and the Celts so yea completely agree. I mean technically there are/were celts in the north because of Yr Hen Ogledd and the Cumbrians but hey, whose keeping track

[@Melvorgazh]

I have seen mixed race folks of Breton and French blood too.

[@joolsweller2001]

Where abouts is the lighthouse seen at the end of this vid ?

[@BenLlywelyn]

Y Mwmbls, Abertawe.

[@joolsweller2001]

@@BenLlywelyn I will check it out on my travels through Wales this July ! Diolch yn fawr!

[@TheMeejahChannel]

I thought the main idea behind a "Celtic Union", was a device to leave the seperate nations involved, much as they are now, none dominating, but cutting out the control of the (basically fascist), Westminster.

[@BenLlywelyn]

We have a right wing government in the UK as I write this. It is clutching for straws but it is not fascist.

[@thegreenmage6956]

@@BenLlywelyn Precsiely, people throw ‘fascist’ around far too… Liberally.

[@TheMeejahChannel]

@@BenLlywelyn It's pointing in that direction though. It's understandable if we don't want to go along with them for the ride. As a nation, Wales has never voted Conservative, but has often been inflicted with their governments. As long as we are tied to them, it will never change.

[@roberthudson3386]

You cannot be both Welsh and Scottish equally, you are one more than the other. I am Welsh but have half English heritage, but I never think of myself as English, even though I sometimes say in jest that I am half English. The comment "If you are Breton you are not French" likewise draws an exclusive distinction between the two identities. Either you identify more with your Frenchness, in which case you see yourself as French, or you Bretonness, in which case you see yourself as Breton. It has nothing to do with race. Personally I was born in Wales and have lived here all my life, English is my first language but I learned Welsh at school. I see myself as Welsh and there is no way I would ever support England in any sporting contest especially not over Wales. English is the lingua franca I use to communicate with the world, it is not "my" language. My heritage is my heritage and I have half Welsh heritage in any case. If I was born in Wales to two Scottish parents and spoke Gaelic at home, even if I had lived in Wales my whole life, that would be a totally different story. Nationality is indeed complex, but I don't agree you can have two mutually exclusive nationalities. One might see oneself as Texan and American, or Welsh and British but I honestly struggle to understand how someone can see themselves as equally Cornish and English, or Breton and French. England and France both adopted policies that attempted to eliminate all trace of the Cornish and Breton languages, just as England tried and failed to do with Wales. This is an attempt to kill off the entire culture and language and therefore both nationalities are exclusive in my view!

[@BenLlywelyn]

National identity and heritage is complex, and each of us compose the layers of our life painting as we go.

[@Dhdh-cf3mb]

How do you have a say? Your not independent don't talk about celts you are the grim reaper to celts no more than English

[@benjaminklass5118]

This video reminds me of the time when Robert the Bruce tried to have his brother Edward proclaimed High King of Ireland. I don't think that worked out too well.

[@lowlandnobleman6746]

Nationalism and Unions just do not go together fully. The Celtic Union would be every bit as troublesome as the European Union. Europe never has been and never will be a single country. No amount of support for the EU will ever change this fact. The blue banner of 12 stars will never be loved and adored as a national flag in its own right. It will always be the second flag on the flagpole. Likewise, Celtic lands are not a single country, just as Europe isn’t. Having such a union would simply result in one master country ruling many vassals. Such is what happened with English-dominated Britain and the Yankee/Northern-dominated USA and the Russian-dominated USSR. At best, a Brythonic Union of Wales and Cornwall be somewhat viable, if only for economic reasons. Even that would be less than ideal, however. But truthfully, a nationalist is someone who just wants the independence of a given Nation, not some warped post-national Union where all the member states gradually come to be the same. Let Nations be independent.

[@BenLlywelyn]

The USA is a different context - the confederacy was bad. The EU was built out of the wreckage of WW2, and seeks a peace through commerce. Some take it in a wrong path is all.

[@lowlandnobleman6746]

Well, I would say the EU is quite similar to the early USA, but also quite different. The USA was taking various different States of vaguely similar culture and uniting them. The EU is tying to take different nations and bind them together like States, though such a thing is quite impractical. Germanic, Slavic, Celtic, and Mediterranean countries are all quite different. Yet the European Union seeks to unite them all under a common economical and legal framework. I see it as folly. Europe will never be the United States of the old world. But you are still correct in assertion JF the USA and EU are quite different. The fact that Britain peacefully seceded from the EU highlights how different the two really are.

