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"Perfidious Albion" means "treacherous Britain" ("Albion" deriving from the pre-Roman name for Britain). The phrase was coined in a poem of 1793 by Augustin, Marquis of Ximenez, who wrote,
- Attaquons dans ses eaux la perfide Albion
Perfidious signifies one who does not keep his faith or word. Albion is an ancient name for Great Britain, of disputed origin (see Albion).
The term was used by Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, in order to focus on what was perceived the evil nature of the British enemy. The causes of this name, specially in Spanish cultures (Spain and Argentina) are:
- Perceived state Terrorism under Elizabeth I: pirates.
- Invasion of Africa and Asia.
- Obliging China to open up to the drug trade: the Opium Wars.
- Total annihilation of the aborigines in North America, instead of the miscegenation (unauthorised inter-marriage) practised in territories colonised by Spain and Portugal.
- It is one of the few European countries that has colonies: Gibraltar, Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, etc.
- Rivalry in the Eurovision Song Contest betwen Spain and the United Kingdom, specially in 1968 when Massiel won Cliff Richard.
- Argentina and England football rivalry, specially in 1966 FIFA World Cup and 1986 FIFA World Cup when Maradona met the Hand of God goal and the Goal of the Century.
- It supports invasions of other countries, e.g. Iraq.
"Perfidious Albion"