tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13055636992778758072024-03-06T03:50:47.174+00:00The Medieval WorldThe Medieval Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15682575257934473502noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1305563699277875807.post-13782204481731486662019-07-29T07:49:00.000+01:002019-07-29T07:53:08.446+01:00Matilda: Empress, Queen, Warrior by Catherine Hanley<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvR-wvOKjumnEoZRoL5a5QVOom4f14lYs7BlIvdCfhPfYSgRUoHj4QpMduhM-i6MS4-67UsNFUEFxKsuYO_jdCKJ5NxeogvXf1SWlcbqrHhpk5rAVDnKD8z8QKo9b7Neja276S91DfINWe/s1600/Matilda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="980" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvR-wvOKjumnEoZRoL5a5QVOom4f14lYs7BlIvdCfhPfYSgRUoHj4QpMduhM-i6MS4-67UsNFUEFxKsuYO_jdCKJ5NxeogvXf1SWlcbqrHhpk5rAVDnKD8z8QKo9b7Neja276S91DfINWe/s320/Matilda.jpg" width="196" /></a></div>
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<h4>
Book Review</h4>
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Empress Matilda: power-hungry, haughty, arrogant, stubborn …
or so we were once told. Modern lines of thought have now questioned this,
however, and in her new book <i><a href="https://www.yalebooks.co.uk/display.asp?K=9780300227253">Matilda:Empress, Queen, Warrior</a></i> Catherine Hanley gives us a fresh perspective on
this fascinating character, providing a much-needed in-depth look at the life
of Matilda, heir to the English throne, and the events that unfolded as a
result of her being named as such.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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The book opens with Matilda’s epitaph: ‘Great by birth,
greater by marriage, greatest in her offspring. Here lies the daughter, wife
and mother of Henry.’ Hanley then sets the tone for the rest of the book as she
takes a gendered approach and rightly points out that memorialising Matilda in
a way such as this defines her by the men that surrounded her – her father, her
husband, her son – and is rather disappointing for a woman such as she, who
accomplished a great deal in her own right. Yet, sadly, it is also rather
unsurprising. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The truth is that during this time women <i>were</i> defined by the men around them,
though perhaps not solely. There were ideals and expectations for femininity and
women (as there were for masculinity and men) and they did not include making
your own mark on the world independent of the men around you. In fact, Hanley links
this with the very crux of the issue surrounding Matilda.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Hanley makes an excellent point when she says that, on
paper, there should not have been any issue regarding Matilda’s succession: she
was of royal blood, the only legitimate child of the previous king, she was
well-educated and had leadership experience and, perhaps most importantly, she
had been named heir to the Crown by the king and the leading nobility had sworn
oaths of fealty to her. If Matilda had been male, there would have been no
question at all about her right to rule. However, she was not. And one of the
primary concerns was that she was seeking to rule in her own right. There had
been no precedent for this in England and, due to Matilda’s gender, it was
deemed improper for her to actively pursue this for herself. As Hanley puts it,
‘it was impossible at the time not to view her situation through the lens of
gender; she was not a person but a woman, and thus her ambitions became both
unusual and unacceptable’.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Furthermore, Matilda went as far as to wage war in her
pursuit to rule. And she was very much involved in the planning of her campaign,
but this was a masculine ideal. Hanley noted that while it’s true women often
took on more masculine roles in this period, it was only ever considered
acceptable at this time when it was done on behalf of a man – a mother acting
as queen regent, for example, or a wife overseeing the rule of her husband’s
lands while he was away. As a result of this Matilda became condemned for her decisiveness
in her campaign, her wartime leadership abilities and her authoritative manner
– the very qualities she would have been praised for had she been a man.<o:p></o:p></div>
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This book therefore raises some interesting issues regarding
gender and women in medieval England; however, at the same time it provides a
much-needed biography of an often-overlooked person from our history, yet one
who had a staggering impact upon it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The book is generally chronological in structure, beginning
with Matilda as a child and being sent away at the age of eight to marry the
much older future Holy Roman Emperor Henry V. Hanley considers how hard this
must have been for the young girl, but how very well she adapted to her new
surroundings and later thrived in them. In fact, Hanley does a wonderful job
throughout the book of really personalising the people she is writing about and
making you think about how their situations affected them and their actions.
This can be a hard thing to do with history. It can be easy to forget these
were real people. Instead, Hanley makes us think how scary it must have been
for an eight-year-old girl to be uprooted to a new country and culture and
married to a stranger. Yes, this was common practice for medieval nobility, but
it would nonetheless have been daunting. There are countless moments like this
throughout the book where Hanley pauses to consider what a person may have been
thinking or feeling, or contextualises the situation to help you understand
their motivations better. The history she writes is more than an account of
names, places and dates; it is brought to life. Furthermore, she breaks down
complex issues (such as the Investiture Contest) and explains them clearly and
concisely. This approach makes the book easy to follow for the casual reader,
but it is also informative and original enough in its content and arguments for
those with a more specialist interest. It strikes a perfect balance.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-size: large;"><i>'Medieval England countenanced the reign of several underage boys and at least one lunatic – to say nothing of various men who were alleged to have been murderers, rapists, or both – but never of a woman.' </i></span></blockquote>
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The narrative progresses throughout the next couple of
chapters to discuss key events such as the disaster of the White Ship, Henry
I’s succession dilemma, Emperor Henry’s death and Matilda’s return to court
and, of course, his eventual naming of her as heir to the English throne and
the oaths the barons swore to uphold this, including Stephen of Blois, future
Stephen I.</div>
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Stephen’s usurpation of Matilda’s throne is covered in its
own chapter. Hanley points out that a lot of this was luck on Stephen’s part:
he was geographically closer than Matilda, meaning news of the king’s death
reached him first, and he was also at a location where the shortest possible
crossing of the Channel could be made, again granting him the benefits of
additional time. It is possible that Stephen arrived in England as soon as one
week after the king’s death.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Once news eventually reached Matilda she failed to make a
swift departure to England, as Stephen had. Hanley looks at the significance of
this and questions the reasons for it. She makes the fascinating conclusion
that she was very likely with child at this point – possibly eight to twelve
weeks. This is another instance where Hanley really breathes life back into
these long-forgotten figures, for she discusses that if this were the case
Matilda would have been in her first trimester – a peak time for sickness. A
sea journey simply may have been too much for her to bear. With a frustrating inability
to travel for the most female of reasons, Matilda’s gender had hindered her
once more.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Later chapters continue to proceed broadly chronologically,
deviating from time to time to discuss significant individuals (such as Robert
of Gloucester, Geoffrey of Anjou and, of course, the future Henry II) and
matters of importance concerning them. The events of 1141 are so numerous that
Hanley devotes two chapters to it, dividing it by the initial good fortune Matilda’s
campaign took in this year (the Siege of Lincoln Castle and Stephen’s capture),
to the spiralling downturn it ultimately took. Hanley does an excellent job of
telling a complex tale in an easy to follow yet informative manner.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The final two chapters (there are ten in total) look at Matilda’s
son Henry, the peace discussions and Matilda’s later years as queen mother. The
ultimate agreement that Matilda’s son would become king is an interesting one,
and another fine example of Hanley personalising the people she is discussing.
She considers how Matilda must have felt at Henry being ‘adopted’ by Stephen in
order to be named his heir. While it made a degree of sense due to the legalities
(as Stephen had a son, by rights the Crown should have passed to him, but if
the king named Henry in his own right then this would have undermined Stephen’s
own claim), Hanley emphasises how much of a blow this must have felt like to
Matilda. Henry was <i>her</i> son. His claim
was through her blood. Yet he was being publically portrayed as Stephen’s son.
It was, as Hanley puts it, as if ‘Matilda was written out of her own story’. <o:p></o:p></div>
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In all, this is a fascinating and little-discussed period of
history. Matilda was a remarkable woman – intelligent, regal and full of
determination and strength of character. Hanley’s well-researched, superbly
written biography of her is both sympathetic to Matilda, yet also notes her
shortcomings and failures. The gendered approach she takes when considering
certain aspects of her story feels both natural and necessary. Matilda’s gender
simply was a factor in her story. And what a story it was. <o:p></o:p></div>
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***</div>
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<i>Matilda: Empress, Queen, Warrior </i>is available to purchase now. Click <a href="https://www.yalebooks.co.uk/display.asp?K=9780300227253">here </a>to purchase a copy directly from the publisher's website.</div>
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<b>Format:</b> Hardback </div>
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<b>ISBN:</b> 9780300227253</div>
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<b>Imprint:</b>Yale University Press </div>
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<b>Dimensions:</b> 296 pages: 235 x 156mm </div>
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<b>Illustrations:</b> 21 b-w illus.</div>
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The Medieval Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15682575257934473502noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1305563699277875807.post-59060409651511472952018-03-29T11:00:00.000+01:002018-03-29T11:00:12.082+01:00Book Extract: Medieval Bodies by Jack Hartnell<div style="text-align: left;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL3OuaY-ktGabGEi7xfqyNf2Pq8RaQ_lvbzUWbiPjBIhHT8a-eEMvtxp9ZyIItdR3e0pbNs34rXqGIZSsxosPZr7ALxS5ka3MZ3tz_NBUXQg6kZaLTUjngD_nxmtO68XM_0Ka1pICbMzPX/s1600/9781781256794.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1040" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL3OuaY-ktGabGEi7xfqyNf2Pq8RaQ_lvbzUWbiPjBIhHT8a-eEMvtxp9ZyIItdR3e0pbNs34rXqGIZSsxosPZr7ALxS5ka3MZ3tz_NBUXQg6kZaLTUjngD_nxmtO68XM_0Ka1pICbMzPX/s320/9781781256794.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
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<b><i style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mediev<span style="background-color: white;">al Bodies: Life De</span><span style="background-color: white;">ath </span><span style="background-color: white;">and </span>Art in the Middle Ages </i></b><b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">by J<span style="background-color: white;">ack H</span><span style="background-color: white;">artnell</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ISBN: 978-1781256794</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Av<span style="background-color: white;">ail</span><span style="background-color: white;">able now in h</span><span style="background-color: white;">a</span><span style="background-color: white;">rdcover </span><span style="background-color: white;">and ebook form</span><span style="background-color: white;">at:</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #545454;"> </span><span style="color: #545454;"><a href="https://goo.gl/Zn5eJa">https://goo.gl/Zn5eJa</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Wh<span style="background-color: white;">at w</span><span style="background-color: white;">as it like to live, thrive, suffer </span><span style="background-color: white;">and die </span><span style="background-color: white;">a thous</span><span style="background-color: white;">and ye</span><span style="background-color: white;">ars </span><span style="background-color: white;">ago? J</span><span style="background-color: white;">ack H</span><span style="background-color: white;">artnell </span><span style="background-color: white;">(<a href="https://twitter.com/j_hartnell">@j_hartnell</a>), Lecturer in </span>A<span style="background-color: white;">rt History </span><span style="background-color: white;">at the University of E</span><span style="background-color: white;">ast </span>Angli<span style="background-color: white;">a, is here to tell us in this stunning new book from</span><span style="background-color: white;"> <a href="https://wellcomecollection.org/">Wellcome Collection</a>, </span><span style="background-color: white;">an imprint of <a href="https://profilebooks.com/">Profile Books</a>. </span></span><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Mediev</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">al Bodies</span></i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> h</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">as been l</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ovingly rese</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">arched, thoughtfully l</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">aid out </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">and be</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">autifully presented i</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">n this impressive volume, which cont</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ains</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">full-colour illustr</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ations</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> throughout th</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">at </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">are both ch</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">arming </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">and gruesome in equ</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">al me</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">asure.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i style="color: #660000; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">'This is the body in its very bro</span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">adest sense, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">a jumping-off point for exploring </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">all kinds of </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">aspects of mediev</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">al life.'</span></i></span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">J</span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ack H</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">artnell h</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">as structured </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">this wide-r</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">anging </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">topic </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">as m</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">any mediev</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">al medic</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">al </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">authors themselves did: through using the body's own form with </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">a 'he</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ad to heel' </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">appro</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ach. Proceeding</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> down the body, piece by piece, ch</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">apter by ch</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">apter, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">H</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">artnell brings these bodies to life </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">and uses them to explore </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">a gre</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">at m</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">any</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">aspects of the mediev</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">al world </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">they inh</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">abited</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">. From the he</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">adless Blemmy</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ae with their f</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ace upon their chest, the 'tooth worm' believed to be responsible for dent</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">al p</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ain, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">and medic</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">al </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">di</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">agr</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ams of the skeleton, to the 'cheeky' </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">g</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ame of <i>L</i></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic;">a M</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic;">ain Ch</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><i>aude</i>, w</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">andering wombs, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">and world explorers. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Mediev</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">al bodies, it turns out, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">are </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">an utter delight. Who knew? T</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ake </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">a look </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">and see </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">for yourself how much of </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">a joy they </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">are </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">and this book is to re</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ad </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">in the following extr</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">act from p</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ages 261</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">–263 of </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">the ch</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">apter Feet</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">.</span></div>
<h4 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></h4>
<h3 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Book Extr</span>act</span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">By the middle of 1493 the Holy Rom</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">an Emperor Friedrich III's left foot h</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ad turned </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">almost completely bl</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ack. His doctors h</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ad begun to worry some weeks e</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">arlier, when it first st</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">arted slowly shifting from </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">a he</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">althy pink tow</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ards </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">a sh</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ade of d</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">arkened blue. The l</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ate mediev</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">al compendi</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">a to which they might h</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ave turned for guid</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ance spent little time on this fin</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">al extremity of the body, only re</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ally discussing wh</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">at to do in the c</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ase of surf</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ace issues such </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">as boils, blisters or swellings. So in the </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">absence of further </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">advice the doctors were left to think instinctively. Some decl</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ared Friedrich w</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">as l</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">acking humor</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">al w</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">armth </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">and should be prescribed fiery medic</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">aments to remedy the situ</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ation. Others insisted th</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">at the m</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">al</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ady w</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">as down to the Emperor's ne</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ar-const</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ant consumption of melons, in which he </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">app</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">arently took excessive ple</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">asure. Either w</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ay, something h</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ad to be done. </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A coterie of medics were </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">assembled from f</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ar </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">and wide to converge on the </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Autri</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">an city of Linz, where the emperor w</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">as </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">attempting to conv</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">alesce </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">and sh</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ake the creeping bl</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ackening of his limb. Friedrich's son, the future Emperor M</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">aximili</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">an, sent his Portuguese physici</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">an, M</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">atteo Lupi. The mon</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">arch's brother-in-l</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">aw, Duke </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Albrecht IV of B</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ayern-München, sent the Jewish surgeon H</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ans Seyff to Friedrich's bedside. </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And they were joined there by four more Germ</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">an physici</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ans who h</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ad been summoned: Heinrich von Cologne, Heinz Pfl</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">aundorfer von L</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">andshut, Erh</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ard von Gr</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">az </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">and Friedrich von Olmutz. </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After mulling over the Emperor, the le</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">arned group decided reluct</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">antly th</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">at his worsening foot neccessit</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ated mediev</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">al medicine's l</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ast resort: </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">amput</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ation.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Wh</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">at followed c</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">annot h</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ave been ple</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">as</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ant. While some </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">an</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">aesthetic would prob</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ably h</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ave been m</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ade </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">av</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ail</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">able to Friedrich – numbing pl</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ants </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">and opi</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ates, hemlock, poppy or me</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">adowsweet, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">applied to </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">a sponge or burned for inh</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">al</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ation – the repertoire of p</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ain relief in the Middle </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ages w</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">as minim</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">al </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">and not p</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">articul</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">arly effective. </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As the five physici</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ans ste</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">adied the p</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">atient, Seyff </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">and </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">another surgeon, L</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">arius von P</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ass</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">au, cut through the leg </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">above the </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">affected </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">are</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">a, severing skin </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">and soft flesh with sh</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">arp knives before s</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">awing through wh</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">at rem</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ained in order to remove the foot. They then </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">applied powders to st</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">aunch the bleeding </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">and b</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">and</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ages to keep the wound </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">as cle</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">an </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">as possible. One hopes for the p</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">atient's s</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ake th</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">at the procedure w</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">as </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">at le</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ast quick. It is h</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ard to believe he underwent it with quite the gr</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ace shown in </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">an </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">im</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">age of the oper</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ation preserved in </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">a m</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">anuscript in Vienn</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">a. Friedrich </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">appe</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ars bl</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ank-f</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">aced </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">and in </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">a mood of drooping c</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">alm, sitting rel</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">axed </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">and stretched wide in Christ-like repose </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">as the surgeons work </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">aw</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ay </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">at the co</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">al-bl</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ack foot. The </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">attending physici</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ans </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">are shown behind him d</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">aintily supporting his </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">arms, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">although they were f</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ar more likely to h</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ave been pinning the struggling Emperor down </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">as the s</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">aw's teeth worked its w</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ay through skin </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">and muscle to the bone.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">We know </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">an unusu</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">al </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">amount </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">about this foot </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">amput</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ation bec</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ause of </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">an </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">account written </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">after the f</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">act by the surgeon Seyff himself. Why ex</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">actly he felt compelled to put pen to p</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">aper is uncle</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ar. Perh</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">aps it w</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">as the immense pressure of oper</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ating on </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">an emperor in the presence of his person</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">al doctors, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">as well </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">as v</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">arious lords, knights </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">and b</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">arons of the court who, he </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">anxiously notes, were </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">also keenly observing. Perh</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">aps the surgic</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">al n</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">arr</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ative w</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">as intended </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">as some sort of person</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">al insur</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ance for Seyff </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ag</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ainst his p</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">atient's yo-yoing condition: the oper</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ation to remove the foot went ex</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">actly </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">as pl</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">anned (success), but Friedrich still died some weeks l</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ater (f</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ailure). Or perh</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">aps the </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">account w</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">as designed to immort</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">alise Seyff's encounter with the most revered body in the l</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">and. The person</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">age of </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">an emperor, like </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">all other mediev</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">al rulers, w</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">as more impressive th</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">an </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">any other in society. It w</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">as the he</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ad of the towering Body Politic, fed with distinct humor</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">al diets </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">and vener</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ated </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">after de</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ath even when split into different pieces in different pl</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">aces. But more th</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">an th</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">at, the bl</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">ackened foot Seyff found himself holding w</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">as one of the emperor's most pivot</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">al p</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">arts, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">a vit</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">al point of cont</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">act between the sovereign </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">and his people.</span><br />
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The Medieval Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15682575257934473502noreply@blogger.com100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1305563699277875807.post-79773840171747159062017-07-11T09:30:00.000+01:002017-07-11T09:30:21.711+01:00The Legend of King Arthur Through the Ages<h4>
<span lang="EN-US">Guest Post by Samantha Knepper</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></h4>
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<span lang="EN-US">The legend of King Arthur is one that has
captured the attention of the public throughout centuries. Each interpretation
and reimaging of the legend reflects the time the author lived in. By tracing
the Arthurian myth throughout centuries, the myths that emerge from the
different time periods are not just about King Arthur but also the time in
which they were created. As much as I would love to go into detail about each
reinterpretation, I am using broad strokes and just touching on the major
changes with a little bit about each one to give big picture view. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">There are mentions of figures before The <i>History of the Kings of Britain</i> that
could have been Arthur or were named Arthur, however the legend we are familiar
with today really takes off in the twelfth century. In the twelfth century Geoffrey of Monmouth
wrote <i>The History of the Kings of Britain,
</i>which was finished in 1136<i>. </i>Monmouth
more than likely had a version of <i>Historia
Brittonum, ‘</i>History of the Britons’, written by a Welsh historian called
Nennius. Nennius drew from numerous chronicles to create a history of the
British people, a list of the 28 towns in Britain, and genealogies. The salient
point for the Arthurian story is that Nennius mentioned twelve battles that a
King Arthur fought. This is more than likely where Monmouth took the idea of
King Arthur. I say more than likely as we have none of the sources today that Monmouth
possessed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi92obXc6ACn-j2ukvfWY1n-RwU6oYX1INSrUW1aAVuvgZk_HzMF1ZWsFXBPUBwhZg9Aoii8XByhy5UvdSlIObH25kMGwEL8QSQv05ZjnrqKOTiM12km0jnVGvMelZSenlqcI-AbgzANOrt/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="341" data-original-width="500" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi92obXc6ACn-j2ukvfWY1n-RwU6oYX1INSrUW1aAVuvgZk_HzMF1ZWsFXBPUBwhZg9Aoii8XByhy5UvdSlIObH25kMGwEL8QSQv05ZjnrqKOTiM12km0jnVGvMelZSenlqcI-AbgzANOrt/s400/1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The
Archbishop presents the sword to Arthur before the people. The inscription on
the stone is: 'Whoever pulls this sword out will be king of the land.' c.