[@ChristopherSTAINES-py8ll]

Brilliant. Before spouting about celtic nations there are some very good books to read by authors such as Barry Cunliffe, Nora Chadwick, Yannick Lecerf, Patrick Galliou, Jean-Louis Brunaux, and if you read around the subject you will understand the theory that the six 'celtic nations' are linked together by a language which pre-dates the iron age and developed due to maritime traders from different countries needing to communicate. It was thus a language of trade which migrated from the coast to the interior. The peoples however had different origins and a different way of living. Furthermore there is no real proof that the Celts themselves settled in these countries. The six languages concerned have suffered oppression of various degrees, which is what they have in common and explains why they feel united against some sort of threat, but the word 'celt' now suffers from so much over-use, mainly for commercial reasons, that it has deviated seriously from it's original meaning 2000 years ago.

[@BenLlywelyn]

An author list i will need look more closely at. Diolch yn fawr!

[@ChristopherSTAINES-py8ll]

@@BenLlywelyn Barry Cunliffe is also visible on KZbin giving some very pertinent lectures

[@winstonsmith9852]

Good video, I'm Irish and any idea of rejoining GB in some "Celtic Political Union" is a non starter and pure dribble. The best, on this subject, and an idea I would support, is a Cultural Union where the historic Celtic Nations can come together and celebrate the similarities of our cultures as well as the "differences" of our cultures. The idea is to promote and keep alive these languages and cultures not to mix them all up in some big melting pot and end up with something no one would have an affinity to. This cannot work! Just my 2 pingin ☺ Some of those comments cannot of been serious btw 🤨

[@BenLlywelyn]

Naturally some comments were cheek, yes. Good melting pot analogy.

[@ComeRee]

@@BenLlywelyn Oh, so Ben does recognise a Celtic Union, just Ben wanted to make a video off of comments and gaslit what "a celtic union is in his mind", without actually researching or addressing wtf people are working towards. Ben, go cosplay another nationality and stop shitting on ours and the collective of works we do together, you ffycin British Expat.

[@djwritestoomuch]

how exactly do native americans lose... what exactly...? You never actually finished the thought... and how is it a fact? I'm not so sure that's as great an analogy as you think it is... I'm with you on everything else but nothing is lost by like people coming together to celebrate what makes them alike... There's an all nations powwow every year where indigenous people from all over the western hemisphere (mostly the north western really) where they do exactly that. They celebrate their similarities and their differences, they share and learn from one another, and they're all there '...meeting under the banner of native american...' and nothing of their individual culture or identity is lost. There are several organizations that also find the various first nations people here 'under the banner of native american' and, again..., nothing is lost... Coming together to support one another doesn't end with common goals and it never has... especially when you're dealing with something like this... or maybe it does... but the needs of each individual group and each individual member of that group being met should be a common goal. The thing is, native americans are not a good example here... They absolutely 'meet under the banner of native american' all the damn time and there is nothing of their individual culture, history, people lost to... anything. Perhaps that might instead be something to look at as a working example of a model to follow if the idea of a 'celtic nation' were actually feasible but it just wouldn't work for so many obvious reasons

[@BenLlywelyn]

The dominant culture when they gather under this banner becomes a 'native american' rather a Cherokee or a Sioux or a Seminole because the only unifying culture between them is Anglo-American and the only language spoken also becomes English.

[@djwritestoomuch]

@@BenLlywelynnot at all... Why would the unifying culture between groups of indigenous americans be anglo anything? That makes no sense at all. The unifying culture is their own... all of them together... and all languages are spoken and sung including both english and spanish. English may be the most widely spoken language but that's true of the entire north west hemisphere. You said yourself you were welsh and scottish, if you were to attend an event or become involved in a group under the banner of 'celtic', would that take anything away from your or any others' individual 'celtic-ness'...? Of course not... nor would the unifying culture be 'anglo' anything... Even if the only shared language was english. Sorry, but the statement just seems rather asinine and doesn't make much sense

[@noahtylerpritchett2682]

