what did the Grand Old Duke of York need 10,000 men for?

Answer 1

he was seeing how many men it took to get the equivalent of just one women's brain

Answer 2

In the 15th Century, Richard, the 'grand old' Duke of York, was fighting for the crown of England and he couldn't do it without an army.

Answer 3

The nursery rhyme is usually said to be based upon the events of the brief invasion of Flanders by Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany, the second son of King George III and Commander-in-Chief of the British Army during the Napoleonic Wars. In 1793, a painstakingly-prepared attack on the northern conquests of the French Republic was led by the Duke himself. He won a small cavalry victory at Beaumont (April 1794) only to be heavily defeated at Turcoing in May and recalled to England.

The specific location of the "hill" in the nursery rhyme has long been presumed to be the town of Cassel which is built on a hill which rises 176 metres (about 570 feet) above the otherwise flat lands of Flanders in northern France.

For an alternative derivation, much-believed in Yorkshire, see Allerton Castle.

The 'Grand Old Duke' was appointed Field Marshal in 1795 and Commander-in-Chief of the Forces in 1798. Despite a disastrous attack on the Dutch island of Walcheren (1799) and allegations in 1809 that his mistress Mary Anne Clarke used her influence to buy officer commissions, the Duke returned to his command in 1811 and played a great part as a backscene administrator in organising the Duke of Wellington's victories in the Peninsular War. He became heir presumptive to the throne in 1820, but predeceased his elder brother King George IV in 1827.

However, an alternative derivation is that the rhyme relates the story of Richard, Duke of York at the Battle of Wakefield on 30 December 1460 (the same Richard who is the subject of the mnemonic "Richard of York gained battle in vain" for the colors of the rainbow). Richard's army, some 8,000 strong, was awaiting reinforcements at "the top of the hill" at Sandal Castle in Wakefield (the castle was built on top of a Norman motte). He was surrounded by Lancastrian forces some three times that number, but nonetheless chose to sally forth ("...marched them down again") to fight. Richard died in a pitched battle at Wakefield Green, together with between one third and one half of his army; several other Yorkist nobles were killed, and others were captured and later executed (including Richard's son, Edmund, Earl of Rutland and Richard Neville, 5th Earl of Salisbury). The severed heads of the dead nobles were displayed in public in York.

Answer 4

To march up to the top of the hill and down again.

Answer 5

General York a soldier the rhyme was scurrilous pointing out his perceived incompetence.

Answer 6

To march them up and down the hill

Answer 7

It depends on the vision which you've be told!!! Anyway, the rhyme was about a military campain in 1800 or 1700s!!!

Answer 8

to march them up to the top of the hill and march them down again. Why? I have no idea.

Answer 9

to get to the 10,000 girls on the top of the hill

Answer 10

to march them to the top of the and march them down again!