1316 France, N. (Saint-Omer or Tournai) From <a href="http://www.bl.uk/catalogues/illuminatedmanuscripts/ILLUMIN.ASP?Size=mid&IllID=13280" target="_blank">http://www.bl.uk</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Monmouth gives us several key ideas that
have stayed with the Arthurian tale: Arthur was conceived due to Merlin’s
interference, conception at Tintagel, and Arthur’s mortal wounding but leaving
for Avalon instead of dying. Monmouth details the heroic feats of Arthur,
making him one of the most outstanding British heroes. Monmouth’s<i> History</i> had numerous copies made,
demonstrating its immediate popularity, and inspired other writers. French
romance writers picked up the story, most famously Chr</span><span lang="EN-US">é</span><span lang="EN-US">tien de Troyes, a French medieval poet, who wrote a serious of
Arthurian romances – such as <i>Lancelot</i>
and <i>Perceval</i>. German writers were
also picking up the story and Wolfram Von Eschenback wrote <i>Parzival</i>. There were a series of prose adaptations that were
written called <i>Le Roman de Laurin</i>,
the Arthurian Prose Vulgate. The use of Arthurian stories continued, but they were
changed in the sixteenth through eighteenth centuries. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">These new interpretations of the Arthur
legend had the basic outline of Monmouth’s version of events: Arthur was a king
of Britain who was a hero and a warrior. Thomas Malory wrote <i>Le Morte d’Arthur</i> (‘The Death of King
Arthur’) in 1465, which signaled a change in the story and a change in society.
Aside from being one of the first books printed in England, it was about the
golden age of knighthood dying. Changing the images and narrative surrounding
Arthur once again. Henry VIII, who took the throne in 1509, took the image of
King Arthur and the idealized age of knighthood to heart and even had the
Winchester round table of Edward III painted over so that he was on top,
imaging himself as the new Arthur. Times were changing and the story was being
reinterpreted. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Richard Blackmore wrote two King Arthur
epics, <i>Prince Arthur </i>in 1695 and <i>King Arthur</i> in 1697, but the story was
being used during this time as an allegory for the political struggles during
this period. Tom Thumb was also used in this way, Henry Fielding’s plays, for
example, had an Arthurian setting but Arthur was comedic rather than the
romance character that had emerged in the late Middle Ages. In the early
nineteenth century, a renewed interest the Arthurian legend took place. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">La mort d'Arthur, James Archer
(1823–1904), Manchester. From
<a href="https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/la-mort-darthur-204376">https://artuk.org</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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The renewed interest was due to the romanticism, Gothic Revival, and medievalism that had developed. Chivalry, an
ideal code of conduct that was a large part of the medieval romances, was also
a part of the medieval Arthurian romances. In the early part of the nineteenth century
Malory’s<i> Le Morte d’Arthur</i> was
reprinted. Alfred Tennyson rewrote the King Arthur story for the Victorian era
in <i>Idylls of the King. </i>In this work
Arthur was the ideal of manhood but failed due to the weakness of being human.
The ideal of manhood was the Victorian ideal, changing the Arthurian story to
fit a new time. This generated even more interest in the Arthurian tale and there
were further editions and other writers who wrote their own Arthurian tales. The
popularity of King Arthur continued into the twentieth century.</div>
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<span lang="EN-US">There was a comic strip featuring Arthur that
started in 1937, <i>Prince Valiant, </i>along
with numerous novels such as Roger Lancelyn Green’s <i>King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table, </i>in 1953 and T. H.
White’s <i>The Once and Future King </i>in
1958. Marrion Zimmer Bradley wrote <i>The
Mists of Avalon</i> in 1982, which reimagined the story from a feminist
perspective. Other tales have included values like equality and democracy,
values that would have been foreign to the writers in the twelfth and
thirteenth centuries. In addition to the novels, as technology developed, the
Arthurian legend was brought into new media.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Illustration
from page 306 of <i>The Boy's King Arthur: the death of Arthur and Mordred</i> </span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">–</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 107%;"> 'Then the king ... ran towards Sir Mordred, crying, "Traitor, now is thy
death day come."' </span><span style="font-size: 9pt;">From </span><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:King_Arthur#/media/File:Boys_King_Arthur_-_N._C._Wyeth_-_p306.jpg" style="font-size: 9pt;">https://commons.wikimedia.org</a>.</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Disney adapted one of the stories from the
first half of the twentieth century, T. H. White’s <i>The Sword in the Stone</i> into their movie of the same name. In 1975 <i>Monty Python and the Holy Grail </i>came
out, in the 1990s there was a miniseries that aired on television called <i>Merlin</i>, and in 2004 there was another
movie called <i>King Arthur</i>, demonstrating
the enduring popularity of Arthurian legends. This year, another movi</div>
<br />
<br />
e, <i>King Arthur: Legend of the Sword</i>, has
been released. This movie, like all the others, reflects the values of our
times rather than the medieval values that Arthur had first been endowed with. There
is still something that captivates people about Arthur and allows for a
reinterpretation to reflect society today, whatever it is, it connects our past
with our present, allowing us to feel good about where we came from. <div>
<br /><o:p></o:p><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuEXqiPLZXVtpflcUSusWWLDiLQYaHQq8RlP7Pw5vQj4jJ2mh_z12ihPbaXdFxqEbJRkCGYI9RvVXTDqlMIGM8rtOWW6zZuEhraFwyAl2_gtfVv6gh1EsPymHQ0SmuZbGb0AVce5w3g3Dj/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="370" data-original-width="564" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuEXqiPLZXVtpflcUSusWWLDiLQYaHQq8RlP7Pw5vQj4jJ2mh_z12ihPbaXdFxqEbJRkCGYI9RvVXTDqlMIGM8rtOWW6zZuEhraFwyAl2_gtfVv6gh1EsPymHQ0SmuZbGb0AVce5w3g3Dj/s400/4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">King
Arthur’s statue at Tintagel. From <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/archaeology/king-arthur-castle-cornwall-tintagel-dark-ages-palace-camelot-a7168761.html">http://www.independent.co.uk</a>.</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b>Further Reading</b></div>
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For further reading I highly recommend any
of the literature I discussed along with watching the movies, and TV shows
mentioned. My specialty is medieval warrior culture in twelfth to fourteenth
century France and England, so I can only speak for that era in terms of
history. For those interested in the medieval Arthur and his values I
recommended the following books (along with medieval literature) that deal with
society and violence: R. W. Barber’s <i>The
Reign of Chivalry, </i>John France’s <i>Western
Warfare in the Age of the Crusades</i>, Richard W. Kaeuper’s <i>Chivalry and Violence in Medieval Europe</i>,
and Maurice Keen’s <i>Chivalry</i>.</div>
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Samantha Knepper lives in San Diego and can
be reached at <a href="mailto:SamanthaLKnepper@gmail.com"><span style="color: windowtext;">SamanthaLKnepper@gmail.com</span></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext;">, </span></span><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration-line: none;"><a href="http://medievalknightsandmore.com/">http://medievalknightsandmore.com</a></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext;">, and on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/Slknepper">@Slknepper</a></span></span>. She
received her MA in History from Norwich University and her capstone looked at
the idolization of heroes from the past in twelfth to fourteenth-century France
and England. She loves discussing all things medieval and hopes to learn how to
joust this year. </div>
</div>
The Medieval Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15682575257934473502noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1305563699277875807.post-81234275642535675422017-06-26T16:02:00.001+01:002017-06-27T23:02:28.614+01:00The Irish Monastery of Skellig Michael<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #660000;">Guest Post by Shaun Jex</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Skellig Michael sits 11.6
kilometres off of Ireland’s Iveragh Peninsula. The island juts out of the
Atlantic Ocean; its craggy peaks and sheer cliffs give the land an ambiance of
austere foreboding. The frequency of violent winds and storms make journeys to
the Skellig a risky enterprise. Little about the place suggests warmth or
welcome, but for the medieval monks of Ireland this inhospitable atmosphere
served as its greatest draw.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Early Christian History</span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The last Roman Emperor fell in
476 CE, beginning the era known as the Middle or Dark Ages. The fall of the
Rome came roughly 440 years after the death of Jesus of Nazareth, 164 years
from the conversion of Constantine, 151 years from the Council of Nicea, and 95
years after Theodosius I declared Nicene Christianity the official state
religion of Rome. A mere two hundred years had passed since Anthony the Great,
the first Desert Father, took to the Nitrian Desert and set an example for
centuries of hermetic monks who chose to abandon society and devote their life
to prayer and study. As Rome crumbled, a group of Irish monks continued this
tradition by establishing a hermitage on the forbidding peaks of Skellig
Michael.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The Christian faith came to
Ireland in the fourth century. It spread in the fifth century through the work
of a young bishop named Maewyn Succat, more commonly known as St Patrick. That
Christianity came to Ireland just as Rome dissolved proved fortuitous to
Western history. As Thomas Cahill notes, “...as the Roman Empire fell, as all
through Europe matted, unwashed barbarians descended on the Roman cities,
looting artifacts and burning books, the Irish, who were just learning to read
and write, took up the great labor of copying all of western literature -
everything they could lay their hands on.” Of Skellig Michael, historian Kenneth
Clark said, “...for quite a long time – almost a hundred years – western
Christianity survived by clinging to places like Skellig Michael, a pinnacle of
rock eighteen miles from the Irish coast, rising seven hundred feet out of the
sea.”</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The Founding of the Hermitage</span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Dates vary as to when monks first
established a community on Skellig Michael. Estimates range between the sixth
and eighth centuries. The earliest known reference comes from the Martyrology
of Tallaght, a compilation of saints from the Roman calendar, written between
797–808 CE. In an April 28 entry, the book references the death of a Skellig
monk named Suibni. The Diocese of Kerry asserts that this reference from so
distant a location (329 km) suggests that the monastery had already established
a widespread reputation. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">To understand why the monks
decided to move to such a forbidding locale, it helps to understand the culture
of Irish Catholicism as expressed through one of its most ancient texts. The
Cambria Homily, composed in the seventh century, is the oldest known Irish
homily. According to Padraig O’ Neill’s ‘Background to the Cambria Homily’, it
“may be the first piece of continuous prose on a religious subject extant from
Old Irish.” The work details three separate types of martyrdom:</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">“Now there are three kinds of
martyrdom that are counted as a cross to us, namely, white, blue and red
martyrdom. The white martyrdom for someone is when they part for the sake of
God from everything that they love, although they may suffer fasting and hard
work thereby. The blue martyrdom is when through fasting and hard work they
control their desires or struggle in penance and repentance. The red martyrdom
is when they endure a cross or destruction for Christ’s sake, as happened to
the Apostles when they persecuted the wicked and taught the law of God.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">This idea of white martyrdom
likely influenced the monks to establish a hermitage on Skellig Michael. They
cut themselves off from society and lived in austere conditions where they
could devote the majority of their time to prayer and study. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">In the sixth and seventh century,
the community bore the name of Sceilig Figil, or Ocean Rock Vigil. The name
Michael would not appear until sometime around the eleventh century as
documented in the Annals of the Four Masters. The text provides a brief reference
in 1044 noting, “The Age of Christ 1044. Aedh of Sgelic-Mhichil”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Tradition credits Saint Fionan
(470–549 CE) with founding the community. A travelling missionary, Fionan also
established churches in Aghowle, Mugna Sulcain, and Clonard, where he also
built a substantial monastery. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Building of the Hermitage and
Monastery </span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">By the ninth century,
construction on the island began. Monks built a hermitage on the southern peak
of the island. The hermitage consisted of three terraces, an altar, several
cisterns and other minor stone constructions. The cisterns worked in a network
with water flowing from one to another as they filled, creating a system of
water filtration. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAro7oHAtjM1tciFBlTkifep5zm_wCjaaTquSiJbyHz4JFtoVz3FkCUFodjF2-viqlmoyoqwfeAKLcke-Rs67jQVAAD_Mr_WMzHxd3FBzKp8EkJqizyRECdjufYmm6VJqXboDmPhAsWga-/s1600/060615_Skellig_Michael_006E.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="750" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAro7oHAtjM1tciFBlTkifep5zm_wCjaaTquSiJbyHz4JFtoVz3FkCUFodjF2-viqlmoyoqwfeAKLcke-Rs67jQVAAD_Mr_WMzHxd3FBzKp8EkJqizyRECdjufYmm6VJqXboDmPhAsWga-/s400/060615_Skellig_Michael_006E.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The monastery sits on the
northeast portion of the island. Three sets of steps were built to the
monastery, though only the south set remains accessible to the public. Monks
used local stone to build retaining walls and terraces, placing gardens along
the outside of the structure and buildings on the interior. According to World
Heritage Ireland, these retaining walls also created a microclimate that
allowed for better gardening. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Living quarters were clochan or
beehive cells constructed without mortar. The roofs of the cells are corbelled,
a roofing technique that creates the recognizable pointed dome atop the
buildings. The typical cell had accommodations for three monks. Each had a
small cupboard and stone pegs from which they could hang items. The largest,
known as cell A, served as a communal cell and contained two levels. Three
cisterns sit around the grounds, positioned to collect water run-off from the
rock above the monastery. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">A structure known as the “Large
Oratory” is the oldest surviving church on Skellig Michael. The building has an
inverted boat shape, common in Irish monasteries along the Atlantic coast. A
graveyard sits to the east of the monastery, though a portion has been lost to
collapse. Another church, called St Michael’s, is the only portion of the
monastery built with limestone mortar. Construction on St Michael’s occurred at
least a century after the original construction of the monastery, with portions
being built as late as the twelfth century.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6D4j40tggL6WnQDBMJUZaYc66nvE_oMzm2i__ppuCJvlMyFgRGhLejUHGJFVrFAPxKayEV5XOPgs7Ixc1HQsl5piDT-3RBpbfEXdOdEqv-_GAM8kmvGWrdnQb9v7TrdqCQjJqhF3dgNP7/s1600/100830_Skellig_Michael_476.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="750" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6D4j40tggL6WnQDBMJUZaYc66nvE_oMzm2i__ppuCJvlMyFgRGhLejUHGJFVrFAPxKayEV5XOPgs7Ixc1HQsl5piDT-3RBpbfEXdOdEqv-_GAM8kmvGWrdnQb9v7TrdqCQjJqhF3dgNP7/s400/100830_Skellig_Michael_476.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Viking Raids</span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The Annals of Inisfallen detail
the history of Ireland from approximately 433 CE to 1450 CE, with the bulk of
the work being compiled in 1092. Scholarship suggests that the text originated
in Emly and other houses of Munster, Ireland before coming into the possession
of the monks of Inisfallen Abbey. The text provides the first history of
Vikings raiding the monastery of Skellig Michael. An entry dated 824 states, "Scelec
(Skellig) was plundered by the heathens and Etgal was carried off into
captivity, and he died of hunger on their hands." </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The Cogadh Gaedhel re Gallaibh
(The War of the Gaedhil with the Gaill, or, the invasions of Ireland by the
Danes and other Norsemen) tells of Ireland’s battles with the Vikings,
including the story of Ireland’s legendary king Brian Boru (941–1014 CE). The
book mentions an 850 CE raid by the Norsemen. It reads, “<span style="background: white;">There came a fleet from Luimnech in the south of
Erinn, they plundered Skellig Michael, and Inisfallen and Disert Donnain and
Cluain Mor…”</span> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Over a century later, Olaf Tryggvason
(king of Norway from 995 to c.1000 CE) may have come to the island. According
to some traditions, a hermit on Skellig Michael baptized Tryggvason in 993, two
years before he assumed throne. Tryggvason led the first efforts to
Christianize Norway. It was a later king, Olav II, who went on to became the country’s patron
saint.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP_Or2_fJ3_tPUD5c5cnqM-nGSoTIbiugA1h7kb9gdo0NW83BDReh8XeWxfnLUYc7CK09l0is_yN4Ue8bJ2yxBLA_aNVlbw5KETYM0zXH8TfrBL1o8OnEi_WTyCiOtLC49KMlBrfDmop2g/s1600/100830_Skellig_Michael_1486.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="750" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP_Or2_fJ3_tPUD5c5cnqM-nGSoTIbiugA1h7kb9gdo0NW83BDReh8XeWxfnLUYc7CK09l0is_yN4Ue8bJ2yxBLA_aNVlbw5KETYM0zXH8TfrBL1o8OnEi_WTyCiOtLC49KMlBrfDmop2g/s400/100830_Skellig_Michael_1486.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The Last Days of Skellig Michael</span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Historian and clergyman Giraldis
Cambrensis, also known as Gerald of Wales, mentions the monastery again in his
work about life in the twelfth century. Two of his major works, the Topography
of Ireland (c. 1188 CE) and the Conquest of Ireland (c.1189) share history he
learned while on a military campaign to the country. In the Topography,
Giraldis mentions an incident at Skellig Michael he refers to as “<span style="background: white;">Of the Stone in which a Cavity is Every Day
Miraculously Filled with Wine.” In it he writes, “There is an island with a
church dedicated to St Michael, famed for its orthodox sanctity from very
ancient times. There is a stone outside the porch of this church, on the right
hand, and party fixed in the wall, with a hollow in its surface, which, every
morning, through the merits of the saint to whom the church is dedicated, is
filled with as much wine as will conveniently suffice for the service of the
masses on the day ensuing, according to the number of the priests there who
have to celebrate them.”</span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">By the
thirteenth century, weather and the changing organization of the Catholic Church
ended full-time life on the island. The monks are said to have moved to Ballinskellig,
a small town on the Irish coast. Though Skellig Michael ceased to function as a
year-round community, the monastery remained a prominent location for
pilgrimage all the way into the eighteenth century.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Image Credits</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background: white;">All four images used in this post are </span>© National Monuments Service. Dept. of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.</span><br />
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="https://www.archaeology.ie/" target="_blank">https://www.archaeology.ie</a></span><br />
<span style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Thanks to Shaun Jex for a fascinating insight into the monastery at Skellig Michael. Shaun runs his own blog, 'Walking the Jericho Road', over at <a href="https://shaunjex.com/" target="_blank">https://shaunjex.com</a> and you </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">can find him on Twitter </span><a href="https://twitter.com/shaunmjex" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;" target="_blank">@shaunmjex</a>.</div>
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The Medieval Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15682575257934473502noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1305563699277875807.post-91314356760298059442017-06-12T09:30:00.000+01:002017-06-12T09:30:17.330+01:00Berengaria of NavarreToday I have a guest blog post for you from Daniel Fernández de Lis. Daniel has an interest in medieval English history, particularly the Plantagenets. You can find his own blog at <a href="https://curiosidadesdelahistoriablog.com/" target="_blank">https://curiosidadesdelahistoriablog.com/</a>, and he has started to translate a few posts from Spanish to English <a href="https://alittlebitofhistory.blog/" target="_blank">here</a>. You can find Daniel on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/FdezLisDaniel" target="_blank">@FdezLisDaniel</a> or via the account for his blog <a href="https://twitter.com/littlebitofhist" target="_blank">@littlebitofhist</a>.<br />
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Welcome to the Medieval World, Daniel!<br />
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Berengaria of Navarre</h2>
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1. Introduction</h4>
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Berengaria (or Berenguela) of Navarre, Queen of England is a
peculiar case in history. Always in the shadow of her charismatic husband,
Richard de Lionheart, in most of historical books she receives no more than a
few lines, just to point out that she was the only English queen not to set
foot on English soil, and that she produced no heir to the throne (arising
speculations about the sexual inclinations of Richard).</div>
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<span lang="EN-US">A more complex study of Berengaria is not easy, due to the scarce
sources about the years before her marriage. She was the daughter of King
Sancho VI <i>el Sabio </i>(the Wise) of Navarre, and sister of King Sancho VII el
Fuerte (the Strong), one of the leading figures of a paramount victory of
the Christian kings of Spain against the Muslims in the Battle of Las Navas de
Tolosa (1212). All we know about her birthdate is that she was between twenty
one and twenty six years old when she married Richard in 1191.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">In those years, Richard was the golden boy of European royalty. King
of England, Duke of Normandy, Count of Anjou, Duke of Aquitaine and Count of
Poitou, he added to this impressive collection of titles a well-earned prestige
as a warrior and military leader. He was also good looking, tall and well built,
and a renowned mi</span><span lang="ES-TRAD">ns</span><span lang="EN-US">t</span><span lang="ES-TRAD">rel</span><span lang="EN-US"> in several European courts. And he was about to set sail to the
Holy Land to recover Jerusalem from the hands of Saladin. So, what caused this
shining star of the European bridal market to engage himself to the unknown
daughter of the king of a tiny kingdom in the Iberian Peninsula?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Richard had been engaged since he was a boy with Alice (or Aelis),
sister of King Philippe of France. However, this marriage never took place.
After the agreement, Alice was handed over to Richard's father, Henry II.