I agree. But you know the Nordic union is in the eu right? Celts having a Nordic Union, or Celtic union. In a EU/NATO style relationship comes to mind. Btw I'm against Celtic nationalism while i used to be for it. I think it's irrelevant. Celts are a vicious race always disunited. The history of Celts is arm struggle with other Celts. The Romans, Anatolian Greeks, the Carthaginians and the Franks and Anglo-Saxons have all written of Celtic tribes and nations warring against each other. Modern Celts are democratic as fuck and monarchism is seen as Germanic. But centuries ago the consensus is, Germanic peoples were constitutional monarchs, Scandinavia and England and Germanic tribes mixing a witan a thingdom and other libertarian democratic monarchal system. Celts are absolute monarchist obsessed with high kings. They always fight. The Anglo-Saxons observed Celtic kingdoms beating the shit out of each other. Frankish Annals and Chronicles show the Gaulish Baucade bandit tribes and incoming Bretons would often fight over territory. To this day Scottish settlers and Irish natives fight each other in Ulster. A Celtic union is like Yugoslavia. A potential warlike balkanization would be inevitable. Celts can't seem to govern themselves. Foreigners have better government institutions than the natives who seem to culturally just revert to absolute monarchy different from a Parliamentarian system of the English. The Celts would sooner kill each other if the English and French didn't have leashes. The Irish language afterall didn't have a word for republic until the English loaded this word for the Irish. Pan Celticism generally sounds like a failure. I'm American of English and Welsh roots. I love and adore Celtic civilization. But I know from studying history, if you want bloodshed then unite separate tribes who don't like each other. The Scots and Irish in Northern Ireland actually don't like each other. Pan Celticists forget about this fact. As you said, all nations are warring and fighting among. But Celts in particular have a disunity tendency of fighting. Wales and Irish for example tried to conquer each other into unity. In medieval times. Pan Celticism fails. Because historical medieval attempts of unity is stain with blood.

[@BenLlywelyn]

Nordic has Finland, a non-Germanic majority culture nation. Should a Celtic Union have England therefore?

[@noahtylerpritchett2682]

@@BenLlywelyn I said Nordic not Germanic for a reason dimwit. And Im not strongly for a Celtic union anyway as I said. Just saying what closely comes possible

[@BenLlywelyn]

Please do not call me a dimwit.

[@noahtylerpritchett2682]

@@BenLlywelyn than read what I said correctly. I'm a diagnosed psychopath with low patience. Not gonna like my context missed.

[@gwilwilliams5831]

Preserve and nurse what you’ve got. Pie 🥧 in the sky will cost you the lot.

[@BenLlywelyn]

True.

[@ComeRee]

So remaining as part of the UK won't cost us the lot... how? People really don't do consequences here, do they? Just ffycin airheads and americans cosplaying being Welsh.

[@NemimeRedemption]

Or each country could be within the EU framework but form a Celtic Council which will operate in a similar manner to the Nordic Council for the Scandinavian countries. Best of both worlds then surely?

[@BenLlywelyn]

Would England be part of it like Finland is with Scandinavia?

[@ComeRee]

@@BenLlywelyn Why are you worried about your precious England Ben?

[@mawkernewek]

Has anyone actually counted up the population of England that has been included within the borders of the Celtic Union map at 2:30?

[@BenLlywelyn]

Good spot.

[@andyopaleye8947]

did you know that the welsh language inherited many words Latin?

[@BenLlywelyn]

Quite so indeed. See my video on the roots of the Welsh Language - kzbin.info/www/bejne/emm2cqetlK1pqM0

[@thegreenmage6956]

However, many words may simply have been common to both Latin and Brythonic from their shared Italo-Celtic ancestor languages. So, they might have been very similar ancient words in Welsh that weren’t exactly taken from Latin so much as pronounced and altered in a Latin fashion. The process of Brythonic shifting into becoming basically just another Romance language seemed not to have occurred in the same way as, say, France, but we’re talking about similar things here. The Western European countries which already spoke Celtic languages are the ones were Latin was the most readily adopted, most likely because of this basic parity of lexicons.

[@keithyoung810]

They want a Celtic union in the eu because they need someone to give them money it as simple as that

[@BenLlywelyn]

Be nicer.

[@TreforTreforgan]

Forming an union with like minded people and to not be lauded over by a pompous aristocracy doesn’t sound like a bad idea to me

[@BenLlywelyn]

Ireland is governed by the centre to centre-right.

[@TreforTreforgan]

@@BenLlywelyn but at least democracy allows them to choose and its inhabitants are citizens, not subjects as we are considered here in Wales. I just despise the idea of royalty in this modern age.

