Croes Naid Campaign.

The Croes Naid (See Cross of Nieth in Wikapedia on the web, also note that Edgar Pritchard has done much research on this subject, hopefully his work will be published soon) is one of the National Treasures of Wales stolen by Edward I at the conquest of Wales, amongst these were much of the Royal Treasures of Gwyned, including the Royal Diadem of it's Princes. (The reputed 'Crown of Arthur' may have been faked up by Edwardian who was a major Athurian enthusiast, I am writting an article on this matter which will be posted later in the year). The mystery of the Croes Naid today is a question, if it still exists or not, (Edgar Pritchard seems to think so), then WHERE IS IT? Our arguement is quite simple, if they got it, WE WANT IT BACK! Of course 'Y Croes Naid' is not the only National Treasure we want back, over the centuries the English have ''nicked'' loads of stuff as the Llandielo Gospels and Mold Cape, the list is quite huge but I will continue to note it here, from time to time. I will also here, continue to post information on the 'Croes Naid Campaign' and relevent associated news of interest as below on the Elgin Marbles and the demand for return of the national treasures of Peru (see news cuttings below).

Croes Naid Campaign, will of course be a campaign seeking to see all our national treasures returned be they the Royal Treasures of Gwynedd or other Royal Gwledydd, as well other medieval and earlier items. Such includes archaelogical artifacts deposited in English Museums, as well as manuscripts and books deposited in Liabraries, usually University Libraries. Before we can initiate a radical pro-active campaign we need to do further research and discuss items we feel it is both desirable and practical to demand the return of, CAN YOU HELP IN THIS AREA? Then of course the actual campaign needs to be discussed and again this needs practical considerations, as to what is desirable and practical, indeed even possible, CAN YOU HELP IN THIS AREA? I shall be suggesting the campaign recieves patriotic high profile for at least three years, from 2007, into 2008 and 2009, these of course mark the 725th Anniversary years of 1282, 1283 and 1284, years of conquest. We may at once launch this campaign, as from now in two particular ways, as making campaigning 'Baneri Croes Naid' as pictured below 'Red Celtic Cross on Green Field', for use on all occaisions as Commemorations, Rallies and Parades to draw attention to the Campaign. Noting that the 'Celtic Cross Flag' shown at top, of 'Gold Cross on Purple Field' also represents 'Y Croes Naid' and has also been adopted as 'Baner Brwydr Llywelyn II', annually to be raised at Rhosferig, Parc ar Irfon, Aberedw and Abaty Cwm Hir as well as at Cilmeri and Llys Rhosyr. Indeed at all historic sites associated with Llywelyn II in December at places noted above, and at other locations so associated through the year, particularly at Cofia 1282/83/84 events. (The success of this however, depends on Patriots making these flags?). Other than this, the next stage of the campaign that we may begin, possibly at the Mold Eisteddfod, is to seek support of the National Assembly of Wales, bringing pressure to bear on they to request return of our national treasures. I am sure that when they realise that it is a ''respectable'' thing to do (See Greece and Peru News Cuttings below), a number of our A.M's will arise to the occaision and support the campaign, well we can but hope, but do not hold your breath. Thus, what else may the patriot immediatly embark on, letters to the press and what ever other means may draw attention of a wider public to this issue and our, or rather in time ''your'' campaign. I say ''your'' campaign, as I am proposing that in time a 'Campaign Coordination Committee' is established, possibly at meeting in December in association with the annual Llys Rhosyr Commemoration, this year as part of the commemoration I shall invite Edgar Prtichard to set up his 'Croes Naid' exhibition locally, so there will be further good reason to establish the C.C.C there and then this December.

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I conclude with item, part of a feature in The Independent, see their website for full article)
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Peru tells Yale it wants its Machu Picchu treasures back (after 100 years)
By Rupert Cornwell in Washington Published: 03 February 2006.