Rumors spread fast: despite not being more than a child, Henry had seduced
Alice; some gossips suggested that she even gave birth to a child. No matter if
this was true or false, Richard did not intend to marry the young French
princess under these circumstances. Nevertheless, the breach of the agreement
was a difficult question, because Alice dowry included strategic lands like the
Vexin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Henry II committed himself in his last years in arbitrations between
the kingdoms of the Iberian Peninsula. And both the father and the brother of
Berengaria had interests at the other side of the Pyrenees; so it is possible
that they met Richard while he was ruling Poitou. Although several sources remark
that Richard knew and fell in love with Berengaria on a trip to Pamplona (as a
minstrel or a as a pilgrim heading to Santiago de Compostela), there is no
evidence that this trip took place. The only source, the <i>Estoire de la Guerre
Sainte, </i>written by a companion of Richard in the crusade by the name of
Ambroise, said that the King loved her a lot and had desired her since he was
Count of Poitou. That sentence suggests that he knew her before being crowned
King of England in 1189, because it didn't mention this title, but instead the
one of Count of Poitou. It is true that Ambroise is not a very reliable source,
because his opus is an exaggerated tale of Richard´s feats, but in this point
Ambroise has no need to idealize or lie to encourage the King; nothing will
come out of his reputation regarding whether he did or did not meet Berengaria
before the wedding.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">There is no evidence either that Richard knew Sancho VII; the
similar characteristics and military prestige of both the English and the
Spanish monarch make it possible that they both knew each other. Some sources
point out that the engagement between Richard and Berengaria was agreed in
1185. According to these sources, in 1185 Richard met Alfonso II of Aragón in
Gascony, and Alfonso sought Richard's help in some conflict with Sancho VII, which
that could mean that the Lionheart had some kind of influence in the King of
Navarra. And precisely this same year, Sancho granted several lands to his
sister Berengaria. That was, according to these sources, an indication of
Berengaria's new status as bride of Richard. </span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></b>
<b><span lang="EN-US">2. Queen of England</span></b><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify;">What we know for sure is that in 1190, while Richard was making the
preparations to sail to the Holy Land, his mother, Eleanor of Aquitaine,
travelled to Navarre to take care of Berengaria and accompany her to his son
and to their wedding. Those who considered Eleanor as the main promoter of the
marriage mark that with this movement she was after a number of goals: to grant
an heir to the throne before</span><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="text-align: justify;"> Richard</span><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="text-align: justify;"> </span><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="text-align: justify;">engaged himself</span><span lang="EN-US" style="text-align: justify;"> in a
dangerous adventure that could cost him his life; her wish to move Richard away
from his peculiar friendship with Phillippe of France and find a wife outside
the environment of the French King; as maybe Richard himself had told her about
his attraction towards Berengaria.</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US">For others, like John Guillingham, the engagement was Richard's idea.
According to Guillingham, 1190 was a year of great military and diplomatic
activity in Gascony and there was a meeting between Richard and Sancho at La
Reole that well could be the conclusion of the arrangements that begun in 1185.
For Sancho VII the engagement was a great diplomatic achievement: it
consolidated his position at the other side of the Pyrenees and allowed him to
focus on his problems in the Peninsula with his neighbors of Castile and
Aragon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">As we said, Eleanor traveled to Pamplona in September 1190, picked
up Berengaria, and together they departed in a toilsome trip across the
Pyrenees and the Alpes, through Lombardy, Pisa, Rome and Naples and finally
arriving at Sicily. Philippe of France departed before they arrived; obviously
he had not wished to meet either Eleanor (first wife of his father Louis VII) or
Berengaria (Richard broke the engagement with his sister Alice because of the
Spanish princess). The chronicles described Berengaria as wise, noble, brave,
instructed and beautiful.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">The couple set sail from Sicily to the Holy Land, where the marriage
should take place. They didn't embark in the same ship, and Eleanor was
replaced by his daughter Joan as Berengaria's companion. But the vessel where
the two women traveled was hit by a storm and they had to seek refuge in
Cyprus. Richard arrived at the island when the governor of the island tried to
request a ransom for the women, set them free and decided to marry Berengaria
there and then. The marriage took place in Limassol, on 12 May 1191. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Regarding the question of Berengaria not being pregnant before
Richard was captured in his return from the crusade, there are obviously no
records about the consummation of the marriage, but when the couple set sail to
the Holy Land they departed in different vessels. When they arrived at
Outremer, Berengaria took no part in the military campaign of her husband and
traveled from one Christian fortress to another. Fifteen days after the crusaders
conquered Acre, on 6 July 1191, Berengaria reunited there with Richard. But his
conditions were far than suitable to the marital obligations: he was sick and
feeble, confronted with Philippe of France and other Christian leaders and
taking tough decisions, like the slaughter of two thousand Muslim captives. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">A month later Berengaria arrived at Acre, Richard left the place and
headed to Jerusalem, leaving her behind. There is no record mentioning if they
slept together or not, but Berengaria was not pregnant. In September, Richard
conquered Jafa and the next month Berengaria joined him there, where they
stayed for six months, although Richard spent most of this time in campaign
against Saladin. Again there is no mention about the couple’s marital relations,
and again Berengaria was not pregnant.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">The whereabouts of Richard after the signing of a truce with Saladin
in 1192 are well known: he was captured by Leopold of Austria and held captive
by the Emperor Henry VI, and was released in February 1194.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">And as for Berengaria, she traveled from the Holy Land with Joan,
reached Cyprus and Naples and arrived in Rome in December 1192. She stayed
there for six months, joining forces with her mother in law in trying to make
the Pope persuade the Emperor to set Richard free. In June 1193, Berengaria and
Joan, escorted by Alfonso of Aragon and Raymond of Toulouse, moved to Poitou.
Despite being Queen of England and despite the situation of the King,
Berengaria did not travel to England, but stayed in Poitou during Richard's
captivity. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">It is true that the situation was not easy, neither in England nor
in Poitou. In England, John Lackland was plotting to grasp his brother’s crown
and Eleanor, while trying to stop his younger son, was heavily taxing the
English people to pay the ransom and set Richard free. In Poitou, Berengaria
faced the Aquitaine nobility, traditionally independent and reluctant to obey
the orders of their dukes. They were not easily submitted by Henry II, but on
the other hand they were willing to take advantage of this new situation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">When Richard was released, he quickly returned to England to
reassert his power; he arranged a new ceremony of coronation in Winchester.
Eleanor was with him in the coronation, but Berengaria was not. It is difficult
to elucidate if this was a sign of previous problems between the couple or
simply was a matter of lack of time (Richard needed the ceremony to be hastily
performed and Berengaria was in France). It is even possible that Richard
thought that there was not need of a dangerous crossing of the Channel,
especially since he himself has intention to travel to France as soon as
possible. The question is that Berengaria did not accompany Richard in his new
coronation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Richard only stayed in England for three weeks after his coronation.
Then he headed to France, never to return to England. He spent the remaining
five years fighting Philippe in France; his campaigns are widely documented,
but unfortunately these chronicles said nothing about Berengaria and her
whereabouts (as usual, medieval queens were invisible, except to write down her
marriages and the birth of royal children). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">When we say that Richard spent his final five years fighting
Philippe, we don’t mean that he was in the battlefield each and every day. Wars
in the Middle Ages were a limited affair – both in time and in space. There
were a few clashes between the enemy armies during spring and summer, followed
by long truces to allow the soldiers to go home and harvest the crops and then
take shelter during the winter. That means that if Richard and Berengaria
didn’t produce an heir during this last five years, it was not because he was
always in a tent in the battlefield or setting siege or being besieged by the French
army. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Just as an example, Richard spent Christmas in 1194 in Rouen, and
Berengaria was not with him. This year his father died and she was mourning him
in Anjou, most likely in Beaufort Castle, where she presumably set her
residence because she was also there when Richard died. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">There is a famous fact, quoted by Roger of Howeden in 1195. It is
always related with Richard’s sexual conditions, but it has his significance
also in connection with Berengaria. A hermit addressed Richard, calling him a
sinner and reminding him of the destruction of Sodoma. The King then accepted
he penitence, received his wife (he has not been with her for a long time), and
he joined her so they were one flesh. We don’t know for sure if this is true,
but what we do know is that, again, Berengaria was not pregnant. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">There is no reference to the activities of Berengaria in the last
years of Richard. She must be present in the wedding of Joan, Richard’s sister,
at Poitiers in 1196. But in those years Richard was dedicated to the project of
building the formidable Chateau Gaillard, and there is no record of Berengaria
being there with him, not even when the construction of the fortress was
finished. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">When Richard was fatally wounded in Chalus-Chabrol, he called by his
side his mother Eleanor and the knight William Marshal, not his wife. This
could be another sign of the lack of affection between the couple, although it
could be argued that by calling on Berengaria (she was never present in the
battlefield) this could cause speculation about the seriousness of the wound.
Walter de Guiseborough, who wrote in the fourteenth century, stated that the
physicians forbade the King, due to the deepness of his wound, to embrace and
even to see his wife. But other sources claimed that the wound did not prevent
Richard to engage with several women in his bed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US">3. Humblest Former Queen of the English and Lady of Le Mans</span></b> </div>
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<span lang="EN-US">After Richard's death, bishop Hugh of Lincoln, who was about to join
the King, decided to go to Beaufort Castle to see Berengaria. He found her
bereaved and with her heart broken. After Richard was buried, his widow headed
to Fontevraud and played an important role in the engagement between her sister
Blanca and Theobald of Champagne. The wedding took place in Chartres on 1 July 1199
and Berengaria acted as witness. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">In the months that followed, both the new King of England, John I,
and Eleanor of Aquitaine showed no concern at all for Berengaria. She had to
take refuge in her sister's court in Champagne. Pope Innocent III, who always
acted in favor of the widow queen, described her situation as ‘a beggar, poor
and humiliated’. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Had Berengaria gave birth to an heir for Richard, her role as a
widow would have stayed linked to the center of power as a regent, or at least in
charge of his education. But as she did not have a boy, her only two choices
were a new marriage or a retreat in an abbey or a monastery (that didn't necessarily
involve taking vows as a nun). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">The situation was not easy for Berengaria due to the tensions
between England and France. Philippe was trying to recover the possessions that
the Plantagenets had inherited or conquered in France. John I, even if he was
concerned about his sister-in-law’s welfare (which he wasn't), had his own
problems because he was losing all of the continental Plantagenet empire. That
meant that every castle or town where Berengaria decided to live was at risk of
being sieged or taken by the French. Berengaria traveled from one place to
another (Beaufort, Chinon, Fontevraud, Champagne) and finally in 1204
established her residence in Le Mans; she lived in this town for the rest of
her life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Berengaria reached an agreement with Philippe of France, She gave up
the places that she inherited as Richard's widow (Falaise, Domfront y
Bonneville), recognizing him as overlord. In exchange she received the city of
Le Mans and one thousand sterling marks. For the rest of her life, Berengaria
didn't use the titles of Duchess of Normandy or Countess of Anjou. Instead, she
always signed her writs as ‘humblest former Queen of the English’. Nevertheless,
she was later known as Lady of Le Mans. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Financially, Berengaria was almost in dire straits. She never married
again and John didn't fulfil the dowry promised to her when she married
Richard. They signed a document in the year 1200 where John granted her one
thousand marks a year, but despite several reclamations and even the
intervention of the Pope on behalf of Berengaria, the King delayed this payment
for many years. Only in September 1215, after John sent a letter to Berengaria
warning her about the confidentiality of the negotiations between them, they signed
a new document where John agreed to pay her two thousand marks plus the amount
he already owed her. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Knowing John, it came as no surprise when, the following year, he
wrote to Berengaria saying that he couldn't pay his debts because he was
bankrupted due to the costs of the war in France. John even said that he was
sure Berengaria must understand his reasons. Years of fighting, humiliation and
the personal intervention of the Pope came to nothing when John died this same
year. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Finally, in 1218, and after the mediation on her behalf of the new
Pope Honorius III, Henry III of England fulfilled the promises that his father
John didn't and paid Berengaria four thousand five hundred marks (over five
years). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">In Le Mans, where she spent the last twenty six years of her life,
Berengaria is remembered by her generous contributions to the churches and
abbeys of the city. As one author put it, she left a ‘persistent fragrance of
charity’. She was the benefactor of the Church of Saint Pierre; this church,
even before the arrival of the queen, had a lot of clashes with the cathedral
town hall regarding tax payments and fines for slow payers. Berengaria strongly
vouched for the church's rights before the Pope and even left the city for a
time when the cathedral town hall lifted an interdict against the Church of
Saint Pierre. She retired to lands she had acquired with Richard in the village
of Thorée. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">When she returned to Le Mans, the citizens cheered her all the way
home. Berengaria was very popular because of her charities and donations to all
kinds of institutions dedicated to help the poor and sick (including the cathedral).
It must be said, however, that part of the money she donated was earned by
acquiring at low price property from Jews of the city who had been forced to
convert to Christianity and sell their properties below their value. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">We do not know much of her personal life during these years. It is
possible that she planned to return to Navarre, because Henry III signed
passports for her and her messengers to travel to her homeland, but there is no
evidence that she traveled home. She kept in touch with her sister Blanca, who
was regent in Champagne on behalf of her son Theobald. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">The situation around her was now quite different in just a few
years. Philippe of France was dead, as was his son Louis VIII. The new king,
Louis IX (later St Louis) was advised by his mother, Blanca of Castile, who was
Berengaria's niece. Her situation improved with her new overlords, who helped
her with her most beloved project: the foundation of a Cistercian abbey called Notre Dame de la Piété-Dieu.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Louis IX granted her the domain where the abbey was built, although
she had to contribute with a large amount of money of her own to solve a
dispute regarding the property of the sandlot and to buy adjacent lands. She chose
the Order of Cistercians because of their links with Navarre and with her
husband Richard. The construction was hastily concluded and the monks occupied
the abbey on May 1230. The abbey seal represents a lady who has in her left
hand a cross crowned with a dove under several <i>fleurs</i> <i>de lis. </i>She was surrounded by the words: ‘Countess of
the Normans and the Angevins’ and ‘Berengaria, by the grace of God Queen of the
English’. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Only a few months later, on December 1230, Berengaria of Navarre
died in Le Mans. She was buried in the abbey she founded. But during the
Hundred Years War the abbey was burnt to the ground. It was rebuilt years later,
and after the French Revolution went to private owners. The Germans seized it
during the Second World War, and in the 1960s it passed to public property
again before being rebuilt. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">It is believed that her tomb has been plundered several times since
the fourteenth century, and the statue of Berengaria that presided over the
monument was transferred to the Cathedral of Le Mans in 1821. In 1960, the
remains of a woman were found under the floor of the abbey’s hall. There was a
huge discussion whether or not it was Berengaria. The University of Caen made
some examinations and afterwards most of the experts considered that the
remains were indeed those of Berengaria. Now the effigy and the tomb with the
remains are located in the new hall of the abbey where everybody can pay a
visit.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp-rnwfUWacPqAThzTHyoxrOuk7fSkf2lxCJgHJ0JLcQm-UXPrxdwnYItVRqkdDUIIsqehpaS5NuCoHKOdM-56gGa89wiZr0DfQ3Vm5KxYI5VZcQvkvO04Ay19irqgNTd0nrYGwhasDAgL/s1600/220px-Abbaye_de_l%2527Epau_-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="383" data-original-width="220" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp-rnwfUWacPqAThzTHyoxrOuk7fSkf2lxCJgHJ0JLcQm-UXPrxdwnYItVRqkdDUIIsqehpaS5NuCoHKOdM-56gGa89wiZr0DfQ3Vm5KxYI5VZcQvkvO04Ay19irqgNTd0nrYGwhasDAgL/s320/220px-Abbaye_de_l%2527Epau_-2.JPG" width="183" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><b>Source</b></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Ann Trindade, <i>Berengaria. In search of Richard the