[@anthonycordato7118]

​@@BenLlywelyn following what happened and how they reacted, far left, they've deviated massively from the faith and siding with foreigners over their own? Shameful.

[@daithidh_maceochaidh]

Diolch yn fawr iawn i chi / go rabh míle maith agat a Charaid, many thanks, so much of what you have said needed saying. I can remember a 'Celtic' pan-linguist saying many years ago, if only the Celtic languages had been called insular West Atlantic or something similar, then so much over-blown, romantic and plain historical, wrong nonsense could have been avoided. Slán 's beir beannacht.

[@BenLlywelyn]

I think much of the confusion is that the islands are the British isles, but we cannot be calling Irish a British language, can we? The name Celtic is rather odd as it suggests a continental people in truth, not these islands.

[@daithidh_maceochaidh]

@@BenLlywelyn I have come across so many good academic papers dismissing the tag Celtic and indeed the Celts. The whole term is problematic, and, to be useful, always requires clarification. The conclusion most encountered is that it is a good linguistic tag to group a number of languages together. It certainly would not be accurate to suggest Irish as a British language, even before Gàidhlig na h-Alba separated from Irish in the fourteenth century. It is a non-British language spoken in the British Isles, alongside many others. Whatever the continental 'Celtic' languages may have been from Portugal to Turkey it doesn't really help the contemporary situation of the present day languages called 'Celtic'. In terms of now, I often find the term Celtic as useful as Scythian or Milesian.

[@celtictuathism4585]

@@BenLlywelyn The old name is Pretannic rather than British, which is what we should return to. Even the 'British' identity originated from Brythons and was appropriated by a Norman-Saxon elite to consolidate their ambitions for Empire.

[@BenLlywelyn]

@@celtictuathism4585 I'm not greedy. I'll settle for a few more Welsh calling themselves Cymry.

[@FrithonaHrududu02127]

Oh i didnt know you were American.

[@DoubleWhopperWithCheese]

While it's nice to call Irish and Cornish brothers in a friendly way cause of Celtic blood. God knows we basically have no connection linguistically nowadays apart from a few cognate words which I see in French as well (Mor, Mer, Leth, Lait, mais, mes). Culturally as well we are distinct. Cornwall is closer to Britanny then anything else. Like how Wales would've been closer to Cumbria but nowadays Cornwall than any of the Goidelic peoples. Kernow yw Kernow, Kembra yw Kembra, Iwerdhon yw Iwerdhon. Nyns yns I an keth. Me a kav gooth kernowek, ha i a kav gooth Iwerdhonek. Yw da lowr yn myns vyghan.

[@BenLlywelyn]

Cornish and Breton are indeed closer than Welsh is to them.

[@ComeRee]

Economic union - like the scandos. A multitutde of languages - like the EU. Working to equally better the travel and tradeways along the Celtic Sea. How is this too much to understand for such simple minds? Also, remember we're already in a ffycin union - against our will and not able to leave by ourselves... so having a union with like minded governances [SNP and Plaid Cymru are sister parties - and Ireland has a strong connection with both our nations, and the rest can follow]. People here really lack understanding of politics or history.

[@DoubleWhopperWithCheese]

@@ComeRee There is a much bigger economic union that guarantees free movement of products and people. It would make much more sense to join the EU, also remind yourself how much trade actually goes between the likes of Scotland and England, it's a majority. Also, in theory we are able to leave with a majority in favour (Westminster has gone a bit authoritarian against a second Scotland vote, bit concerning).

[@ComeRee]

@@DoubleWhopperWithCheese That theory is smashed with the Westminster High Court saying "Scotland doesn't have the devolved powers to decide its own position or autonomy as part of this so called optional union". So please, if you're going to talk pragmaticly - don't speak from idealism. But you seem to misinterpret me - for - where did I say that we wouldn't rejoin the EU? I propose a union of celtic nations along the Celtic Sea [where one republic is already apart of the EU - Looking at you Ireland you beauts!] - just like the Scando pact where they have a union but also have... wouldn't you know... access to the EU and single market. Where the real "in theory" statement is this: In theory, you wish that we are in an optional union, when Westminster has 541mps for England, 55mps for Scotland, 32mps for Cymru and 11mps for NI, and your theory limits your understanding - as well as showing a limited ability to understand the nuances and practice of politics on these collective isles. Meddwl, os gwelwch yn dda a wrando i beth fi'n ddweud.