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Yale University is embroiled in an escalating dispute with Peru over the return of treasures from the world-famous Incan site of Machu Picchu that are on display as part of the ivy-league university's permanent collection. Over the years, there have been fitful attempts to find a solution to the contested ownership. It threatens to come to a head later this year, with the departure from office of Alejandro Toledo, Peru's first indigenous President, who has pledged to recover the treasures before he steps down in July. The dispute recalls other cases where countries are fighting to retrieve artefacts from museums in other countries - most notably Italy's demand that the Getty Museum in Los Angeles and New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art hand back various classical treasures that Rome says is part of Italy's cultural heritage. The items were allegedly looted from sites in Italy and exported illegally. The provenance of the Machu Picchu material, which arrived completely openly in the US more than 90 years ago, is far more complicated in legal terms. It is also entangled with issues of Peruvian national identity *. Machu Picchu, the fabled "Lost City of the Incas" built at almost 8,000 feet in the Andes, was rediscovered in 1911 by Hiram Bingham, a colourful figure who was variously explorer, aviator, Yale historian, Governor of Connecticut and later a US Senator. In a series of expeditions between 1912 and 1915, he sent crates of archaeological finds from the site - including bones, pottery, tools and some silver items - back to Yale, with the permission of the government of the day. The key question is whether the material was made over in perpetuity or merely loaned. The Peruvian government insists on the latter, and is threatening to sue - a process that could find its way from the US courts to some form of international tribunal. "We are convinced we have sufficient proof to win in court," Peru's Foreign Minister, Oscar Maurtua, said last November. Yale predictably disagrees, saying it has fully complied with agreements signed by Bingham in 1912 and 1916. It has offered to return part of the material, and help with the maintenance in a Peruvian museum. But a compromise looks likely at present. "This is our patrimony, this is everything to us," David Ugarte of Peru's National Culture Institute told USA Today last month. "Bingham said he was going to study those pieces and give them back. It was clear to all they were going to be returned." Further complicating matters is an argument over precisely how many items are at issue. Peru claims that the university has 5,000 pieces. But Yale says the number is "approximately 250 pieces of exhibitable quality" according to a letter sent by Yale to the Peruvian authorities in December. It claimed that Yale had sent back many items as long ago as 1922, and has full title to the rest.

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* Footnote: Do a search on web for Peruvian National Identity, and some fascinating material comes up which will be of interest to those who have ''Nationalism On The Mind'', see the short item below, following picture of the 'Croes Naid Campaign Flag'.

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Nationalism On Your Mind? then read the below and follow up from there via the web.
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Historiography, Historiographic Identity and Historical Consciousness in Peru
PAULO DRINOTUniversity of Oxford.

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On 27 April 2003, Lima's newly elected mayor, Luis Castañeda, ordered the removal of Francisco Pizarro's statue from the Plaza Mayor. For some 50 years, the equestrian statue of the conquistador from Extremadura had stood in a little adjacent plaza on the north-eastern corner of the main plaza. The mayor justified the decision to remove the statue on the grounds that 'the little plaza must be a symbol of all Peru and for this reason it will be represented by its most distinguished insignia,' and he vowed to erect three flags in its place, the Peruvian national flag, the flag of the city of Lima, and the flag of the Tawantinsuyo or Inca Empire. (SEE MY EARLIER POSTING RE DECOLONISATION)

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PS: The matter of the History of South American Countries, is one I casually dip into from time to time, most Welsh Patriots get no further than Patagonia, and do not even consider that the 'Welsh Settlement' there, was very much part of a process of European Colonialism. I suggest you read up on Argentina's War against the Indians of the Pampas and Patagonia, and not be so ''patriotically smug'' about Patagonia whilst condemning the same 'colonisation process' else where by the English or other Europeans. Other interesting material regards Latin American History are their wars of Liberation in the 19th century and involvement of 'British Mercenaries', also see Garibaldi and his 'Red Shirt Followers'. Some excellent accounts of native Indian revolts and messianic religious social rebellions, as well of course of contemporary guerrilla movements etc, from 'Tapamaros' to the 'Shining Path'. You are possibly very aware, via movies of German Settlements with Nazi connections in South America, but there is also a fascinating history of Confederates following the Civil War in America attempting to establish ''Free Confederated Colonies'' in Lantin America (ex Confederate Sailors were quite prominant in the Navies of Lantin America. Not least of interest are Lantin America's post Colonial 19th Century wars, as the War of the Pacific, many of these wars were disasterous to these newly founded countries and some stupid when the pretext was football matches. Whilst on the subject of Latin America, check out Purto Rico, might be relevent to the ''Welsh Condition''. The history of the PUERTO RICAN NATIONALIST PARTY is very interesting and illuminating on a very little known national struggle. (Note: I have an item posting coming up on Hawaii soon, which will be of interest in similar connections). Mexico, as also a fascinating history, although most patriots are drawn to the 'Mexican Revolution' but let me draw your attention to a very little known struggle which will be of interest to you, that of: ''The Mayan peoples of Yacatan always resisted Spnanish conquest and colonisation, and seceded in 1839 and maintained their independence until 1843. In 1847 another revolt followed, and the Indians were practically independent throughout the greater part of the peninsula until near the beginning of the Diaz administration. In 1910 there was another revolt with some initial successes, such as the capture of Valladolid, but then the Indians withdrew to the unknown fastnesses of Quintana Roo'' (off web). For further info, see on Web. Other than that, also check out Mexican - American Web Site of the 'Barrio Warriors'. Yes, I know litle to do with the 'Croes Naid Campaign' really, but interesting all the same.

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Lotta Continua.

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Gethin.