Lionheart´s Queen.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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The Medieval Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15682575257934473502noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1305563699277875807.post-37972467397113951122016-04-25T10:00:00.000+01:002016-04-25T19:11:50.270+01:00. . .Khaleesi?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWJfFOlA6TbNd7iROpIY4_KQREf0zv3KLH2-SBhGgi3RyrzojjNd_NHIp-VmUNnuZwwyRr2vow9Trm5nJUJ0Anp6u3JwaabDY2AieCi3wPkRITqpK9jN-UFQFbzoFRxTLQb3iWhrtMHLXm/s1600/st.+margaret+of+antioch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWJfFOlA6TbNd7iROpIY4_KQREf0zv3KLH2-SBhGgi3RyrzojjNd_NHIp-VmUNnuZwwyRr2vow9Trm5nJUJ0Anp6u3JwaabDY2AieCi3wPkRITqpK9jN-UFQFbzoFRxTLQb3iWhrtMHLXm/s400/st.+margaret+of+antioch.jpg" width="327" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From the Amherst Hours, Ms. W.167, detail of f.101v. From Walters Art Museum.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Holy mother of dragons! Khaleesi, is that you?!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Game of Thrones fans might look at the picture above and think that the lady in blue, riding atop a dragon, looks remarkably like a medieval depiction of Daenerys Targaryen </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 19.2px;">–</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Khaleesi, Mother of Dragons, Stormborn, etc., etc., etc. However, this Dany lookalike is actually Saint Margaret of Antioch, with this image dating to the fifteenth century AD.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Margaret (not to be confused with St Margaret of Scotland or Hungary) and her legend grew in popularity during the medieval period, largely thanks to her appearance in Jacobus de Voragine's <i>Golden Legend</i> <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 19.2px;">– a collection of saints' lives (13C). According to this, Margaret was born in Antioch during the late third century AD. She was the daughter of a pagan prince, but nonetheless converted to Christianity and took a vow of eternal chastity. Upon discovering this, she was driven out of her home by her pagan father and went to live in an area in what is now Turkey with the nurse who raised her (Margaret's mother had died soon after childbirth) and began work as a shepherdess.</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 19.2px;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGgaPebpqjje4TnZyKdg9heQwxOST-DdAF5rFc7V6n2zd2oXUeSsMn_aOZ1ujsmD7GJfuwm6rKw88_uPc-O2mGI1jsLWdlYFxNFlGCtGqCbLNNowg5kvL3axJAJMSsM0vyMPgm5gOVCDpl/s1600/Margaret.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGgaPebpqjje4TnZyKdg9heQwxOST-DdAF5rFc7V6n2zd2oXUeSsMn_aOZ1ujsmD7GJfuwm6rKw88_uPc-O2mGI1jsLWdlYFxNFlGCtGqCbLNNowg5kvL3axJAJMSsM0vyMPgm5gOVCDpl/s400/Margaret.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Roman prefect approaching Margaret. Jean Fouquet, in Book of Hours of Étienne Chevalier, Louvre, M.I. 1093 <span style="font-size: x-small;">(1452.</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 19.2px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">–60).</span></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19.2px;">One day when she was tending her sheep in the fields, Margaret caught the eye of a Roman prefect named Olybrius who was passing by with his men. Instantly smitten, he decided on the spot that he would have this beauty no matter what. He proposed immediately, but Margaret stayed true to her vow and declined his offer. Enraged, the prefect charged her with being a Christian and had her captured and imprisoned.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV3A0A2DQ4qGXMf_2XmCPm6tbJdTmxkejTWtqFZAS7Fw-gRDMGBoMhFG3CvtiOtbiZ-uUEQ_xbWW85jNf-CYA4Yp54qrY9xhOcCu7I06S80Cx7WpNLbIATq5PwjsCvVNE0D8-KRAklMtBe/s1600/imprisonment.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="393" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV3A0A2DQ4qGXMf_2XmCPm6tbJdTmxkejTWtqFZAS7Fw-gRDMGBoMhFG3CvtiOtbiZ-uUEQ_xbWW85jNf-CYA4Yp54qrY9xhOcCu7I06S80Cx7WpNLbIATq5PwjsCvVNE0D8-KRAklMtBe/s400/imprisonment.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Margaret's imprisonment, from Tectino’s Life of St Margaret of Antioch in verse, northern Italy, first half of 15C, Harley MS 5347, f. 26v.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 19.2px;">Margaret was tortured with every kind of punishment </span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="line-height: 19.2px;">imaginable but still would not renounce her Christian faith and marry Olybrius. Then, according to legend, she was visited by Satan in the shape of a dragon. He swallowed her whole, but after Margaret held her cross pendant and prayed for aid, she emerged unscathed from the belly of the beast.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="line-height: 19.2px;">Despite her incredible survival from the dragon, Margaret was ultimately martyred by beheading. However before she was killed, Margaret prayed that any woman suffering a difficult labour and who invoked her aid would receive deliverance of a healthy child </span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.2px;">– just as she had been delivered safely from the dragon's belly. Perhaps then, while she may resemble the Mother of Dragons in many works of art, a more fitting title for Margaret would be Daughter of Dragons!</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.2px;">Below are some medieval examples of St Margaret (click/tap to enlarge):</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirFuNRyZJExmxRN0xr8PRlL2ksOmzTwVYilbyTHzK3ttEjFEiz824DNavobIAsfLQg7vsW_L9hUrEnoJaamEmKmJk_J0FDqC7QcizfIehj8WohofkzGeB1wZzTK1mbX9SAf2FjG7w-hO-A/s1600/getty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirFuNRyZJExmxRN0xr8PRlL2ksOmzTwVYilbyTHzK3ttEjFEiz824DNavobIAsfLQg7vsW_L9hUrEnoJaamEmKmJk_J0FDqC7QcizfIehj8WohofkzGeB1wZzTK1mbX9SAf2FjG7w-hO-A/s400/getty.jpg" width="279" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Getty Museum, 'Saint Margaret' by Lieven van Lathem, Ghent, 1469.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgkU0IAAjchLuDVYabWvpjFEUnKJeOBoBWMxYr33xUMC1KYcfGr4Kv8jUyxXu4rxA8qGjTbhYxiKMPEfX41_-2gMmtWelgu1yYtptGkQod7tQIYFnX5ZVkYt0ajUU2fJabwyCiX1lrnc5j/s1600/Queen+Mary+Psalter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgkU0IAAjchLuDVYabWvpjFEUnKJeOBoBWMxYr33xUMC1KYcfGr4Kv8jUyxXu4rxA8qGjTbhYxiKMPEfX41_-2gMmtWelgu1yYtptGkQod7tQIYFnX5ZVkYt0ajUU2fJabwyCiX1lrnc5j/s400/Queen+Mary+Psalter.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Margaret emerging from the dragon, then being beheaded. From the British Library, Queen Mary Psalter, Royal MS 2 B VII, f. 256r.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQvk9OVcDK4iuQSgHy9INRoxZ27-mZ3zw0bbUMxzuJ1syEFq9USECWdVj_zJOgQnMQIzrJ0NKopzWeeGCUyREVjpccHY3fcGhtihEFWaxZ_fRO1SKReXve-CYfuyeon-u_OHIrTHdnX6s3/s1600/morgan+library.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQvk9OVcDK4iuQSgHy9INRoxZ27-mZ3zw0bbUMxzuJ1syEFq9USECWdVj_zJOgQnMQIzrJ0NKopzWeeGCUyREVjpccHY3fcGhtihEFWaxZ_fRO1SKReXve-CYfuyeon-u_OHIrTHdnX6s3/s400/morgan+library.jpg" width="245" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Defeating the beast with her cross. From the Morgan Library, Prayer roll, MS G.39 fol. 18r.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOGc9QRP87006epHKPn5zd2FN0Nr-2W9Pk5Lpl3U52pIx3llJPPOMtJfE_dJVUgg8rr6CPfDSux3vWeGA_wEAAb5l8YfHj4Lvzqpayla4PgUIVN6QrUxplTpHUnT3ODauJjTy3hU9OfNMd/s1600/Margaret+and+the+dragon+Toulouse+France+15C.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOGc9QRP87006epHKPn5zd2FN0Nr-2W9Pk5Lpl3U52pIx3llJPPOMtJfE_dJVUgg8rr6CPfDSux3vWeGA_wEAAb5l8YfHj4Lvzqpayla4PgUIVN6QrUxplTpHUnT3ODauJjTy3hU9OfNMd/s400/Margaret+and+the+dragon+Toulouse+France+15C.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Saint Margaret and the dragon. From Toulouse, France, 15C.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjipfhbS5OPpaWWiXlqeYX8vCGbFKXIRH1ZpSpB2U3nfbEQhIx5_UY2346vcGLiiGv72uLOAKrFP2JO7Okoh_jXe5LW5qR5JIY0pkmRd4UEW0rDa9fiYDKw7JsW1oo0zisGFj_VwCJCwVTt/s1600/Book+of+Hours.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjipfhbS5OPpaWWiXlqeYX8vCGbFKXIRH1ZpSpB2U3nfbEQhIx5_UY2346vcGLiiGv72uLOAKrFP2JO7Okoh_jXe5LW5qR5JIY0pkmRd4UEW0rDa9fiYDKw7JsW1oo0zisGFj_VwCJCwVTt/s400/Book+of+Hours.jpg" width="262" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Detail of a miniature showing Margaret emerging from the dragon, note her blue robe still in the beast's mouth after consuming her. British Library, from a Book of Hours, France (Paris), <i>c</i>. 1440 – <i>c</i>. 1450, Egerton MS 2019, f. 216r.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9TVyXExTRD3uHcEiLzW4ah2Yoxz7w_V1noO6c0wNAuHEWQJYCO5eE1BcoWl9VF-v_wjqQO-EnWJtp-z3Ou2ETKIjgTbmkLA15vCFj0tMDc1umxf3T_YwwGEI1eGe2dZwaWk47TOtHmauh/s1600/WGA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: 12.8px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9TVyXExTRD3uHcEiLzW4ah2Yoxz7w_V1noO6c0wNAuHEWQJYCO5eE1BcoWl9VF-v_wjqQO-EnWJtp-z3Ou2ETKIjgTbmkLA15vCFj0tMDc1umxf3T_YwwGEI1eGe2dZwaWk47TOtHmauh/s400/WGA.jpg" width="255" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">From Web Gallery of Art, <i>c</i>. 1400, Sz<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">épm</span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">ûv</span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">észeti Museum, Budapest.</span></span></td><td class="tr-caption"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGewS-OsCsmpOgXMKgS_r43LPZ3EvSUr7DJyUJBwzpcHGPXkwB-mh4GFxlKU18c3o1gljaYzyO2A2lM3B_fL-HhbB6fbf3iSNvNdAGTpvSXEVwajgS7GYyhFtlTZMz7S18z6wzYuzZyE9n/s1600/1402.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGewS-OsCsmpOgXMKgS_r43LPZ3EvSUr7DJyUJBwzpcHGPXkwB-mh4GFxlKU18c3o1gljaYzyO2A2lM3B_fL-HhbB6fbf3iSNvNdAGTpvSXEVwajgS7GYyhFtlTZMz7S18z6wzYuzZyE9n/s400/1402.jpg" width="395" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Notice de Paule Hochuli Dubuis,<i> c</i>. 1402, MS. fr. 57, f. 189r, Bibliothèque de Genève.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Saint Margaret and the Dragon, by Agnolo Gaddi, Italy (14C).</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFI0zWogeofBRUvn__ZmN31kVIqKtqkYDpAkoKivevsXd-QMlTfAuDQwGNTas1rxzFnS2UvdCqE4O5OeFjR4ryi8hU6NG5EtX3z1nvhXkEHs6uqDCKfuIMvzHIy53p0M_J80af-Mvq3L5j/s1600/15C.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFI0zWogeofBRUvn__ZmN31kVIqKtqkYDpAkoKivevsXd-QMlTfAuDQwGNTas1rxzFnS2UvdCqE4O5OeFjR4ryi8hU6NG5EtX3z1nvhXkEHs6uqDCKfuIMvzHIy53p0M_J80af-Mvq3L5j/s400/15C.jpg" width="243" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Wonderfully gruesome! From Prayer Book of Anne de Bretagne,illuminated by Jean Poyer, Tours, <i>c</i>. 1492–95. Pierpont Morgan Library, MS M.50 (fol. 20v).</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.2px;">These are just some of the wonderful images and works of art portraying St Margaret. If you have any other favourite images/artwork of Saint Margaret, leave a comment below, send me a <a href="https://twitter.com/MedievalWorld" target="_blank">tweet</a>, or get in touch on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/The-Medieval-World-123817827672638/" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, and I will share them </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.2px;">–</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.2px;"> <i>v</i></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 19.2px;"><i>alar dohaeris.</i></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 19.2px;"><i><br /></i></span>The Medieval Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15682575257934473502noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1305563699277875807.post-29024861500224534682015-10-14T21:40:00.000+01:002016-01-01T15:18:14.340+00:00The Great Medieval Bake Off<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd-b6TEX5rflXIlGVMTrQXqAkqo_VxhC51Rx5KAHGXH0gdQ4ZYoo4m37uVYkOCwN8iIlywH6U37AMcfBn8KuQoDSVhHBUkMPLZeCxWXwMgzyOD3RxagpJhd6TXcYpfA-zhUFj2aOX1a_1-/s1600/logo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd-b6TEX5rflXIlGVMTrQXqAkqo_VxhC51Rx5KAHGXH0gdQ4ZYoo4m37uVYkOCwN8iIlywH6U37AMcfBn8KuQoDSVhHBUkMPLZeCxWXwMgzyOD3RxagpJhd6TXcYpfA-zhUFj2aOX1a_1-/s400/logo.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, The Great British Bake Off final has come and gone (congratulations to Nadiya!). Is anybody else have withdrawal symptoms? Well, never fear! Welcome to ... The Great Medieval Bake Off!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />A few weeks ago I asked my readers to send in a recipe of their medieval bakes along with a photo of the end result. I'll post those here and then I will open a public poll for you to decide which one is your favourite. Don't for get to vote! The poll is to the top-right of this page.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />Ready?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />Set ...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />Bake!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />Entry 1 is from <a href="https://twitter.com/KeiraSoleore" target="_blank">Keira</a>: <b>Tredure: Golden Caudel</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ingredients:</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4 cups Chicken Broth</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 cups Fresh, Soft Breadcrumbs</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 Eggs, beaten</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 tsp Fennel Seed, crushed</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 tsp Anise Seed, crushed</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 pinch Saffron, crushed</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4 tbsp Lemon Juice</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In a medium saucepan, mix chicken broth and bread together. Bring to a boil. Beat eggs and mix in the spices. Stir the egg mixture into the broth, stirring vigorously. Reduce heat to low and stir until thickened. Add salt as needed. Add lemon juice just before serving.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Entry 2 is also from <a href="https://twitter.com/KeiraSoleore" target="_blank">Keira</a>: <b>A Fritur (Fretoure) Þat Hatte Emeles: Almond Fritters</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ingredients:</span></div>
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<ul><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<li>5 tbsp Brown Sugar</li>
</span></ul>
<ul><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<li>1 tbsp White Sugar</li>
</span></ul>
<ul><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<li>1/2 cup Almonds, finely chopped</li>
</span></ul>
<ul><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<li>1/2 cup Fresh, Soft Breadcrumbs</li>
</span></ul>
<ul><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<li>1 Egg, beaten</li>
</span></ul>
<ul><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<li>2 tbsp Butter</li>
</span></ul>
<ul><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<li>Salt to taste (optional)</li>
</span></ul>
</div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In a small bowl, mix together brown sugar, salt, almonds, and breadcrumbs. Mix in beaten egg. Place in refrigerator for 15 minutes to allow breadcrumbs to absorb egg. In a medium frypan, melt butter over medium heat. Form the almond mixture into small patties. Fry the patties in butter, turning them occasionally until golden brown. Place on a serving plate and sprinkle with white sugar.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Entry 3 is from <a href="https://twitter.com/Magic_Cauldron" target="_blank">Shermin</a>: <b>Almond Fingers (</b></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.3px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Lausinaj)</b></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZWQ9gm9ghnV1_-hmmknV_OXP4jjSowy2-9BqnxOp3QGrPI-f8E1USRXwdHU6DbqhfwYlBVzYjXDWpwbtJuFSQ4T4_WYeRHvA2dRu7EDYmMgFH-D3YLzuW4OYMk5KVF0-Jy5x7H6_E5RTY/s1600/almond-fingers-bs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZWQ9gm9ghnV1_-hmmknV_OXP4jjSowy2-9BqnxOp3QGrPI-f8E1USRXwdHU6DbqhfwYlBVzYjXDWpwbtJuFSQ4T4_WYeRHvA2dRu7EDYmMgFH-D3YLzuW4OYMk5KVF0-Jy5x7H6_E5RTY/s320/almond-fingers-bs.jpg" width="276" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.3px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.3px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lausinaj </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">is a sweet little pastry, stuffed with a filling of sugar, almonds and rose water. They are mentioned in the 13th century manuscript <i>The Book of Dishes</i> (Kitab al-Tabikh) from Al Baghdadi.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Shermin's adapted this recipe to make a slightly more modern version of this medieval treat. She's used </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Claudia Roden's cookbook <i>The New Book of Middle Eastern Food.</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">Ingredients:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">(makes around 30)</span></span><br />
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">250 g grounded almonds</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">110 g fine sugar</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">3 tablespoons orange blossom water</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">250 g thin filo/yufka-pastry sheets</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">plenty of butter (melted)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">icing sugar and (if wanted) chopped pistachios to sprinkle on</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In a bowl mix and knead almonds, sugar and orange blossom water together.<br />Cut the pastry sheets with a sharp knife in rectangular strips. Mine had the size 10 x 40 cm. This must not be exact, the size can vary.<br />Pile the strips on top of each other so that they don't dry out. (I always put a only slightly moistened kitchen towel on the pile.)<br />Take the first strip and brush it slightly with the melted butter.<br />Take some of the filling and press it in the hand into a little sausage.<br />Place it on the short end of the strip, fold the longer sides over the filling and roll it to a cigar shape. (Please have a look at the step-by-step photos in my <a href="http://www.magischer-kessel.de/2013/07/mit-arabischen-mandelpasteten-in-den-baklava-himmel-mandelfinger-assabih-bi-loz/" target="_blank">blog</a>.)<br />Place the little pastries on a sheet with baking paper and bake them in the oven at 160° (preheated) for circa 30 minutes until golden brown.<br />Let them cool a little bit and sprinkle with icing powder and chopped pistachios. Store in a dry container. (I like them best when they are still warm).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Entry 4 is from Anne:<b> Medieval Gingerbread</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwgyGgggq5-5VF6GvvEh0zxDxvRQiV-vN2-d-VKpi72RsrPus6IiYwoaJqWdG5D-rBwX-gT5coH3CJmSVhB-2LiwteqcgOB-8eHmPyuqCGIwlTuyoXgYgyFk3Fo-QbwUJukjRMqhpvvVgP/s1600/Photo+14-10-2015%252C+7+07+26+p.m..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwgyGgggq5-5VF6GvvEh0zxDxvRQiV-vN2-d-VKpi72RsrPus6IiYwoaJqWdG5D-rBwX-gT5coH3CJmSVhB-2LiwteqcgOB-8eHmPyuqCGIwlTuyoXgYgyFk3Fo-QbwUJukjRMqhpvvVgP/s320/Photo+14-10-2015%252C+7+07+26+p.m..jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21.3px;">Anne's used the recipe from over at </span><a href="http://www.godecookery.com/ginger/ginger.htm" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21.3px;" target="_blank">Gode Cookery</a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21.3px;"> to create her gingerbread (the medieval version of course, is quite literally gingered bread!).</span></div>
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<div style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px; white-space: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ingredients:</span></div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">4 tbspn of honey</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">Approximately 150 ml of water</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">Around 250g of unseasoned breadcrumbs (or, however much is needed) or about 5 slices of bread</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">1 tbspn of ginger</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">1 tbspn of cinnamon</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">Up to 1 tspn of ground white pepper</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">Pinch of saffron (if desired, but was not used in this bake)</span></span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">Pre-heat the oven to 190C. Break up around 5 slices of bread into 1 inch squares. Put them in the oven to toast for 15-20 minutes. Take them out and allow to cool. Then put them in a bag and break them up with something heavy into breadcrumbs. (Alternatively, use fresh unseasoned breadcrumbs).</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">Mix the honey and water together and bring to the boil. Let it simmer and add in the spices.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">Stir in enough breadcrumbs to make a thick, stiff, mixture.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">Press the sticky mixture evenly into a fairly deep, baking tray (around 1 inch deep) that has been lined with baking paper.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">Turn it out and cut into 1 inch squares.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">So, that's the end of the bake off. Thank you to everybody who took part! Vote for your favourite recipe in the poll to the top-right of the page, and keep an eye on my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/The-Medieval-World-123817827672638/?ref=bookmarks" target="_blank">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/MedievalWorld" target="_blank">Twitter</a> pages where I'll announce the winner next week!</span></span></div>
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<b>Update! The winner, with 55% of the vote, is the Almond Fingers by Shermin – congratulations!</b><br />
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The Medieval Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15682575257934473502noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1305563699277875807.post-74499803542843480672015-08-28T08:00:00.000+01:002015-08-28T08:00:06.117+01:00Book Giveaway and Guest Post by Gareth Russell: ‘Gasping for comprehension’: The Plantagenet monarchy’s treatment of the Jews<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAQ9zyrKrtwTGo1uekGKNN3ikLlJOMvhgkpep-TeJpIYzVCwiPrbyDnMtwLxeLq0qemcpGAM0kW290UgvzCw92kVcDh3bLSuztacDP94n96V-cnASULjNWcf0Y1LvhUBMesJIfXCcCi383/s1600/a_history_of_the_english_monarchy-194x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAQ9zyrKrtwTGo1uekGKNN3ikLlJOMvhgkpep-TeJpIYzVCwiPrbyDnMtwLxeLq0qemcpGAM0kW290UgvzCw92kVcDh3bLSuztacDP94n96V-cnASULjNWcf0Y1LvhUBMesJIfXCcCi383/s320/a_history_of_the_english_monarchy-194x300.jpg" width="204" /></a><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am delighted to welcome Gareth Russell to The Medieval World today as he makes his fifth stop on a virtual book tour for the newly released <a href="http://getbook.at/english_monarchy" target="_blank">A History of the English Monarchy</a>. </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In addition to a wonderful guest post by Gareth, <a href="http://www.madeglobal.com/" target="_blank">MadeGlobal</a> have several copies of the book to give away! To be entered into a draw to win, leave a comment at the end of this post with your email address (so that you can be contacted), or email me directly at <a href="mailto:themedievalworld@hotmail.co.uk" target="_blank">themedievalworld@hotmail.co.uk</a>. Entries close on Friday 4 September, so be quick!</span></i></span></i></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #343434;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">‘Gasping for comprehension’: The Plantagenet monarchy’s treatment of the
Jews</span></span></b><br />
<span style="color: #343434; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #343434; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By Gareth Russell</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #343434;">While writing my latest book <i>A
History of the English Monarchy: From Boadicea to Elizabeth I</i>, there were
very few stories that affected me more than the Diaspora under Edward I. </span>Between 1290 and 1656 there were
no Jews in England – or, at least, none who could admit to it. In November
1290, Edward I had the entire Jewish community expelled from England in an
event known as the Diaspora. Prior to this, Jews had no civil rights in
thirteenth-century England; only Christians had rights in relation to their
ruler. As a result, Anglo-Jewry existed as a unique legal class that was
offered protection by the Sovereign but not by the letter of the law. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Unfortunately,
royal protection was not always efficacious. Anti-Semitic riots had erupted
during the festivities for Richard the Lionheart’s coronation in 1189 and King Richard
was severely criticised by the clergy for allowing Jews who had been forced to
convert to Christianity during the violence to return to their old religion.
When Richard went on Crusade, the absence of their kingly protector left the
Jews particularly vulnerable and massacres of local Jewish communities occurred
at Stamford, Bury St Edmunds and Lynn. The Jewish community in Lincoln were
granted sanctuary in the royal castle, but during the celebrations for Passover
their co-religionists in York were not so lucky. They were surrounded in Clifford’s
Tower by a baying mob who demanded that they either convert to Christianity or
perish. Imitating the actions of the Jewish martyrs at the fortress of Masada
in the first century AD, the Jews of York chose mass suicide over falling into
the hands of their enemies. Those few who did not were butchered within minutes
of leaving their place of shelter.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjASR0spIn4cHqdX3Jp8pH8G17UvxZBokYqT910lZNO9vqmItNy5u-WHWPg89nAR0KfjEt5-I2PsgtN7Zx4pCKzvksnqNr9q-qkZOsT3jTz6i6w50PBtDdxO2mIag8lLBezyRZdibxi10yQ/s1600/Article4photo1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjASR0spIn4cHqdX3Jp8pH8G17UvxZBokYqT910lZNO9vqmItNy5u-WHWPg89nAR0KfjEt5-I2PsgtN7Zx4pCKzvksnqNr9q-qkZOsT3jTz6i6w50PBtDdxO2mIag8lLBezyRZdibxi10yQ/s320/Article4photo1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Clifford's Tower, York, 2014.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There
were some medieval English Christians who objected to the persecution of the
Jews. The Bishop of Lincoln criticised Simon de Montfort’s cruelty towards them
during the reign of Henry III by reminding him that the Jews ‘are a wandering
people [...] they are fugitives from their proper home, that is Jerusalem, they
wander through uncertain stopping places and flee from fear of death’. But the majority
of medieval Christians believed sympathy to be wasted on the non-believer. In
1234, Pope Gregory IX argued that there was strong theological justification
for discriminating against the Jews, because the Gospel according to Saint John
made it quite clear that the Jews were forever stained with the blood of
Christ. Despite the fact that the Jewish community made up less than a quarter
of a percent of the overall English population in the thirteenth century,
anti-Semitism was widespread, as were stories of Jews participating in human
sacrifice or the kidnapping and murder of Christian martyr-children.