[@DoubleWhopperWithCheese]

@@ComeRee as I said, Westminster has gone haywire. I don't appreciate the fact that you have said that I have limited understanding. To me, it's obvious. The EU guarantees free customs and border crossings, our economies would be tied. A celtic union is a nice idea to think about but I think more of an association would be better like the Organisation of Turkish States. Not to mention that all of the celtic nations have distinct cultural ties. The closest examples are the Brythonic and Goidelic peoples. The idea of pan celtisism is like pan slavism. Its a nice idea in concept but couldn't be put into practice. In an ideal world all nations would have select powers but in reality, Ireland would be dominant or it would be like Spain where everything is devolved and nothing gets done. An economic union of celtic nations would be impractical, you might as well have England in as well for ease of shipping. A British Isles economic union that has access to the EU open market, like Scandinavia. Ny kara'vy dha ton yeth. Me a konvedhes dha tybyans mes ny krysa'vy ev a gal lavur.

[@TheKyleodgers]

Y coodh dhis clerhe "might as well learn Welsh". In kernow, ny re beu sevel orth chaunjys dhe'n tavas ;ymowns y ow corra spellyans Breton -hw na wh, K na C hag erel rag exompel ,ha geryow nowyth nyns usons y ow longya dhe'n tavas poynt ,na warrantus kyn fe - ino. Me a grës tel via an bobel sorr dres ehen, mar teffes ha ûsya Kembrek in y le! Gans oll ow holon vy, Kyle

[@BenLlywelyn]

Meur ras

[@iavv334]

I very much disagree with most points made but I appreciate you being respectful and having a conversation on the issue. I think pan-celtic nationalism can be very beneficial to celtic people, in the same way it is for indigenous people in the Americas, Australia and Africa. It is a way for historically marginalized people to self organize and garner a level of autonomy and recognition that they may not have had the political leverage to gain on their own. To compare it to the far-right ultranationalism of the Nazi party is unfair to these other forms of nationalism that have done good for the nations they represent. I think a Celtic union wouldn't necessarily make our economies or societies easier to manage, but what it gives us is freedom. We can sort out these issues later, but I think the clear goal of celtic nationalism is to give a unified political body that looks out for the six celtic nations and to prevent their decline. To quote Gil Scott Heron: "The revolution will not be right back after a message about a white tornado, white lightning, or white people You will not have to worry about a dove in your bedroom, the tiger in your tank, or the giant in your toilet bowl The revolution will not go better with Coke The revolution will not fight germs that may cause bad breath **The revolution will put you in the driver's seat**"

[@BenLlywelyn]

Thank you for respecful disagreement. That can be rare these days.

[@GaryOzbourne-mp7yv]

I think different wales scotland and Ireland should come together I think we should we would be okay 👍....move away from ENGLAND... you are just one person...

[@BenLlywelyn]

We share a lot in common with England.

[@thegreenmage6956]

I think Wales should focus on improving its Celtic connections with England and bettering said relationships on the basis of a shared heritage culture, but there is no reason to reach beyond that. Nonetheless, a federation of sorts wouldn’t be a bad thing, it’s just not possible, feasible or desirable, really, to have that kind of ‘unity’ between countries that don’t speak the same languages (other than English, which is why I think some people imagine it’s possible, because most Celtic nations speaking English might give the illusion that greater unity is possible). Where religion is concerned, on the other hand, is where I think we might have a better system for cultural solidarity - IF Celtic gods, beliefs, habitus and practices can be outlined and better detailed, wrestled away from… the ‘anything goes’ mentality of modern Pagans, because that’s not something that can last a long time if it has no structure. And yet, nonetheless, many aspects of religion would have been local to specific peoples and unique, but saying that, there are clear broad similarities, namely, the worship of Lug.

[@BenLlywelyn]

Strengthen connections with Brythonic heritage could be worthwhile long-tern fior all.