Christians, so it was claimed, were the real victims and it was their way of
life that was being threatened.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In
contrast to this consensus of clerical and popular paranoia, the English royal
family struggled to define their policy towards the Jews on both a personal and
political level. Queens were likely to be particularly familiar with
high-ranking English Jews due to a levy known as the queens-gold, a tax that
had originally been created by Henry I to supplement the income of his second
wife, Adeliza of Louvain. It meant that an extra ten percent was added to any
fine owed to the Crown by a Christian over the value of ten marks, as well as
on any tax paid by the Jews. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However,
in a climate of hatred, considerable popularity could be won by any sovereign
who took a stand against the Jewish community. Shortly after his coronation,
Edward I decreed that all Jews should be removed from any estates that had been
granted to the Queen Mother in her widowhood. Eleanor of Provence had
apparently made this request herself, since she did not want any contact with
sin imperilling the salvation of her soul. This led to the eviction of Jewish
communities in Marlborough, Gloucester, Worcester, Andover, Bath, Guildford and
Cambridge. Later in the same year, Edward implemented that Statute of the
Jewry, which forbade Christians to live near Jews, implemented a special new
tax on every Jew above the age of twelve, restricted where Jews were allowed to
live and, amongst other provisions, declared that when in public every Jew over
the age of seven had to wear a yellow badge, known as the <i>tabula</i>, measuring six inches by three. In 1287 all Jews were
expelled from English territory in Gascony and on 18 July 1290, the policy was
extended to England. In the midst of the wedding celebrations for his daughter
Mary, who was marrying the Duke of Brabant, King Edward issued a decree
banishing all the Jews from his kingdom. They were given just over three months
to pack up their lives and leave in time for the Feast of All Saints, which falls
on the first day of November. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #343434;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Persecution of Jewish people was an ongoing feature of
medieval life</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some
of those in the elite who had maintained relatively friendly relations with the
Jews, like the King’s younger brother Edmund, his wife Queen Eleanor of Castile
and the Archbishop of York, tried their best to secure safe passage out of
England for their former associates. Desperate to prevent a triumphalist pogrom
against the </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">émigrés</i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, Archbishop John
le Romeyn of York threatened any Christian caught in his diocese molesting or
harming the Jews as they left with excommunication. Prince Edmund managed to
obtain a special license for a Jewish gentleman called Aaron fil Vives to sell
his houses and rents in London, Canterbury and Oxford to Christians and Queen
Eleanor begged Edward to grant Hagin fil Deulecresse, the Jewish Archpresbyter,
a similar permit. He did so on the grounds that Hagin was ‘the Jew of his
dearest consort Eleanor’.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
majority of English Jews were not so lucky. As one ship carrying the exiles
sailed up the Thames, the captain claimed that his ship had run aground on a
sandbank. To lighten the load as the vessel was re-floated, the Jewish
passengers were allowed off to stretch their legs on the bank. Once they had
disembarked, the captain and crew sailed away, leaving them to drown in the
incoming tide. Those who survived the Diaspora of 1290 were scattered to the
wind and Anglo-Jewish settlers were found in Amiens, Paris, Spain, northern
Italy, Germany, and even as far afield as Cairo. A London scribe reflected that
they had become ‘a fugitive people exiled from England for all time, always a
wretched people to wander anywhere in the world’.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Reflecting
on the importance of History is easy, but its applicability is an altogether
more fraught concept. The expulsion of the Jews in 1290, with all the cruelty
it showcased and the misery it entailed, certainly has an even more sinister
appearance in light of the Holocaust of the twentieth century. That the Nazi Holocaust
had nothing to do with Christian teaching should be obvious to all but the most
zealous and disingenuous of Christianity’s critics. What happened in the 1940s
was the result of a totalitarian political ideology and a perverted interpretation
of evolutionary science. However, simply because Christianity’s fundamental
teachings are the antithesis of the horrors found in Auschwitz does not mean
that it is automatically innocent of nurturing the long-term European
anti-Semitism that helped make Auschwitz or its sister camps possible. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For
centuries, the Christian faith taught that Jews were not only inferior to
Christians but also harmful – a tumour in the body politics. This was not a
view unique to Catholicism. The diatribes of Martin Luther and the pogroms
carried out by Russian peasants show that Protestantism and the Orthodox
churches were just as capable of vicious hatred against Judaism. Jews were
admittedly treated badly under the pagan Roman Empire and their religion was
mocked, but so too were many other peoples of the empire, none of whom endured
bitter persecution once the Roman Empire had vanished. Anti-Semitism as we know
it was encouraged and hideously magnified by medieval Christianity and it is
impossible to escape reaching that conclusion when examining the fate of the
Jewish community in thirteenth-century England. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Medieval
Christianity was an extraordinarily beautiful thing. It moulded some of the
noblest minds in European history. Its capacity to move the faithful towards acts
of courage, charity and compassion, the haunting beauty of its music, its art,
the brilliant and subtle complexities of its theology, the men and women who
sacrificed everything to live by its teachings, its cathedrals, built by
thousands of hands over the course of generations, are proof of the devotion it
inspired and the wonders it was capable of. In a violent age, it tried to
promote values like chivalry, mercy and honour. It preached strongly against
rape and canonised dozens of young women who had been its victims. And yet, it
condoned and even celebrated the persecution of the Jews. In 1943, even as the
Nazi Holocaust gathered its dread momentum, the historian Joshua Trachtenburg
wrote that ‘the most vivid impression to be gained from a reading of medieval
allusions to the Jews is of a hatred so vast and abysmal, so intense that it
leaves one gasping for comprehension’. Perhaps, in the end, the Diaspora’s
greatest lesson is not just of what was wrong with the thirteenth century or
medieval religion, but a reminder, if ever one was needed, of man’s inhumanity
to man, how readily he can justify it and the tragedies of the past.</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> ____________________________________________________</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Thank you for an interesting post, Gareth! </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>Here's a description of the book from the publisher:</b></i></span><br />
<div style="color: #393939; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In<a href="http://getbook.at/english_monarchy" target="_blank"> <strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">A History of the English Monarchy</strong></a>, historian <span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Gareth Russell</span> traces the story of the English monarchy and the interactions between popular belief, religious faith and brutal political reality that helped shape the extraordinary journey of one of history’s most important institutions.</span></div>
<div style="color: #393939; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From the birth of the nation to the dazzling court of Elizabeth I, A History of the English Monarchy charts the fascinating path of the English monarchy from the uprising of ‘Warrior Queen’ Boadicea in AD60 through each king and queen up to the ‘Golden Age’ of Elizabeth I. Russell offers a fresh take on a fascinating subject as old as the nation itself. Legends, tales and, above all, hard facts tell an incredible story… <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">a history of the English Monarchy</em>.</span></div>
<div style="color: #393939; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ISBN: 978-84-943721-2-4 </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pages: 322</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9LBftQ0Q2pnTP54pNfqrbLGT8RP0AEv4uFIY-trKWZoMH1R3xasgVBR-DHkRJTNuxLSWj28kSh7o4FAgONd00x2HESPqVnvkGbq1Ham5E17jk3I99v_pQyJxSX-ifLh_rwR0vCj-wt-4v/s1600/monarchy_book_tour.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9LBftQ0Q2pnTP54pNfqrbLGT8RP0AEv4uFIY-trKWZoMH1R3xasgVBR-DHkRJTNuxLSWj28kSh7o4FAgONd00x2HESPqVnvkGbq1Ham5E17jk3I99v_pQyJxSX-ifLh_rwR0vCj-wt-4v/s320/monarchy_book_tour.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Follow the rest of the book tour!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>About the author:</b></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #343434;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gareth Russell is an historian and
writer from Belfast, Northern Ireland. He studied Modern History at the
University of Oxford and completed a postgraduate in medieval history at
Queen’s University, Belfast. He is the author of two novels and three non-fiction
books, including his most recent book, <i>A
History of the English Monarchy: From Boadicea to Elizabeth I</i>. He is
currently writing a biography of Queen Catherine Howard.</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #343434; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Be sure to take a look at Gareth's wonderful blog too, <a href="http://garethrussellcidevant.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Confessions of a Ci-Devant</a> </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #343434; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #343434; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Remember that if you'd like to win your own copy of the book leave a comment below with your email. Good luck!</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i></i></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i></i></span>
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The Medieval Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15682575257934473502noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1305563699277875807.post-65630726593844752922014-11-03T10:00:00.000+00:002014-11-03T10:13:35.243+00:00Guest Post by Kathryn Warner: Edward II's Rustic Pursuits<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>As a part of the blog tour for her newly published book <a href="http://www.amberleybooks.com/shop/article_9781445641201/Edward-II%3CBR%3EThe-Unconventional-King%3C_BR%3E%3CI%3EKathryn-Warner-with-a-Foreword-by-Ian-Mortimer%3CI%3E.html?sessid=E5JYoeQs2hUHCO75AawXkVtwZ8cckH3n77M1iPTA1hf4zbJ0ymEtmuLRQWiPWng5&shop_param=cid%3D77%26aid%3D9781445641201%26" target="_blank">Edward II: The Unconventional King</a>, I am delighted to welcome to The Medieval World historian Kathryn Warner, with a guest post on Edward II's Rustic Pursuits.</b><br />
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There were certain outdoor pursuits which most royal and noble men of the Middle Ages enjoyed: jousting, hunting and hawking. Participation in these activities was conventional and expected for men of a certain rank, but one king, however, preferred much more unusual hobbies. He was Edward II.<br />
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"From his youth he devoted himself in private to the art of rowing and driving carts, of digging ditches and thatching houses, as was commonly said, and also with his companions at night to various works of ingenuity and skill, and to other pointless trivial occupations unsuitable for the son of a king," commented the Lanercost chronicler disapprovingly. Edward II also loved building walls, swimming, rowing, hedging, working with wrought iron and shoeing horses, and not only did he enjoy such hobbies, he showed talent for them: the Scalacronica, a chronicle written by the son of a knight who had known Edward well, called him "very skilful in what he delighted to employ his hands upon."<br />
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Most unusually for the fourteenth century, Edward II loved being around water, swimming and rowing. In February 1303 before his accession, when he was eighteen, he had to pay four shillings in compensation to his Fool Robert Bussard or Buffard, because the two men went swimming together in the Thames at Windsor and Robert was injured in some way by "the trick the prince [of Wales] played on him in the water." In the autumn of 1315, Edward II spent a congenial month in the Fens with "a great company of common people," swimming and rowing on various lakes and waterways. To us this may sound like a healthy and relaxing holiday, but Edward's contemporaries were baffled and offended, and the Westminster chronicler talked of his "silly company of swimmers" and his "childish frivolities," and sarcastically declared that the king had gone to the Fens so that "he might refresh his soul with many waters."<br />
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In June 1314, Edward II humiliatingly lost the battle of Bannockburn to Robert Bruce, king of Scotland. A member of Edward's own household, Robert de Newington, was arrested for stating that nobody could have expected the king to win the battle when he spent all his time idling, digging and thatching. A clerk in Edward's service who wrote the Vita Edwardi Secundi (Life of Edward II) also wrote despairingly "If only he had given to arms the labour that he expended on rustic pursuits, he would have raised England aloft; his name would have resounded through the land." The king's willingness to "give himself up always to improper works and occupations" was deemed important enough to be mentioned at his deposition of January 1327 as one of the reasons for his unsuitability to be king, not only because such occupations were considered incompatible with his royal dignity, but because they led him "to neglect the business of his kingdom."<br />
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Some extant entries in Edward II's household accounts also provide a glimpse into his love of spending time with his common subjects and watching or taking part in their activities. In November 1322 near Doncaster, he stood by a river to watch ten fishermen fishing, shortly afterwards went to the forge at Temple Hirst in Yorkshire to chat to his blacksmith John Cole, and in May 1326 invited a group of shipwrights to stay with him at Kenilworth Castle. In August 1326, the king joined in when a group of men were hired to make hedges and a ditch in the park of Kenilworth Castle, and some weeks earlier had bought drinks for a group of men hired to clean the ditches around Edward's London manor of Burgundy "in the king's presence." There are many other such entries. All fourteenth-century chroniclers who describe Edward II's appearance comment on his enormous strength: "he was one of the strongest men in his realm"; "handsome in body and great of strength"; "tall and strong, a fine figure of a handsome man" and so on. Edward revelled in his strength and in his excellent health and fitness; he loved the outdoors and demanding physical exercise; he was as far removed from the caricatured feeble court fop he is depicted as in Braveheart and much modern fiction as any man possibly could be. Were he alive in our century, he would no doubt be admired as a king with the common touch and as an excellent role model to encourage his increasingly sedentary subjects to take up some exercise. Sadly for Edward II, he was born in the wrong era, and his favourite activities attracted little but bewildered and horrified contempt.<br />
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To find out more about Edward II have a look at Kathryn's new book; a biography of this much maligned king.</div>
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History has not been overly kind to Edward; having been subject to cutting criticism throughout his reign, he garnered a particularly poor reputation in the many years that followed. Today he is typically remembered for his inadequacy as a king, likely homosexuality, and of course <i>that </i>red hot poker. In The Unconventional King, Kathryn sets out to right some of these wrongs regarding his reputation, and the rumours that have surrounded him for centuries. She achieves this with great success; the unconventional king with the myths around him cleared, emerges as a man in his own right with a captivating life story.</div>
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The book is meticulously researched, and this shines through in every chapter. It proves to be a fascinating read and makes a refreshing change to read about this king's virtues, as well as his weaknesses as a ruler. </div>
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<b>The book is available for purchase now directly from <a href="http://www.amberleybooks.com/shop/article_9781445641201/Edward-II%3CBR%3EThe-Unconventional-King%3C_BR%3E%3CI%3EKathryn-Warner-with-a-Foreword-by-Ian-Mortimer%3CI%3E.html?sessid=BDIMPhTjq8UqFkiWZOmYYTGTuSye1490x6HYXtwDWTAbdlM91SiAF1TbkG2Shykk&shop_param=cid%3D1%26aid%3D9781445641201%26" target="_blank">Amberley Publishing</a>, or at <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Edward-II-The-Unconventional-King/dp/1445641208/" target="_blank">Amazon UK</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Edward-II-The-Unconventional-King/dp/1445641208/" target="_blank">Amazon US</a>, <a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/Edward-II-Kathryn-Warner/9781445641201" target="_blank">The Book Depository</a>, and <a href="http://bookshop.theguardian.com/" target="_blank">The Guardian Bookshop</a>.</b></div>
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<b>ISBN: 9781445641201 </b></div>
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<b>Format: Hardback; eBook.</b></div>
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<b>Visit Kathryn's blog here: <a href="http://edwardthesecond.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">http://edwardthesecond.blogspot.co.uk</a></b></div>
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<b>She can also be found on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/EdwardofCaernarfon" target="_blank">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/RoyneAlianore" target="_blank">Twitter</a></b></div>
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The Medieval Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15682575257934473502noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1305563699277875807.post-52680880395294085552014-10-09T10:00:00.000+01:002014-10-09T10:00:02.019+01:00The Headless Bishop: The Life of Saint Denis<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Y3ocB_6Sf5fIlf6EHqdOsGp0VdfaEvxOHCrEOrgKxzyubtrT7bT4blvoIkM3Ect9wpMHEtYhMerILV0-hKALKz6sgz-t-ScN7I7PqrJna7JZlCp0-VQic6nDzashsHEtS2gj4B3-SarC/s1600/denis+detail+crucifixion+of+the+parliament+of+paris.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Y3ocB_6Sf5fIlf6EHqdOsGp0VdfaEvxOHCrEOrgKxzyubtrT7bT4blvoIkM3Ect9wpMHEtYhMerILV0-hKALKz6sgz-t-ScN7I7PqrJna7JZlCp0-VQic6nDzashsHEtS2gj4B3-SarC/s1600/denis+detail+crucifixion+of+the+parliament+of+paris.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Detail of Saint Denis from <i>The Crucifixion of the Parliament of Paris</i>, c.1452, Paris, Mus<span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; text-align: left;">ée du Louvre.</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today being 9 October makes this the feast day of the patron saint of Paris, Saint Denis (variations include: Denys, and the Latin form Dionysius). But who was he, and what has he done to deserve this day of celebration? Well, Saint Denis is one of my personal favourite saints, and his story and makes rather interesting reading ...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's likely that Denis was born in Italy, but little else is known of his early life. He was one of a handful of bishops (including Rusticus and Eleutherius) that was sent by Pope Fabian to Gaul on an evangelical mission. The area had suffered greatly as a result of the Christian persecutions by the Roman Emperor Decius; these bishops were sent with the hope of restoring people's faith and allegiance to Christianity, which had been beginning to flourish there.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8VCcTvxY6E_kdV9VGXmxnuBUKw43hHqY1_rWG8EP7AZ6_RccOX6DgTK9lb0IXmBVIkTRmnVnCZlMP4ahyHwWHyFDvTWvg1h4tzeSa241mzwgA9YmJpx24gRGgFYs6gsS47iGjbSeuTRMz/s1600/christ+blessing+denis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8VCcTvxY6E_kdV9VGXmxnuBUKw43hHqY1_rWG8EP7AZ6_RccOX6DgTK9lb0IXmBVIkTRmnVnCZlMP4ahyHwWHyFDvTWvg1h4tzeSa241mzwgA9YmJpx24gRGgFYs6gsS47iGjbSeuTRMz/s1600/christ+blessing+denis.jpg" height="320" width="228" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Missal of Saint Denis</i>, c.1050 (Cod. Lat. 8878),<br /><span style="background-color: #f0f6ff; text-align: left;">Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglbrFzw5GJe4NhF6VtHkNTO2_xq-GVKESTTToC75r8WOcgHCa3Rvciptrm_KSlpV6MCfSLPTL7Q4QyiUgawz0FrQ4Y9Y_RiArHDGi5G9Z3q4OlhIsy34QC1oYMHEN7_B6Sbmd1ndkDW-OM/s1600/denis+preaching+to+paris.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglbrFzw5GJe4NhF6VtHkNTO2_xq-GVKESTTToC75r8WOcgHCa3Rvciptrm_KSlpV6MCfSLPTL7Q4QyiUgawz0FrQ4Y9Y_RiArHDGi5G9Z3q4OlhIsy34QC1oYMHEN7_B6Sbmd1ndkDW-OM/s1600/denis+preaching+to+paris.jpg" height="320" width="204" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">From <i>Life and Miracles of St Denis</i>, c.1317 (MS 2090-92),<br /><span style="background-color: #f0f6ff; text-align: left;">Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris.</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The group made their way to the Roman city Lutetia (modern day Paris) and settled on</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">an island in the Seine (</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Île de la Cité)</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span>where they began preaching to the locals. The image above-left depicts Denis and his companions preaching to the people of Paris, it is from a 14C manuscript dedicated to his life. The preaching was quite a success for the group, however the local pagan priests were concerned by the number of conversions to Christianity. Denis and his companions were captured and tortured as a result. There are several accounts written at a later date of the extravagant tortures they had to endure, such as being scourged, racked, and thrown to wild beasts. However, in spite of his pain Denis refused to denounce Christianity and so it was decided that he, along with his loyal companions Rusticus and Eleutherius, would be sentenced to death by beheading. The c.1050 image above-right shows Christ blessing the trio in prison before their martyrdom.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdrb1qGnNnAlHxtm0i_DvXFxheVN6N04xNWwQmpn-S9nfCRmjpJfkYzq6mF9qzwe6DsQr24oARQLYRRfgRbb3zvGRhpaNaVBcv_iYv-YG1PtzA7ZzxfK0s62Aw2HyF_twBa5BP-YgIiGhY/s1600/saint+denis+pantheon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdrb1qGnNnAlHxtm0i_DvXFxheVN6N04xNWwQmpn-S9nfCRmjpJfkYzq6mF9qzwe6DsQr24oARQLYRRfgRbb3zvGRhpaNaVBcv_iYv-YG1PtzA7ZzxfK0s62Aw2HyF_twBa5BP-YgIiGhY/s1600/saint+denis+pantheon.jpg" height="237" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Mural of Saint Denis picking up his decapitated head, at Place du Pantheon, Paris.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The three faithful Christians were taken to the highest hill in Paris (now known as Montmartre) to be beheaded. According to legend, Denis was so devout that even death would not stop him. He simply picked up his stray head and gave it a rinse in a nearby stream, then proceeded to walk for 6 miles whilst still carrying his head and preaching the word of God. In the place where he eventually collapsed and died a small shrine was built in his honour, later to be replaced by the Basilica of Saint Denis.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As well as being the patron saint of Paris (alongside Saint Genevieve), Saint Denis can be invoked to cure headaches. Imagery of him often depicts him as headless and carrying his own head. Here are some examples:</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHBwhQK0C6P1XYgciVDwy4lyfXFydW-tyc7HcIRNEYqlfxSAqsvpjJ228szdqdkEF_K5wDEw_5St-Z58664WcpsWFB0e_e7aP7QQIg8LopeOVrLJzYKIDwgSH_gAOSYtePw83nU2S2ICLe/s1600/denis+notre+dame.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHBwhQK0C6P1XYgciVDwy4lyfXFydW-tyc7HcIRNEYqlfxSAqsvpjJ228szdqdkEF_K5wDEw_5St-Z58664WcpsWFB0e_e7aP7QQIg8LopeOVrLJzYKIDwgSH_gAOSYtePw83nU2S2ICLe/s1600/denis+notre+dame.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">A headless Saint Denis at the left portal of the Notre Dame de Paris.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXr3EC4cNUDXknLX8s3PByF3jym-0RnqBI7jXNp9rbIOTciLUU5oInPXH9PZiw9mBx2h1B4ddjhw5OZBXmuwHwO-DqxWh-AlfQ6R_wHFG5ECfy8IsBt9ofAHNxtseGieSPQSAvroyNLsA3/s1600/statue+of+saint+denis.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXr3EC4cNUDXknLX8s3PByF3jym-0RnqBI7jXNp9rbIOTciLUU5oInPXH9PZiw9mBx2h1B4ddjhw5OZBXmuwHwO-DqxWh-AlfQ6R_wHFG5ECfy8IsBt9ofAHNxtseGieSPQSAvroyNLsA3/s1600/statue+of+saint+denis.JPG" height="400" width="223" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Statue of a headless Saint Denis at the Mus<span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; text-align: left;">ée du </span><span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #252525; line-height: 17.3185615539551px; text-align: left;">Moyen Âge, Paris.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiOjk7OOG6h8SE02rRbAQeTen00H7XbQNRZSktltWham7exmw0AygtHus98yuIfK79w-LeZ0lhuzpBzkpcI3pkB2e0kn_avFvjg49mmtzbWCYZZgtNIcc4EakdMgm2KUHfMQOg1ivLpawh/s1600/denis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiOjk7OOG6h8SE02rRbAQeTen00H7XbQNRZSktltWham7exmw0AygtHus98yuIfK79w-LeZ0lhuzpBzkpcI3pkB2e0kn_avFvjg49mmtzbWCYZZgtNIcc4EakdMgm2KUHfMQOg1ivLpawh/s1600/denis.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Denis holding the top of his severed head, from a Picture Bible (f.28v) c.1190.<br />Manuscript (76 F 5), <span style="background-color: #f0f6ff; text-align: left;">Koninklijke Bibliotheek, The Hague.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmsA-4-PqzvgMfq4H_MQGnk0jLNToRBfD0kQdLsKovzRHFJ0E6yEaSNpEaKl89ryVWT-S0pH0KGcyLlL6VLj6M6BdBRYvizuveNDYJgUKsepqIpMaNl-YacuAnrIxPkl_esFmfk963ysD7/s1600/denis+book+of+hours.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmsA-4-PqzvgMfq4H_MQGnk0jLNToRBfD0kQdLsKovzRHFJ0E6yEaSNpEaKl89ryVWT-S0pH0KGcyLlL6VLj6M6BdBRYvizuveNDYJgUKsepqIpMaNl-YacuAnrIxPkl_esFmfk963ysD7/s1600/denis+book+of+hours.jpg" height="400" width="275" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Boucicaut Master, <i>Saint Denis </i>(fol. 31v), in Book of Hours (Ms. 2), c.1410-15.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8-IRJfnuy7cfOjWOi4DPxQ001KrTakLrlm-nPooHWkJM_fxeoxRYflPIksmqaMZZdSEVUhqFdWAvy50Q95GRtWvYZhO1sZWBEQ3xRe9VZBEw5zax7fznPxEf4eQJ1wadYvZlzlmAYWikN/s1600/basilique+saint+denis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8-IRJfnuy7cfOjWOi4DPxQ001KrTakLrlm-nPooHWkJM_fxeoxRYflPIksmqaMZZdSEVUhqFdWAvy50Q95GRtWvYZhO1sZWBEQ3xRe9VZBEw5zax7fznPxEf4eQJ1wadYvZlzlmAYWikN/s1600/basilique+saint+denis.jpg" height="283" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">The beheading of Saint Denis, from the tympanum of the north portal of the Basilica of Saint Denis.</span></td></tr>
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<br />The Medieval Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15682575257934473502noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1305563699277875807.post-9458512292090631842014-05-04T23:30:00.001+01:002014-05-05T00:27:31.431+01:00Book Review: Defending the City of God, by Sharan Newman<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCtujgxtZqyGwV5awofpxaWNhfm1GmML14iSDZo6buzmPl08mK1sj4CGBCRRkT8t0QIUkkUSr4YYgN0ytxI4zBg0hPNpfznEGNoH2jzmj7z9gmXdmlOvjt42y7FS6V0je7q_YXKPajGxPW/s1600/defending-the-city-of-god-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCtujgxtZqyGwV5awofpxaWNhfm1GmML14iSDZo6buzmPl08mK1sj4CGBCRRkT8t0QIUkkUSr4YYgN0ytxI4zBg0hPNpfznEGNoH2jzmj7z9gmXdmlOvjt42y7FS6V0je7q_YXKPajGxPW/s1600/defending-the-city-of-god-2.jpg" height="400" width="261" /></a></div>
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Defending the City of God: A Medieval Queen, The First Crusades, and the Quest for Peace in Jerusalem</h3>
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By Sharan Newman</h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Palgrave Macmillan, 2014</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">ISBN: </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">978-1137278654</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Format: Hardcover; eBook</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After the reconquest of Jerusalem in 1099 AD, the surviving crusaders
had two choices: either return to Europe, or create a home in the Holy Land. A
large number chose to stay and forge a new life in one of the newly established
Crusader States. This book, written by Sharan Newman, focuses on these people,
and in particular, the lives of the children that they raised there.</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Newman has chosen Queen Melisende of Jerusalem to represent the children
of the first crusaders who were born and raised in the East. The queen’s parents
were: Morfia, an Eastern Christian and
member of the Armenian nobility; and Baldwin of Le Bourq, a French crusader who
settled in the Holy Land and was given the title of Count of Edessa, before
eventually being elected King of Jerusalem in 1118. Newman frequently
emphasises this to the reader throughout the text. She also highlights the fact
that Melisende was born and raised in the Holy Land; it’s a good point that
provides a fresh perspective, and something that can easily be forgotten when
historians write of the ‘Franks’ in the Crusader States.</span></span><br />
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="background: white; color: #333333; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The lives of Melisende and her sisters are the backbone of this book,
and the queen’s lifespan c.1105-61 AD provides a natural time frame. The chapters
progress roughly chronologically, with a few deviations when necessary. They
are divided according to significant events in the Latin States, or personal
ones related to the lives of Melisende and her sisters. They also touch upon
the impact of these events on the lives of the local population during this
period. As a result of this the narrative is unsurprisingly required to flit
from place to place, or between events. Inevitably this does hinder the flow of
the book somewhat, and can make it a little confusing at times. However, Newman
holds things together well by writing very clearly, and makes a confusing subject
for those new to it less so as a result.</span></span><br />
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="background: white; color: #333333; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chapter One sets the scene with a discussion chiefly of the first crusaders
and those who settled afterwards, and an outline of recent events in the area.