[@pinwyrdd]

Yng Nghymru mae llawer o'r syniadau rhamantus yma yn deillio o ffaith ein bod ni'n genfigennus (ar y cyfan) o'r ffordd mae Iwerddon a'r Alban yn cael eu portreadu yn y byd Angloffon a'u proffil uchel tra ein bod ni (y Cymry) yn gymharol anweladwy yn y diwylliant Saesneg byd eang. Ond mae'r amlygrwydd yma yn atal twf yr ieithoedd Gaeleg. Mae'n hawdd i fod yn Albanwr - mater o siarad Saesneg gydag acen Albanaidd ac osgoi gwneud/ unrhywbeth sy'n cael eu gweld yn rhy Seisnig/'dosbarth canol' ond nid yw'r hunaniaeth negyddol yma yn beth iach. Mae'n bwysig i ni ddysgu o'n gilydd ac yn amlwg mae gennym lawer mewn cyffredin o ran iaith/mytholeg/llenyddiaeth ac ati ond mae'n rhaid i bob wlad adeiladu mudiad cenedlaethol sy'n seiliedig at gariad at y wlad nid casineb/gwrthwynebiad.

[@BenLlywelyn]

Mae'r ffaith fod ein hiaith yn brif fynedfa ( yn hanesyddol) ein diwylliant Cymreig yn arwyddocaol.

[@jboss1073]

13:05 - "As far as the Welsh, the Hebrew notion has been disproven over and over. The Trojan immigration myth was medieval propaganda". And the notion that the Romano-Britons and Romano-Hibernians were Celts was a Romanticist myth as explained by John Collis here on KZbin in his "Celts and the End of Roman Britain" video and in his book "The Celts" and by Simon James in his book "The Atlantic Celts".

[@BenLlywelyn]

Atlantic Europe pre-Rome was multicultural and had a complicated trade network.

[@jboss1073]

@@BenLlywelyn I think that is beside the point I am making that the Irish and the British should not be called "Celts" or "Celtic" by any stretch of the imagination. This is the current point-of-view as held by Patrick Sims-Williams who is the Predisent of the International Congress for Celtic Studies.

[@realitywins9020]

What name would you prefer? Germanic comes from a Latin word meaning genuine. Latin comes from a tribe in central Italy that, as Romans, conquered an empire and forced their language on native peoples. Semitic comes from a character in the Bible. So the ancient Scots, Irish, Welsh, etc didn't call themselves Celts. Its still a valid name for a language group

[@jboss1073]

@@realitywins9020 Germanic for the people does not come from Latin germanus meaning "genuine" - that is a folk etymology because there is no proof Germani came from that common Latin word. It could have come from endonymic "spear men" as "ger" means "spear" in Germanic. The ancient Scots, Irish, Welsh, never called themselves Celts, and groups are not defined by languages, therefore it is not valid to call those people Celts, especially when the real descendants of the Celts still exist in Iberia and still consider themselves Celts.

[@evilgoose6768]

What I assume most of these comments are: A: Americans/Canadians who recently found out that they had 0.000001% Irish ancestry B: Paradox Games players who think that you can just conquer lands and make countries with the click of a button (I play Paradox games too, we've all been there)

[@BenLlywelyn]

There are some of those amongst them.

[@ComeRee]

C: Welsh people who are pointing out the unionist that Ben is, failing to understand what the UK is [a nation state of countries - with massive cultural difference i.e. indigineous language], and that he's just gas light a video of comments from the public instead of using scholars or research papers [you know, actual evidence] to back up his claims. Theres also D: Airheads who like moving pictures but don't question the information.

[@evilgoose6768]

@@ComeRee you seriously need to go outside.

[@ComeRee]

@@evilgoose6768 says the person quoting games... self awareness is lost on you I see.

[@evilgoose6768]

@@ComeRee what do you mean "quoting games"? I just said that a lot of Paradox players have tendencies to make these wacky idealistic nations that could only happen in video games

[@maenskoedeg3152]

Da iawn, Ben ! Mat tre ! Your video is very useful to debunk hot-air theories built on an inaccurate, romanticized basis. We know where Pan-Germanism ended. Alas, we see what Pan-Slavism and Pan-Turkism are producing these days. Let's not allow some kind of stupid Pan-Celticism spoil the pleasure we have to meet and discover our common heritage, AND also our many differences, and have good talks about all that over a good pint or two. Iechyd da ! Yec'hed mat ! Youenn (o Llydaw).

[@BenLlywelyn]

Trugarez fras!

[@ComeRee]

Hardly debunking when he's only using tweets from general public [and not scholars] to gas light an opinion of his unionism. Go be a simp / political tourist elsewhere

[@BenLlywelyn]

Helô. You will see that on this channel I have videos leaning both Unionist and Nationalist, and gently consider both opinions and respect them each as part of our diverse island home.

[@ComeRee]

@@BenLlywelyn I ask that you respect your so called position - as this is just loaded unionist tripe Ben. You've gaslit a conversation for content from mindless and flippant comments [did they know they were featuring on your channel, or just cannon fodder for content?]. You misrepresent what the Celtic Union is - so how can you even portray that you're non bias? Ffycin unionist cosplaying as Welsh. Finally figured out how you're getting your funding. Unsubbed.

[@ComeRee]

@@maenskoedeg3152 coming from a person who proclaims this video to be very useful, speaks volumes of the sources you use to act upon. Instead of upholding what is the idea of a celtic union - i.e. - working together to uphold each others heritages and working together, things you proclaim to be doing/have done - you add a comment to lambast the very idea and add fuel to the fire of any such projects being able to get political traction. Oh, meanwhile - evading any mention of how this currently is the system of british governance/prior place within the EU. So, "coc oen", take your ageist pen ol and park it on a bench.

[@johnmaclagan2263]

Celtic nations 😅😅😅 Celtic Union 😅😅😅 Celtic is a language descriptor

[@BenLlywelyn]

See Edward Lhuyd.

[@jboss1073]

@@BenLlywelyn See the KZbin video "Celts and the End of Roman Britain" by John Collis. Celtic is not a language descriptor - that only started in 1582 with George Buchanan (before Lhuyd). Celtic is an ethnonym of the tribes living in western Iberia and with trading cities in southern France, namely Narbo and Massilia. Some academics (like Raimund Karl) like to pretend that the name "Celtic" came from nothing and was just invented by linguists as an arbitrary label, but instead what happened is that Buchanan called the Gaelic languages "Celtic" because he believed they got there with the Celtici from Spain migrating to Ireland and Scotland. Hence even the beginning of the usage of the label "Celtic" in linguistics recognized that it came from the ethnonymic name of a tribe.

[@johnmaclagan2263]

@@BenLlywelyn Yes indeed I've got books mentioning Edward

[@johnmaclagan2263]

@@jboss1073 I never saw any description of Caledonia as "celtic", in any of the annals - Ulster, Clonmacnoise, Book of Leinster. I did hear someone say there was a celtic tribe called Belgae away on the Western Isles and the far north in Caithness but to call a corpse dating to 800bc celtic is a bit of a stretch. I understand the cultural elements associated with celtic, la tene springs to mind. If there's any archaeological evidence in Caledonia/Modern day Scotland please do enlighten me ?

[@jboss1073]

@@johnmaclagan2263 You're right about Caledonia never having been described ad Celtic. And yes, the Belgae are all over Britain and Ireland - not only the Belgae and Atrebates and Regni as we all know were Belgae in southern Britain but the Builg (look it up, there is a Wikipedia article with the book reference) who were Belgae settled in southern Ireland. Not only that, but Strabo and Diodorus Siculus both said and implied that only the people in Gallia Narbonensis were Celts, and that outside that and Caesar's Aquitania, everyone else were Galli or Belgae. Strabo specifically says that in the the 4th chapter of his Geographia. La Tene is actually no longer associated with Celtic - not only there is no evidence for any spoken language there, but the reference from Herodotus that was used to substantiate "Celts = La Tene" was actually locating Celts in Iberia, not in southern Germany. There is nothing that connects the Irish and British to the name of the Celts but plenty that connects them to the Belgae. This all was already known to George Buchanan in 1582.

[@wearesussex9970]

I watched a interesting video on DNA and it basically got to the point that England is made up of Celtic DNA from the early settlers of Britain more in the west but still 70 % or so in the east and less Saxon dna than most east areas of Scotland . It also claims that pottery and jewellery proves the Saxons integrated and didn’t wipe out the population but having the power the people had to except the language to prosper. Great video as ever.👍

[@BenLlywelyn]

Thank you very much. Yes, it was a mixure of quiet assimilation of Britons like, Lincoln, East Anglia, English Midlands, and violence like Yorkshire, Kent and Gloucestershire.

[@JuwinRosebud16]

You would probably like reading about Cheddar man and his living relative still in Cheddar. I think that supports the point you made @We are Sussex

[@user-ub8lt7gv2h]

u married an english man?

[@BenLlywelyn]

It was so.

[@anthonycordato7118]

Man?