I thought it was excellent that Newman pointed out that there had been
countless wars in the region between many different peoples; the crusaders were
just another overlord in a long succession. She writes: ‘To the shepherds,
farmers, and their families life didn't change much. There was a time of
tumult, punctuated by terror, then a new master who wanted the same taxes.’
This touches upon recent lines of thought, but a footnote or comment upon other
works was rather missed. Nonetheless, it was very encouraging to see it
discussed as it is important in understanding the dynamics of the newly formed
Latin States. The second chapter spends a good proportion discussing Melisende’s
mother, Morfia. Very little has been written of her before, so this
well-researched section makes particularly interesting reading. The following
few chapters proceed with a narrative of Baldwin II’s role in political events
between the states, and the constant struggle at the time to defend their
borders. Throughout, Newman comments upon the daily lives of people living in
Jerusalem in particular, and how the continuous struggles impacted upon them.</span></span><br />
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="background: white; color: #333333; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From Chapter Ten onwards the focus of the narrative shifts from
Melisende’s parents to the soon-to-be queen, and her sisters. The future arrangement
for Baldwin and Morfia’s four daughters (Melisende, Hodierna, Alice, and
Yvette) are discussed, and with this comes the decision of Fulk V of Anjou for
Melisende’s husband. An insightful contextual background of Fulk is provided,
along with an account of the lengthy marriage discussions between him and
Baldwin II. Throughout the following few chapters Newman discusses key events
connected to Alice, and the rebellion and subsequent murder of Hugh of Jaffa,
and how this impacted upon the dynamics between Fulk and Melisende. She rightly
places a constant emphasis upon Melisende’s right to rule; the royal bloodline
was through her and not her husband.</span></span><br />
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="background: white; color: #333333; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">During the final three chapters the text shifts focus once more, this
time to relations between the queen and her firstborn son Baldwin (III). Fulk
had died unexpectedly in a hunting accident leaving Melisende with two sons,
both of whom were under the age deemed fit to rule (15). Upon Baldwin II’s
death, Melisende, her husband Fulk, and their son Baldwin were all named joint
heirs to the throne. Therefore when Fulk died, technically Melisende and
Baldwin III were equal rulers in the eyes of the law; with Melisende acting
foremost due to Baldwin being under age. Newman comes at this situation with a
refreshing argument. She frequently stresses Melisende’s right to rule once
more, and reasons that the later power struggle between the queen and her son
was more to do with his lack of apparent military ability, and therefore a
concern for her kingdom, than a desire to cling on to power. The latter is
something that has been argued with vigour by Hans E. Mayer in his article ‘Studies
in the History of Queen Melisende of Jerusalem’. Newman makes good use of both charter
evidence and the chronicles (particularly William of Tyre), to make a
convincing counter-argument to Mayer.</span></span><br />
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="background: white; color: #333333; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Newman uses a good mixture of the limited available sources, including
Islamic accounts of events in addition to the much used Latin/French and Greek
ones. I found it a slight shame that the final chapter dealt with a period much
longer than the rest (1150-61). In my opinion, this was the period in Melisende’s
life that was most relevant to one of the central proposed themes of the book;
the suggestion that Melisende’s actions were based upon a belief that her son
was not yet ready to rule alone. In addition to this, Newman wrote that she
believed negative portrayals of Melisende were a result of what has been
written about her by historians, and not by her contemporaries. The negative
qualities written about her have been largely based upon her actions during the
period of the final chapter, and so it might have been more satisfying if
Newman had spent more time addressing events such as the following in greater
detail: the civil war in the Kingdom of Jerusalem; and the arguable side-lining
of Baldwin III through her second son Amalric’s inclusion in the charters at
this time, and his appointment as Count of Jaffa. Despite this the book is very
thorough in its detail and is written in a casual manner that is easy to read. Newman frequently raises minor points that really paint a
vivid picture of the time in the reader’s mind; little details that humanise the
people she is writing about. For example, when commenting upon the fall of
Edessa she reminds the reader that this was Melisende’s childhood home. Whilst
some of these details are merely speculative, some do have a sound basis and they
provide good food for thought.</span></span><br />
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="background: white; color: #333333; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Overall, this is a thoroughly researched and clearly written book, and a
much-needed recent contribution to the secondary works on Queen Melisende of
Jerusalem. It provides a refreshing
perspective on the internal and external troubles of the Latin States in the
early twelfth century, by considering how these struggles impacted upon its
residents. A general reader with an interest in this period would find the book
extremely insightful.</span></span><br />
<br />The Medieval Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15682575257934473502noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1305563699277875807.post-82179757496751218832013-11-04T00:38:00.000+00:002013-11-04T00:38:01.818+00:00Saint-Émilion<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Whilst I was staying in Bordeaux I went on a little day trip to the nearby medieval town Saint-Émilion. For anybody else planning on doing this I would advise to not book one of the tours that run from Bordeaux, which are pretty steep at around </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">€80</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">. Instead, you can catch a local bus (I can't remember the number, sorry. Just ask in the Bordeaux tourist office) which runs twice a day each way in peak season. Then once you are there you have the freedom to wander around the town as you like, or you can choose from a selection of tours at tourist office in the town itself. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In 8C AD the town's population was still sufficiently small enough for a monk named Émilion to take up residence there in a hermitage carved into the rock. It was the monks who followed him that started the commercial production of wines from here, which the now UNESCO town became known for. If you choose to go on the monuments tour (which I <i>highly</i> recommend!) you will be taken to this hermitage. It is a very small cross-shaped cave which had restoration and extension work during the 17C. Inside there is </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Émilion's stone 'armchair' which was cut into the rock, and a small spring runs through near to the entrance. According to legend, this spring was originally located much further downhill, but miraculously moved in order to provide the hermit with some comfort!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Above from the hermitage is the Holy Trinity Chapel which dates to the 13C. The picture below is of the decorated vaulted ceiling. You're also taken to see this on the monuments tour.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">During the medieval period of the town (exact dating is unknown) a monolithic church was dug into the rock. At 38 metres long and 20 metres wide, it is the largest one of its kind in Europe. The picture to the right shows the 14C entrance which was made to replace an earlier more narrow one; you can also see the three story bell tower. The picture below is a close-up of the church's tympanum of the Last Judgement and the Resurrection of the Dead. </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO7-4t0cME9zHn4Tz4g7TyWBZH0OMoIyBj4QIhAKZCAHzuREJiHhNOoZEVJH7iSqTjzlvK_xtjnLiLbNnvO9-GeNudQz3nbSbeEQNd8b45HTK5yoj_1Bt0872TkQYqdhBsKic6EWXio8rJ/s1600/IMG_0568.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO7-4t0cME9zHn4Tz4g7TyWBZH0OMoIyBj4QIhAKZCAHzuREJiHhNOoZEVJH7iSqTjzlvK_xtjnLiLbNnvO9-GeNudQz3nbSbeEQNd8b45HTK5yoj_1Bt0872TkQYqdhBsKic6EWXio8rJ/s400/IMG_0568.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">On the monuments tour you enter first through the catacombs, and then proceed through to the main church. I believe that the only way to visit the inside of the church, catacombs, and the hermitage is on the monuments tour which you book at the tourist office. The only downside was that no photographs were allowed. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The inside of the church was really impressive. There are a few remnants of surviving frescos, and a wonderful low relief of what appeared to be a man, some sort of dragon, and a musician. It was well worth the visit! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This is another of Saint-Émilion's steep hills! I was told that the stones for some of the cobbled medieval streets arrived as a result of the wine trade with England. Wine was shipped over to Cornwall and then the barrels were weighted down for the return journey by pebbles and stones from the beaches. </span><div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The Great Wall, not looking so great in my rather pitiful photo; apologies! It is the remains of a 13C Dominican convent.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I don't rally feel like I've captured the true charm of Saint-</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Émilion in these pictures. It was just the most spectacular place to visit! I felt like I was surrounded by history in every step that I took around the winding cobbled streets. As I said at the start of the post, if you are visiting the area I strongly recommend taking the time out to visit this completely beautiful town.</span></div>
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The Medieval Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15682575257934473502noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1305563699277875807.post-65254997606516573422013-10-21T15:34:00.000+01:002013-10-21T15:34:09.048+01:00Bordeaux<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The first stop on my travels this Summer was Bordeaux in Southern France. Here are some photos of a few of the medieval places that I visited whilst I was here:</span><br />
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<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Porte Calihau</b><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This beautiful gateway to the city was constructed in the late 15C and dedicated to King Charles VII after his victory at Fornovo di Taro in 1495. It became the traditional point of entry for the King and other prestigious people. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It has two floors which you can enter. The first floor is free and contains a small display about the history of the gate. I believe there is a very small fee to pay to enter the second floor (I may be wrong as it's been a while since I was here, but I think this could have been why I didn't go up there!) but I heard that there is a nice view from up here. The photo below left shows the join where the old town walls used to be.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">From the display on the first floor</span></td></tr>
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<b style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">St. André's Cathedral</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The original church was consecrated by Pope Urban II in 1096 when he came here to preach for the First Crusade. However, only a small section of this church remains. It was in this first large church that Eleanor of Aquitaine married Louis VII of France in 1137. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The main entrance (The Royal Door)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The tympanum of the Royal Door</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Renaissance bas-relief of the 'Descent into the Underworld', possibly including Pluto and Persephone.</span></td></tr>
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<b style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">La Grosse Cloche</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This was added in the 15C to the remains of the 13C fortified gate of St. Eloi. It became established as a symbol of the city, and is still on the city's coat of arms. The entrance was also once known as the Porte Sainte-James due to the steady stream of pilgrims who passed through en route to Santiago de Compostela. According to locals when the golden lion atop it faces the river she is thirsty, and you should expect rain!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Mus</b></span><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">ée d'Aquitaine</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Museum of Aquitaine houses objects and documents from the history of Bordeaux and Aquitaine. Definitely worth a visit if you're in Bordeaux.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Take a look at:</span></b><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.musee-aquitaine-bordeaux.fr/en" target="_blank">Musee d'Aquitaine webpage</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.bordeaux-tourisme.com/pl/index.pl?langueSelected=uk" target="_blank">Office de Tourisme de Bordeaux</a></span></li>
<li><a href="http://www.bordeaux-tourisme.com/images/pdf/plan_touristique_bordeaux.pdf" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;" target="_blank">Link to a tourist map of Bordeaux</a></li>
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The Medieval Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15682575257934473502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1305563699277875807.post-53136334438706298842013-08-12T17:53:00.001+01:002013-09-22T17:53:21.774+01:00Fontevraud Abbey<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Hello everyone! On my way from Poitiers to Paris I decided to detour and stay overnight in Saumur, then catch the bus from there to Fontevraud Abbey (for anyone planning on doing this, the bus departs from the Saumur train station bus/coach stops. It's called agglobus ligne 1B and runs 2-3 times per day in the Summer both ways). Saumur itself looks like a lovely town and has its own chateaux, but unfortunately I've not had the time to explore that too.</div>
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The main reason I came was to visit Fontevraud Abbey ... and it was more than worth it! It was absolutely beautiful. Walking around, even though there were plenty of tourists about, it still had an air of calm about the place. </div>
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The site was founded in 1101 by Robert d'Arbrissel with an aim of creating an idealised religious community; somewhere that men, women, the wealthy, the poor, nobles, or outcasts, could come together in a community with a unified dedication to God. </div>
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It's perhaps best known now however, for housing the effigies of Eleanor of Aquitaine, her son Richard the Lionheart, and second husband Henry II of England. It is nestled in a peaceful nook of the Loire valley in France at a meeting point of both Eleanor and Henry's lands. Both had connections with Fontevraud during their lives. Henry's aunt was the abbey's second abbess (Matilda of Anjou), and Eleanor retired there during the final years of her life and eventually took vows to become a nun. </div>
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Here are some photographs of this gorgeous place:</div>
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The cobbled pathway to the main entrance </div>
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The entrance</div>
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Some decorative features </div>
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Eleanor of Aquitaine and Henry II of England</div>
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Richard the Lionheart and Isabella of Angoulême (wife of King John of England)</div>
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The remains of a fresco of Raymond VII, Count of Toulouse (grandson to Eleanor and Henry)</div>
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This wonderful section used to be the kitchens</div>
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The Medieval Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15682575257934473502noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1305563699277875807.post-27342175827870431892012-08-02T16:32:00.001+01:002012-08-02T16:32:49.919+01:00Guest Post by Amy Ellis-Thompson: Manuscript culture: poets, scribes and compilers or the modsnottor mon of the medieval manuscript<br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Consideration of the medieval
manuscript is not merely that of a single hand in an isolated monastery,
etching words of devotion into a well-treated animal hide, but a train of
investigation that spans the entire medieval period. Manuscript culture applies
to all literary production before the introduction of the printing press, from
Germany into England by William Caxton in the 1470s. Although early medieval
manuscripts were primarily religious and Latinate, the four extant vernacular
poetic codices (Exeter, Vercelli, Cotton Vitellius or ‘Beowulf’ and Junius) contain
between them the entire gamut of Old English literature that we read today.
Late Medieval manuscript culture considers the parallel existence of print and
manuscript in the 14<sup>th</sup> and 15<sup>th</sup> century. As print became
dominant, the scribal system fell into disuse, and the use of ‘rude speche’ and
‘olde bookes’ was homogenised into the faster-moving dissemination of printed
pamphlets and sonnet sequences. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtp2wgyUCDnKV544Z0vze6aEerkHhpyQDt5YujdPT0qKwUu_-_Mv5GWBkcR8HEN2ceb7avALNwRAPpLgTq64QAchBTP9_b9AuCxfEaf7WAo7Kns7YYZrCWn639_44yKHbYo3K6SAu-rWHA/s1600/Guest1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtp2wgyUCDnKV544Z0vze6aEerkHhpyQDt5YujdPT0qKwUu_-_Mv5GWBkcR8HEN2ceb7avALNwRAPpLgTq64QAchBTP9_b9AuCxfEaf7WAo7Kns7YYZrCWn639_44yKHbYo3K6SAu-rWHA/s320/Guest1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Scop poetry in the Old English <i>Exeter Book</i></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The manuscript itself
problematizes our modern perception of both book and author. Authorship in the
Anglo-Saxon period was not of the importance it is today, so the textual
production and culture of the Old English poem comes to the fore in the absence
of an authorial biography. The compiler of a manuscript<i> florilegium</i> (excerpts of other writing; literally a gathering of flowers)
does not seek to present a single authorial voice, but constructs a complete
entity from a diverse selection of vernacular poetry. The codices of Old
English poetry are often themselves hearkening back to tradition: gatherings of
poems based on earlier oral traditions of a scop or Anglo-Saxon minstrel. Such
self-conscious references to orality (seen, for example in the scop poems<i> Deor</i> and <i>Widsith</i> of the Exeter Cathedral Library MS 3501, compiled c. 950)
makes the <i>Exeter Book</i> a collective
product of the Anglo-Saxon imagination. Despite
the restricted literacy of tenth century Anglo-Saxon England, the codex was
written within a literate, monastic context, drawing upon secular and religious
sources for its Christian readership. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The important consideration for
the modern reader is that there is no single author of the codex: when we read
the <i>Exeter Book</i> we are considering a
manuscript arranged by a compiler. This may or may not be the same person as
the single scribe who copied out all of the poems over a length of time, who
differs again from the original poets of each text, who may have written the
texts generations apart. There may potentially be more than fifty authors of
the <i>Exeter Book</i>. Without explicit
information regarding the original composition of each poem, they can be
considered within the context of a single volume: the arrangement in which they
have been placed by the compiler. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">The other three extant Anglo-Saxon vernacular
poetic codices – the Vercelli, Cotton Vitellius or ‘Beowulf’, and Junius manuscripts
– are also florilegia, although arguably not as diverse in theme and style</span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">.</i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"> The </span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Exeter Book</i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"> ranges from the Christology beginning the codex through
saint’s lives, elegiac narratives, maxims, riddles, a bestiary triptych and
homilies, entirely in verse. Although the </span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Exeter
Book</i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"> is the most diverse collective example of early vernacular poetry,
there is a lack of uniformity to all four codices.</span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Beowulf </i>begins:
immortal lines from the Cotton Vitellius manuscript</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The structure of a single
manuscript, and the compilation of a diverse range of poetry, is tantamount to
a consideration of what that codex offers the reader. The ordering of the
manuscript, in the absence of any information about the original authors of the
poems, can help us make sense of what the compiler of, for example, the <i>Exeter Book</i> is trying to achieve, what
wisdom can be gained from reading the manuscript as a whole from start to
finish. Basically, what the point of the entire codex is. Palaeographical and
codicological evidence (see Patrick Conner) has shown that the <i>Exeter Book</i> codex is made of three
separate manuscript booklets. However, it is not written in stone (or etched on
pig-hide) what literary issues bind each booklet as one entity within the
entire codex. Each reader, considering the literary themes of the poetry of the
<i>Exeter Book</i> alongside the
codicological facts of how the manuscript as a physical book was put together,
may come up with different suggestions to this engaging riddle.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">From
the 10<sup>th</sup> to the 14<sup>th</sup> century, the medieval manuscript
exists in a very different context. The monastic scribe and Christian emphasis
shifted into a commercial venture. The 14<sup>th</sup> C illuminated Auchinleck
manuscript, for example, allows us to raise issues of authorship and identity
on a different level to that of the Old English <i>Exeter Book</i>. It is a collection of Middle English lays, copied by
four of five different scribes, and its use of both the vernacular and
impressive illuminations suggest it is a commercial venture. L.H. Loomis
proposed the production of the Auchinleck manuscript in a London ‘bookshop.’
Recent criticism has suggested that the scribes were not working in a physical ‘bookshop’
under one roof, but were operating under similar scribal principles. There is
an undeniable sense of unity and ordering throughout the entire manuscript. The
use of the vernacular shows issues of national, rather than authorial identity:
England struggling to reclaim its language and identity over three hundred
years after the Norman Conquest. Like the <i>Exeter
Book</i>, the Auchinleck MS tells its own story of culture, authorship and the
literature being read by a pre-Chaucerian generation</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Eye-catching: the visually appealing pages of the Auchinleck
Manuscript, containing Middle English lays for the 14<sup>th</sup> C secular
reader.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 17px;">The medieval manuscript allows us to read more than Old or Middle English literature: it allows us to read the medieval reader themselves. Manuscript annotations show us which elements of a medieval text were emphasised or even disputed. The 15</span><sup style="line-height: 17px;">th</sup><span style="line-height: 17px;"> C red-ink annotations on the 14</span><sup style="line-height: 17px;">th</sup><span style="line-height: 17px;"> C Middle English devotional vernacular prose text </span><i style="line-height: 17px;">The Book of Margery Kempe</i><span style="line-height: 17px;"> (see Kelly Parsons) provide us with a laymen’s reading alongside a text scribed by Carthusian monks. The annotations in red ink underline and repeat for emphasis words in the text referring to ‘seculer pepil,’ and women, as well as the readers own ‘amen amen amen(s)’ of affective piety in the margins. Not only do we have a medieval spiritual biography, but a record of the particular chords it struck with a late medieval reader.</span>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>The Book of Margery
Kempe</i>: annotations in different hands add small drawings and comments
around the text.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;">Manuscript study allows us to
read around the words of the Old or Middle English poem itself, considering
poets, scribes, compilers and annotators, as well as the culture of textual
production, to consider ‘authorship’ in an entirely different and fascinating way.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;"><i>Amy Ellis-Thompson is an MA student in Medieval Literatures at the University of York. Contact email: amy.ellisthompson@gmail.com</i></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Further Reading:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Brown, Michelle P. ‘Anglo-Saxon
Manuscript Production: Issues of Making and Using,’ in <i>A Companion to Anglo-Saxon Literature</i>, eds. Philip Pulsiano and
Elaine Treharne (Oxford: Blackwell Publishers, 2001).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Conner, Patrick W. ‘The Structure
of the Exeter Book Codex (Exeter Cathedral Library MS 3501)’, in <i>Anglo-Saxon Manuscripts: Basic Readings</i>,
ed. M. P. Richards (London, Garland Publishing, 1994), pp. 301-315.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Jayatilaka, Rohini. ‘Old English
Manuscripts and Readers,’ in <i>A Companion
to Medieval Poetry</i>, ed., Corinne Saunders (Wiley and Sons: Oxford, 2010),
pp.51-64.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Lerer, Seth. <i>Literacy and Power in Anglo-Saxon Literature</i> (London: University of
Nebraska Press, 1991).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Parsons, Kelly. Kerby-Fulton, Kathyrn and Hilmo, Maidie ed.,
'The Red-Ink Annotator of <i>The Book of
Margery Kempe</i> and his Lay Audience,' in <i>The
Medieval Professional Reader at Work: Evidence from Manuscripts of Chaucer,
Langland, Kempe and Gower</i>, (Canada: Victoria, 2001), p. 143.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Shonk, T.A. ‘A Study of the
Auchinleck Manuscript: Bookmen and Bookmaking in the Early Fourteenth Century,’<i> Speculum</i>, 60 (1985) pp. 71-91.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span>The Medieval Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15682575257934473502noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1305563699277875807.post-19967300604579691072012-07-25T21:17:00.000+01:002012-07-25T21:17:31.489+01:00Guest Post: Historical Writing in Medieval England: A Very Short Introduction - Michael Tansini<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">When people think of medieval literature, they
think of the Knights of King Arthur searching for the holy grail, hordes of
Vikings running around various parts of Europe, and Beowulf overcoming the
monstrous Grendel (and, if the 2008 film starring Ray Winstone is to be
believed, overcoming some pretty serious Oedipal issues). The idea of some
medieval monk or cleric writing genealogical histories does not filter through
to public consciousness, or, if it does, it is only before a Monty Python-esque
giant foot stomps on the poor writer. However to ignore historical writing in
the Middle Ages, and especially writing in England is to ignore some of the
most exciting literature of the whole period.</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_AJo99bR_se93l7PbVbNFsZQ0dpNMQwS6OvCRKUL_-iyRBrEMqi3tcp5nLnHfLewlwIkoKOR-dWzqkBfwyd7zeYmxNfWpVEkPGG_89mHJSIO3m7lvd-7Knuea4EFQIfjMEbyfREfVq0bg/s1600/guest+post+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_AJo99bR_se93l7PbVbNFsZQ0dpNMQwS6OvCRKUL_-iyRBrEMqi3tcp5nLnHfLewlwIkoKOR-dWzqkBfwyd7zeYmxNfWpVEkPGG_89mHJSIO3m7lvd-7Knuea4EFQIfjMEbyfREfVq0bg/s320/guest+post+1.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;">(Alas, there are no historical writings about the Giant Foot outbreak of 1178)</span> </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">When we think of history today, it is of dates and events and people that can be clearly traced with historical records and archaeological evidence. In the High Middle Ages (roughly late 11</span><sup style="background-color: white; text-align: left;">th</sup><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;"> to early 14</span><sup style="background-color: white; text-align: left;">th</sup><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;"> century) it was different. Many noble families, especially in Norman England and France, could barely trace back their family line three of four generations. The lost grandeur of Rome inspired many to attempt to create an ancestral link to justify their present rule. Moreover the Norman invasion of England had resulted in the overthrow of English government. Though the basic Anglo-Saxon administrative framework remained, English religious leaders and landowners were removed in favour of Norman ones; the English language, which had been unique in Europe for featuring a good deal of historical writing, rapidly fell out of use. So in the twelfth century, when historians such as John (or Florence, depending on which critic you believe) of Worcester, Henry of Huntingdon and Eadmer, start writing histories of Britain, and in particular the Anglo-Saxon ‘English’, it must be seen in the context of radical societal upheaval.</span> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpnon78w-ZfP4C_W5QI3EaWVBQz10dKYyPGuswCf9MM2ox5tYX7HPz0u51LwIwlRe63nla6BswLSIbWYncrzbCY8ghOBq9Zmj2SP5C7NjjChgSkO_rrNtNwyYcAlV_oYs150KEo0Pwxlcm/s1600/guest+post+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpnon78w-ZfP4C_W5QI3EaWVBQz10dKYyPGuswCf9MM2ox5tYX7HPz0u51LwIwlRe63nla6BswLSIbWYncrzbCY8ghOBq9Zmj2SP5C7NjjChgSkO_rrNtNwyYcAlV_oYs150KEo0Pwxlcm/s320/guest+post+2.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">(A Medieval scribe,
looking bored)</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Nor is this historical
writing limited to the English. Orderic Vitalis was an Anglo-Norman clergyman
whose monumental ‘Ecclesiastical History’ is symptomatic of divided loyalties.
He praises Henry I as a lion but condemns William the Conqueror for his
Harrying of the North and describes the Norman subjugation as a ‘yoke’. Geoffrey of Monmouth’s ‘History of the Kings
of Britain’ is often derided as falsifying and myth-making but it also
represents an attempt by Welsh Britons to commemorate their own history that
English writers (like Henry of Huntingdon) have ignored). Geoffrey was the
first writer to depict King Arthur as we recognise him, and his depiction of
Arthur’s life and Merlin’s Prophecies were the foundation for the growth in
Arthurian literature.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Even works now considered literary had a strong
historical background. It is important to note that while there was the
difference between ‘fabula’, roughly translating to a story and a ‘historia’,
history, these genre boundaries were far from fluid. Thus the writers Wace and
Gaimar wrote literary stories about the history of England in Anglo-Norman
which contain clear genealogical elements in addition to their underappreciated
literary merit. And Jordan Fantosme’s Chronicle, though often shelved in the
history section of a university library, uses a flexible metrical structure,
dashing heroic speeches and bloody battles in a portrayal of Henry II’s war
against the Scots.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBdDkgmfySUutV6o_0-YunVD3GfNHtj9IJDPMBZmmU2pMlJzPcK5IKr0OvHi3s_dCVNte77ZNTKP05ibb7W4AuYfMFkIFAIwETnrbxR9fGWeE0RQfvAEZkgbUznhjd528uYqpnX03OItOB/s1600/guest+post+3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBdDkgmfySUutV6o_0-YunVD3GfNHtj9IJDPMBZmmU2pMlJzPcK5IKr0OvHi3s_dCVNte77ZNTKP05ibb7W4AuYfMFkIFAIwETnrbxR9fGWeE0RQfvAEZkgbUznhjd528uYqpnX03OItOB/s320/guest+post+3.png" width="190" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">(Henry II in less
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This can only be a
rudimentary sketch of the exciting and (from a literary perspective)
underappreciated burst of historical writing in England. I have not mentioned
the historical writers of the thirteenth century, notably Matthew Paris, nor
the wealth of writing on the Continent. It is a type of writing which
undermines genre, ethnic national boundaries as quickly as these boundaries are
set up, and I cannot recommend it highly enough.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>Michael Tansini is an MA student in Medieval
Literatures at the University of York</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Eadmer, <i>Lives and Miracles</i> trans. and ed. Muir
and Turner (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 2006)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Gaimar, <i>Estoire des Engleis</i>, trans. and ed. Ian
Short. (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Geoffrey of Monmouth, <i>History of the Kings of Britain</i>, trans.
and ed. Lewis Thorpe (Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1977)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Henry of Huntingdon, <i>History of the English People 1000-1154</i>,
trans. and ed. Diana Greenway (Oxford: OUP), 2009<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">John of Worcester, <i>Chronicle</i>, trans. and ed. McGur, 3
volumes. (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1998)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Jordan De Fantosme, <i>Chronicle</i> ed. R.C Johnson (Oxford:
Clarendon Press, 1981)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Orderic Vitalis, <i>Ecclesiastical History</i> trans. and ed.
Marjorie Chibnall 6 volumes (Oxford: Oxford University Press 1969-80)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Wace, <i>La Roman de Brut</i>, trans. and ed. Judith
Weiss (Exeter: University of Exeter Press, 2002)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Two interesting Critical Studies<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Gransden, Antonia. <i>Historical Writing in England 550-1307. </i>(London:
Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1974)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Partner, Nancy. <i>Serious Entertainments</i>: <i>The Writing of History in Twelfth Century
England</i>. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1977</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>The Medieval Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15682575257934473502noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1305563699277875807.post-37289631327728016562012-02-11T20:36:00.000+00:002012-07-25T21:10:18.947+01:00Guest Post - Visualizing the past: transforming medieval history into action documentaries<i>I'd like to welcome guest blogger Nicole Tomlinson to The Medieval World today! </i><i><span lang="EN-US">Nicole is the staff writer for Battle Castle, an action documentary series on medieval castles starring Dan Snow that will premiere on History Television in Canada on February 23, 2012 and is scheduled to air on Discovery Knowledge in the UK this Spring. BBC Worldwide has distribution rights for the series, so international air dates will be announced in the future. For the latest updates, like them on Facebook (</span></i><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/battlecastle"><i>www.facebook.com/battlecastle</i></a><i>) or follow on Twitter (</i><a href="http://www.twitter.com/battlecastle"><i>www.twitter.com/battlecastle</i></a><i>). Also, be sure to check out their great page over at </i></span><i><a href="http://battlecastle.tv/">http://battlecastle.tv</a>, and the latest trailer for the show <a href="http://goo.gl/OOjF1" target="_blank">here</a>.</i><br />
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<i>Welcome, Nicole!</i><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Presenter Dan Snow in the castellan's tower. Credited to Medieval Media Inc.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1271. Northern Syria.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">Outside the crown jewel of Crusader castles, a powerful Mamluk army led by a usurper king prepares to lay siege. Armed with the mighty trebuchet, they’re here for one reason – to seize Crac des Chevaliers and drive Christians from this land for good. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">Inside, a castellan and his elite group of knights gaze upon their enemy, and the walls that will determine their fate. Strong, precise stones, laid by their predecessors, now in danger of being destroyed. Their castle was borne of conquest and domination. If it falls, so will the vision that raised it. </span> </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Castellan who defends Crac des Chevaliers in 1271 in the first episode of the Battle Castle series. Credited to Medieval Media Inc.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="text-align: left;">As staff writer for the action documentary series Battle Castle, I’ve seen this bit of past played out hundreds of times. In history books, in my head, and on screen. And I still get shivery and goose-bumpy when I think of it. I feel that it’s a natural reaction. As human beings, our urge to experience yesterday is as powerful – and undeniable – as the epic siege that challenged Crac des Chevaliers more than 700 years ago.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">As a filmmaker, how do you transform our visions of the past into one cohesive, compelling, and factually-accurate documentary? In the Battle Castle universe, it started with inspiration and culminated in a powerful fusion of knowledge and imagination. Part of my role along the journey from vision to visualization has involved historical verification. From building periods to army positioning to the weather, part of my job was to ensure that our team was “keeping it real” on screen. But when you’re making factual shows about events that transpired before the age of visual capture, sometimes “keeping it real” can be a real challenge. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">Take a castle’s construction. Half the time of each of the six Battle Castle episodes – which profile Crac des Chevaliers, Chateau Gaillard, Dover Castle, Conwy Castle, Malbork Castle, and Malaga – is spent exploring how these strongholds were built. Every one has changed since the period they were raised in. For some, we have a pretty clear idea of what was built when. For others, history is not so forthcoming. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">In Malaga, Spain, the Castillo de Gibralfaro and its surrounding defences were particularly difficult to represent. The relative lack of heritage investment, dearth of archeological work and issues with over-restoration meant pulling bits of information from multiple sources to model what the castle is best believed to have looked like in 1487 when it was besieged. The city walls, which are virtually non-existent today, were recreated exclusively from historical representations. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;">In France, Chateau Gaillard presented a whole different challenge. The castle was demolished in the late 16<sup>th</sup> century, leaving little more than ruins on most of the site. Though archeological works give us a good idea of what the castle looked like in its prime, it was a very difficult location to film. In this case, CGI and visual effects were brought in to pick up where the present leaves off to carry us back to 1203 when Philip Augustus of France launched his attack against it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;">Once the Battle Castle team tackled the builds, we then faced the sieges that tested them. The second half of each of the six shows profiles an epic attack that each of the castles faced. Again, some aspects of these battles are well-documented … others go virtually unmentioned.</span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Southwest side of Crac des Chevaliers; a focus point of the siege. Credited to Medieval Media Inc.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">In England, showcasing the section of the outer wall that was targeted when Prince Louis of France invaded England in 1216 proved to be anything but straight-forward, as much of it was modified after the siege. In addition, discerning which tunnels were carved into the chalk cliffs by whom, and when, also required some investigation – though historians are fairly certain they can distinguish the medieval tunnels from later war tunnels, it’s still impossible to tell for certain which were carved by French underminers and which were cut by the English garrison attempting to intercept them. <span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">For Conwy Castle and Edward’s other “Iron Ring” fortifications, as well the Teutonic Knights’ Malbork Castle, we had access to a wealth of information about exactly how and when each were built. But in Wales, details of Madog ap Llywelyn’s backstory and contemporary chronicles of the rebellion he launched in 1294 are relatively sparse. And in Poland, details of the siege that Malbork Castle faced in 1410 pale in comparison to accounts of the attacks other castles faced. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US"> <o:p></o:p></span>And then there’s the mighty Crac des Chevaliers. Though we had relatively ample access to historical information on the castle’s build and its siege, as well as the help of current experts, I felt like no matter how much we found out, it wasn’t quite enough to satisfy my desire to know what really happened … in excruciating detail.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">While we were making the show, I kept thinking that if I could go back to 1271 in northern Syria, I’d have a field day. I’d take in everything from the exact distance the Muslim army was from the castle to which day they attacked its outerworks to if the ground was slippery or mucky to how a giant trebuchet sounds when it fires to if there was a smell of sweat and fear in the upper castle.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">I’d try and speak to the castellan in broken French, asking him questions about how it feels to be besieged. Then I’d attempt to find a translator to speak with Sultan Baybars about his offensive. Once they found out I was from the future, they’d probably press me to reveal the outcome of the battle – and well, I’d have to tell them to watch the show and find out. And, let’s face it … it would be a little awkward. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sultan Baybars. Credited to Medieval Media Inc.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">Fortunately (or unfortunately), this ill-fated foray into time travel never transpired, and Battle Castle was created, by necessity and design, from the perspective of the present. I suppose that, by making the series, the Battle Castle crew has rewritten history – for our characters, ourselves, and for our audience. As factual programmers, sometimes it’s tempting to think it would be much easier to make these shows if we could live in the past. But as visually-driven storytellers, we’re reminded it’s the technologies of today that allow us to capture these incredible moments in time and share them in whole new ways. <span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">As a writer, I can’t promise that every detail appears on screen as it was. In fact, I can promise some don’t. Certain aspects of our history will always remain a mystery … and as much as we like to think it would be great to have all of our questions answered, maybe it’s better that way. What I can promise is a compelling, factually-driven journey – an epic adventure into the past, visualized like never before. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">We hope you enjoy. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">Nicole Tomlinson</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span lang="EN-US"><i>All of the images in this post are property of Medieval Media Inc. and taken from Episode One: Crac des Chevaliers. This is the first episode from Battle Castle's forthcoming series. </i></span></span></div>
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</div>The Medieval Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15682575257934473502noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1305563699277875807.post-38821050810030280052012-02-05T19:21:00.000+00:002012-07-25T21:13:45.437+01:00Recommended Reads: Introductions to Medieval History<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just a few books I recommend to introduce you to Medieval History ... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> If anyone has any others they'd like to suggest please put it in a comment below :)</span><br />
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</div>The Medieval Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15682575257934473502noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1305563699277875807.post-9299253185732531772012-01-24T13:34:00.000+00:002012-01-24T13:34:23.733+00:00Heroes in Literature, Part 2: Ogier the Dane<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ8_6RsjWeKuQzVXdF2nx_4J3AWW1LzLoUqCUo1qThOcke8u6bncNkoHlo619mXPojNQCNMWRZEWU02vxDnbpqO-Vru6CQvSmmYjv3AuKMuUpkZ_iLDtGT5-uVVLFPNVNV_4N9aXI4ecCt/s1600/ogier+the+dane.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ8_6RsjWeKuQzVXdF2nx_4J3AWW1LzLoUqCUo1qThOcke8u6bncNkoHlo619mXPojNQCNMWRZEWU02vxDnbpqO-Vru6CQvSmmYjv3AuKMuUpkZ_iLDtGT5-uVVLFPNVNV_4N9aXI4ecCt/s400/ogier+the+dane.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Background</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ogier the Dane (French: Ogier le Danois or Ogier de Danemarche; Danish: Holger Danske) was a widely known and exceptionally popular hero both during the medieval period and later. He was known for being one of Charlemagne's finest knights. The legendary character first appeared in <i>The Song of Roland</i> (c.1100), and is the central hero in <i>La Chevalerie d'Ogier de Danemarche</i> (c.1200). <i>La Chevalerie</i> is a <i>chanson de geste </i>(Old French epic)<i> </i>that details the tale of Ogier the Dane<i>. </i>The form that has survived to the present day was likely composed around 1200 by the poet Raimbert de Paris.</span><br />
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">La Chevalerie d'Ogier de Danemarche</span></i></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">According to the poem, Ogier was the son of the Duke of Denmark and a hostage at Charlemagne's court in his youth. His father had neglected his duties to Charlemagne, and as a result Ogier was imprisoned in the fortress of Saint-Omer. Here Ogier met and fell in love with the mother of his son, Baudouinet. Ogier was later knighted for his heroic deeds in a battle against the Saracens to defend Rome. There are several accounts of Ogier's heroism after this, including the tales of how he won his sword (Courtain) and steed (Broiefort).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The story then jumps forward to tell of events concerning his now grown up son Baudouinet. In a pivotal part of the poem, Ogier's son plays chess with Charlemagne's son (Charlot) and wins. Charlot was obviously a pretty sore loser; he became so angry that he struck at Charlot with the chessboard and killed him. Ogier then tried to kill Charlot in an attempt to avenge his son, which resulted in Charlemagne banishing him. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After a series of other dramatic events (including Ogier's second attempt on Charlot's life) it happened that the Franks had to go to war against a pagan enemy which only Ogier could defeat. When Charlemagne requested his help, Ogier agreed but only on the condition that he was granted permission to murder Charlot beforehand; Charlemagne had to accept in order to save his kingdom. However, when this moment arose God sent a divine message via St. Michael. Ogier was told he must be content with simply giving Charlot a box on the ears! Because of this Ogier was able to turn his unused strength and might on the enemy. During the battle he reportedly killed a giant in single combat, and rescued the daughter of the King of England. The story ends with Ogier's marriage to her.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">12C tomb of Ogier and his comrade at the hero's apparent resting place in Meaux, also featuring figures from Carolingian epic (including favourites Bishop Turpin, Roland and Olivier)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Beyond the Epic</span></b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAoXbxSJSJMBHXfVN2NhT4b1XASUnNEn-Xc7d6cKaoAhMC4SIfKa7_BmRpXp-KyiETQ-kxbfVRNg_8QMZ0zEFqRascw1THPw8rcPlL9kwCfOc82JJbKqk1qUQxnksRnnNA-PwuW0qNI0xH/s1600/450px-Holger_Danske_i_Sk%25C3%25A6vinge_kirke.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAoXbxSJSJMBHXfVN2NhT4b1XASUnNEn-Xc7d6cKaoAhMC4SIfKa7_BmRpXp-KyiETQ-kxbfVRNg_8QMZ0zEFqRascw1THPw8rcPlL9kwCfOc82JJbKqk1qUQxnksRnnNA-PwuW0qNI0xH/s320/450px-Holger_Danske_i_Sk%25C3%25A6vinge_kirke.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wall painting of Ogier in a church in Denmark</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Due to Ogier's popularity, the <i>Chevalerie</i> version of the story was extended with other adventures, such as <i>Roman d'Ogier en alexandrins</i>, c.1335. Another version of the tale of his youth (<i>Les enfances Ogier</i>) was recorded c.1275 by Adenet le Roi and presented to the Queen of France. The story was also published in late fifteenth century Paris, and reissued many times throughout the sixteenth century. However, Ogier's popularity was not restricted to France. He was well known all over Europe, in particular Northern Europe. His story was included in the thirteenth century Old Norse collection of Carolingian narratives, known as the <i style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;">Karlamagnús saga. </i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;">It is likely that the translation of this was the cause of Ogier's growth in popularity in Sweden and Denmark. He was even featured in two church murals which can be dated to around this time.</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;"> </span><i style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;"> </i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;">A Danish version of his tale was printed in 1534, titled </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><i>Kong Olger Danskes Krønike. </i></span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Statue at Kronborg Castle, Denmark</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By the nineteenth century the hero had become a national symbol of the Danish people. A new version of his story was recounted in the famous fairytale <i>Holger Danske </i>by Hans Christian Anderson (1845). A large statue of Ogier now sits at Kronborg Castle in Denmark.This is to fit with the Danish legend that in a time of great need when the kingdom is threatened by a foreign enemy, Ogier will rise from his sleep and save his country.</span></span><br />
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</span></span></div><ul><li><span style="line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Willem P. Gerritsen and Anthony G. van Melle (eds.), <i>A Dictionary of Medieval Heroes </i>(The Boydell Press: Woodbridge, 2002), see pp. 186-8 for the section on Ogier the Dane.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://goo.gl/UlvL6" target="_blank">Kronborg Castle website</a></span></span></li>
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</i>The Medieval Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15682575257934473502noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1305563699277875807.post-22736002028937416482011-12-11T17:25:00.004+00:002012-02-11T20:45:44.313+00:00Food fit for a Teutonic Knight: Medieval Soups from Battle Castle<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoV-I4Z3BI6mswvcWz2yhZFfvdmm6qm0KlNbCEFA_TfNDb9JK2AvD7WBxoF2a39fGXjD6PwvTHRhxbfcx08u_bTIp1tHSqjYipFgfx47hcTBJl6PclnF4gAtlswWSqmgGK0hW3e3rNLTLJ/s1600/cherry+soup.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoV-I4Z3BI6mswvcWz2yhZFfvdmm6qm0KlNbCEFA_TfNDb9JK2AvD7WBxoF2a39fGXjD6PwvTHRhxbfcx08u_bTIp1tHSqjYipFgfx47hcTBJl6PclnF4gAtlswWSqmgGK0hW3e3rNLTLJ/s400/cherry+soup.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A couple of weeks ago the lovely people over at Battle Castle held a medieval soup challenge! Writer Nicole Tomlinson was inspired to begin the challenge after a visit to Poland's Malbork Castle where she saw the above picture of Cherry Soup in the book <i style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">The Cuisine of the Teutonic Grand Masters in Malbork Castle </i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">written by the chef there Bodgan Galzaka. You can read more about this at the blog </span><a href="http://www.battlecastle.tv/blog/eat-teutonic-knight-join-our-medieval-soup-challenge" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;" target="_blank">here</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">. </span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The challenge was to create the recipes using ingredients available to you but would also likely have been available to the Teutonic Order. Whilst it is too late to join in Battle Castle's soup challenge (apologies for my lateness in writing this!) you could still have a go at creating some of the delicious looking medieval soups that were inspired by the Teutonic Knights. Battle Castle have released three recipes for you to try out for yourself:</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZdzFicM_kQSL_1WOiGLOuH1nEslvRY7DpwIR7497Xm2emBW9nD8q69d1O1UAvEQzICNCvtGkOqnAxzQ8X-LqcMoTCgVGMCihYEWBz7YtvwCn_XnVmHn8mzsodJ45MEds9MIpW6DRj8ITq/s1600/mushroom+soup.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZdzFicM_kQSL_1WOiGLOuH1nEslvRY7DpwIR7497Xm2emBW9nD8q69d1O1UAvEQzICNCvtGkOqnAxzQ8X-LqcMoTCgVGMCihYEWBz7YtvwCn_XnVmHn8mzsodJ45MEds9MIpW6DRj8ITq/s320/mushroom+soup.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Mushroom Soup</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyyF4OOVZzMlMM69DBBhj1fhw_4nOVQVi8D2GG6kzZnMwl2W4mCoZ2N9DZaWm24g3NtF8BHxGEoam4Wq20G-a22A2vuohOYuaL15gts3xs5mfRQBYwtl1A31ZYwEiMAsoqMdSmyMB4gqdK/s1600/lentil+soup.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyyF4OOVZzMlMM69DBBhj1fhw_4nOVQVi8D2GG6kzZnMwl2W4mCoZ2N9DZaWm24g3NtF8BHxGEoam4Wq20G-a22A2vuohOYuaL15gts3xs5mfRQBYwtl1A31ZYwEiMAsoqMdSmyMB4gqdK/s320/lentil+soup.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lentil Soup</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwa9zR_ExkocHBulLLzYzUuaMLtkkn8eCgaIdmpQjWEHapzTWpbT5fWEGmGGoqCUlbvgxRKJxMQ8WSo-0myci5s-YvIw96weOuaYnFhkL-cE9yLP8p2kYzvsGzrhP3brYjuhBhEuld126V/s1600/cherry+soup2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwa9zR_ExkocHBulLLzYzUuaMLtkkn8eCgaIdmpQjWEHapzTWpbT5fWEGmGGoqCUlbvgxRKJxMQ8WSo-0myci5s-YvIw96weOuaYnFhkL-cE9yLP8p2kYzvsGzrhP3brYjuhBhEuld126V/s320/cherry+soup2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Cherry Soup</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think the Cherry Soup looks delicious! Here's the recipe:</span><br />
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<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 16pt;"><span style="color: #080808; font-family: Helvetica;"><b>“ZUPA WISNIOWA” - Cherry Soup</b></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 16pt;"><i><span style="color: #080808; font-family: Helvetica;">Described as “a warm winter sangria”, this enchanting recipe captures Chef Galazka’s colourful vision and enahnces sweet fruit flavours to balance the delicious dryness of the #1 ingredient - red wine.</span></i><span style="color: #070305; font-family: Helvetica;"></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 16pt;"><b style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #080808; font-family: Helvetica;">Ingredients:</span></b><span style="color: #070305; font-family: Helvetica;"></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 16pt;"><span style="color: #080808; font-family: Helvetica;">2 398 mL cans Bing cherries, 500 mL water, 100 mL wildberry honey, 1 L dry red wine, 250 mL Greek yogurt, 1 peach, 3 leaves of fresh mint, 1 lemon, ground cinnamon. Makes 6 meal-sized servings or 10 appetizer-sized servings.</span><span style="color: #070305; font-family: Helvetica;"></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 16pt;"><b style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #080808; font-family: Helvetica;">Preparation:</span></b><span style="color: #070305; font-family: Helvetica;"></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 16pt;"><span style="color: #080808; font-family: Helvetica;">Drain cherries. Pour water and honey into a pot. Add half the cherries and cook for 15 minutes at medium heat. Cut peach into thin slices, grate lemon zest and chop mint. Add wine to the pot and cook until alcohol has evaporated (approx. 3 minutes). Add cinnamon bit by bit, tasting until a desirable level of warm spiciness is achieved. Portion other half of cherries into bowls and then ladle hot soup over them. Add a dollop of Greek yogurt to each bowl. Finish with peach slices, mint, and lemon zest. Serve promptly.</span><span style="color: #070305; font-family: Helvetica;"></span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 1.35em;"><i><span style="color: #080808; font-family: Helvetica;">Recipe inspired by “The Cuisine of the Teutonic Grand Masters in Malbork Castle” by Bogdan Galazka, Head Chef at the Gothic Cafe, located at the castle. Malbork is one of six castles featured in the Battle Castle action documentary series, airing in Canada in early 2012 on History Television and on Discovery UK.</span></i></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="background-color: white; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 1.35em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #080808; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="background-color: white; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 1.35em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #080808; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For the other two recipes visit the blog <a href="http://www.battlecastle.tv/your-3-battle-castle-soup-recipes" target="_blank">here</a>, and to find out more about the show which is hosted by Dan Snow click <a href="http://www.battlecastle.tv/series" target="_blank">here</a></span></div>The Medieval Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15682575257934473502noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1305563699277875807.post-37160856253008928482011-12-04T17:35:00.001+00:002011-12-04T17:37:56.606+00:00Liebster Blog Award!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidHpbIqJ1tnGJsX5-B-l_WG8848tPKnVTPUpFDsHRKj5RnLTzKIFqeJkp25GfI7h4OSW1fJTOcQBdPU-HBThkzR2bqgZf-xfgROnt7PERhHbv0pJ_GnlutrLa2j-URZ5-QHAgjntSFehvM/s1600/liebster-blog-award2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="66" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidHpbIqJ1tnGJsX5-B-l_WG8848tPKnVTPUpFDsHRKj5RnLTzKIFqeJkp25GfI7h4OSW1fJTOcQBdPU-HBThkzR2bqgZf-xfgROnt7PERhHbv0pJ_GnlutrLa2j-URZ5-QHAgjntSFehvM/s320/liebster-blog-award2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've just been given a Liebster Blog award by <a href="http://www.earlymodernwomen.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Early Modern World</a>! Thank you very much!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-4m7CCUQgfUq9ijgwNrbC3OGGfMzl_-1wmyL9WI_yrM4PwJm-IKh-e3P_RxCX-9xPlU-cvAItdWSLboovqKy5-Oqo0q57vuBrw2Sn0hlpu7ZzNfb7mI0MUNX2IwbmuY87NuTfMnmj-2aH/s1600/emworld2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-4m7CCUQgfUq9ijgwNrbC3OGGfMzl_-1wmyL9WI_yrM4PwJm-IKh-e3P_RxCX-9xPlU-cvAItdWSLboovqKy5-Oqo0q57vuBrw2Sn0hlpu7ZzNfb7mI0MUNX2IwbmuY87NuTfMnmj-2aH/s1600/emworld2.JPG" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The word Liebster is German <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 23px;">& means ‘dearest’ or ‘beloved’ but it can also mean ‘favorite’. </span>The award is given to bloggers with around 200 followers or less in the spirit of fostering new connections, and is a nice way to show appreciation for their work.</span><br />
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<div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Rules are:</span></div><ol style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 23px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin-bottom: 1.7em; margin-left: 2.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Show your thanks to the blogger who gave you the award by linking back to them.</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Reveal your top five picks for the award and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog.</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Post the award on your blog.</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bask in the love from the most supportive people on the blogsphere – other bloggers.</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And, best of all – have fun and spread the karma!</span></li>
</ol><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 23px;">So, in no particular order, here are my 5 picks:</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 23px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 23px;"><a href="https://puremedievalry.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Pure Medievalry</a> ~ This is a fairly new blog written by a lovely person I discovered on Twitter (<a href="https://twitter.com/#!/sirthopas" target="_blank">@sirthopas</a>). He writes about a variety of topics within the medieval period aimed towards newcomers, enthusiasts, and academics alike.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 23px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 23px;"><a href="http://esmeraldamac.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Esmeralda's Cumbrian History and Folklore</a> ~ I love this blog! It's written by <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/mabhmac" target="_blank">@mabhmac</a>, and is definitely worth checking out!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 23px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 23px;"><a href="http://mrssymbols.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Seeing Symbols</a> ~ This is another blog that I discovered through Twitter. It's written by <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/MrsSymbols" target="_blank">MrsSymbols</a>. Her posts on symbols and the symbolic are always a fascinating read.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 23px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 23px;"><a href="http://stringofbedes.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The String of Bede's</a> ~ The focus of this blog is Christianity and culture in Britain and Ireland, and roughly covers the period 500-1100AD. It's written by <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/Bede_String" target="_blank">@Bede_String</a> from Twitter, and is updated regularly with interesting posts!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 23px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 23px;"><a href="http://medieval-church-art.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Vitrearum's Church Art</a> ~ A great blog about church art, with a focus on the medieval. There are some beautiful images on here!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 23px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 23px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 23px;">Even though I don't think I'm supposed to nominate </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 23px;">The Early Modern World</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 23px;"> back, I'd just like to make a special mention to this blog. It's written by my good friend <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/EMhistblog" target="_blank">@EMhistblog</a>. Despite it venturing far from my comfort zone of the eleventh and twelfth centuries, the posts on there always interest me and are well written. So if you haven't read it already, head on over to </span><a href="http://www.earlymodernwomen.blogspot.com/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 23px;" target="_blank">The Early Modern World</a>. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's rather good there!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 23px;"><br />
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</span></span></div>The Medieval Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15682575257934473502noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1305563699277875807.post-2297384020521174352011-11-17T23:52:00.000+00:002011-11-17T23:52:19.634+00:00Hell-mouths!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love a good hell-mouth picture, so thought I'd post a few up here:</span><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp-RtVfhgw4IUqD5rZn0qhg6LXhoRaw0LkcwYx93xPlVDRkNRmjhduUlvoNkXoAqs6N1ghrlyKGOJ3aCYYXprR8w4HdE_3CwXpGLKMHgtyRB22SJhZOxtWJAbL80UwOCCKfWTSEcXCn0wc/s1600/detail+hellmouth.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp-RtVfhgw4IUqD5rZn0qhg6LXhoRaw0LkcwYx93xPlVDRkNRmjhduUlvoNkXoAqs6N1ghrlyKGOJ3aCYYXprR8w4HdE_3CwXpGLKMHgtyRB22SJhZOxtWJAbL80UwOCCKfWTSEcXCn0wc/s400/detail+hellmouth.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From a late 14C Book of Hours. This scene shows the Last Judgement. On the left border, souls climb a ladder up towards Heaven. At the bottom the dead awaken from their graves and move either towards paradise, or the gaping jaws of Hell.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8QUkfAWdAfNVwHTFKFfAzMJA2ZggQES06fWcHtr5t6bcIk_ZAZT7D-IVklOssy2j636-oI8emfifcPadrQqO9Z0kEy3kye-jlZQ85d7yu7WhZ9Ni7bDp-2LZ7vv7WV3VXFqb3lkwRwqt8/s1600/harrowing+of+hell.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8QUkfAWdAfNVwHTFKFfAzMJA2ZggQES06fWcHtr5t6bcIk_ZAZT7D-IVklOssy2j636-oI8emfifcPadrQqO9Z0kEy3kye-jlZQ85d7yu7WhZ9Ni7bDp-2LZ7vv7WV3VXFqb3lkwRwqt8/s400/harrowing+of+hell.JPG" width="295" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Part of a cycle of wall paintings at the church of Saint Mary in Pickering, North Yorkshire. They were completed in the late 15C, and restoration work was carried out in the 19C. This one shows Christ rescuing souls from the jaws of Hell.</span></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm_XxHr1bbmUubjNfL8mSD3ZmsL2EarptOjR3UzY9GxxN-3zVyFrCu8VyJIBR4DiJ4oDuMKpDaXPiI-G7FmU0KnLrMmOlOL4BH5UgHqIDtpth9OQ0sAgN2QF7yaGpPKSTf53Zw4H686bXl/s1600/hellmouth+-+alabaster.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm_XxHr1bbmUubjNfL8mSD3ZmsL2EarptOjR3UzY9GxxN-3zVyFrCu8VyJIBR4DiJ4oDuMKpDaXPiI-G7FmU0KnLrMmOlOL4BH5UgHqIDtpth9OQ0sAgN2QF7yaGpPKSTf53Zw4H686bXl/s400/hellmouth+-+alabaster.JPG" width="221" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> 15C alabaster depicting the Harrowing of Hell. A small devil holding a key and blowing a horn is sitting on top of the hell-mouth, representing the doorkeeper of Hell.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHhjisRaykquvBe8pQuPh1ddtcZZDTqdOxcjsNLylgk_bySIkXhn7HBq1LxflGhbrmAMUtU9YWEishH9TJRdn2L97TaF4urX-LyN-hhpihoE70pcLTB-OV58RXxf85oVxq-gC2BrQbCM1O/s1600/hellmouth+-+bk+of+hrs.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHhjisRaykquvBe8pQuPh1ddtcZZDTqdOxcjsNLylgk_bySIkXhn7HBq1LxflGhbrmAMUtU9YWEishH9TJRdn2L97TaF4urX-LyN-hhpihoE70pcLTB-OV58RXxf85oVxq-gC2BrQbCM1O/s400/hellmouth+-+bk+of+hrs.JPG" width="243" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A page that illustrates the Office of the Dead from the Bedford Hours (15C). The centrepiece is an image of the Last Judgement. Christ welcomes worthy souls into Heaven, whilst the damned are beaten and dragged into Hell's mouth.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2N6fPK1caG4DHRZGUJ7ci_-5UD3g2kUzHRVdYWhJ1CGzyxGkD3v1-_73GJkB7cecdU-0FX9TpyaJwJQEr1iLQ3ogGpECpIU-oA8autylWQEYTuMbFDjpSOaA8fOF154CbHm3h21ta9MPy/s1600/hellmouth+-+life+of+christ.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2N6fPK1caG4DHRZGUJ7ci_-5UD3g2kUzHRVdYWhJ1CGzyxGkD3v1-_73GJkB7cecdU-0FX9TpyaJwJQEr1iLQ3ogGpECpIU-oA8autylWQEYTuMbFDjpSOaA8fOF154CbHm3h21ta9MPy/s400/hellmouth+-+life+of+christ.JPG" width="272" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Early 14C manuscript showing scenes of the life of Christ. The image at the top left depicts the Harrowing of Hell.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWn7eIM0xdVCWvd04GPYFoHOd2jIG-rmXPJpZ_-6ZaqepiQ1acfmUQ4_vmTZZuunUw66mT71VhCUcVPyCZ2MVVMSOwEACHQsCqzZflYkblPBBoAoHgIvPwfcg96HeInQ7J99mGkEy3uQmM/s1600/winchester+psalter.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWn7eIM0xdVCWvd04GPYFoHOd2jIG-rmXPJpZ_-6ZaqepiQ1acfmUQ4_vmTZZuunUw66mT71VhCUcVPyCZ2MVVMSOwEACHQsCqzZflYkblPBBoAoHgIvPwfcg96HeInQ7J99mGkEy3uQmM/s400/winchester+psalter.JPG" width="292" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> An image from the Winchester Psalter (c.1225). The damned are being swallowed into a hell-mouth, with an angel to the left about to lock the jaws behind them. Inside Hell are lots of tortured souls, including kings and queens - nobody is above judgement.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE5DGL5Vr7i7aZH3bLWjC7Dnyx66QmYOvZBWTfnx4kkdmyWYc9i0Ftae5N3xjiHu81zFLZB2ga87ftF7Sp7qO80P_JeOUXzF0Ecu41J59ZPQHwh_UrWYKXgNSgxc3NkIAB4MJdpzlWJI0Z/s1600/last+judgment.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE5DGL5Vr7i7aZH3bLWjC7Dnyx66QmYOvZBWTfnx4kkdmyWYc9i0Ftae5N3xjiHu81zFLZB2ga87ftF7Sp7qO80P_JeOUXzF0Ecu41J59ZPQHwh_UrWYKXgNSgxc3NkIAB4MJdpzlWJI0Z/s400/last+judgment.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> 13C manuscript. this images shows the battle of the beast during the Last Judgement.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIbfuRF5I97lAR8PrD1jgeVGSkbV70Q21qNuAwsMKpcvH3hQ44_2o0FglL4vcDcji3QzDNkbyYemseN8mrXDw6LgRZ9gjwYuQRHvQU4aB-WklLUNbMa4AJBuUFgvjpVSSMksad316NhXnP/s1600/13C+hellmouth.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIbfuRF5I97lAR8PrD1jgeVGSkbV70Q21qNuAwsMKpcvH3hQ44_2o0FglL4vcDcji3QzDNkbyYemseN8mrXDw6LgRZ9gjwYuQRHvQU4aB-WklLUNbMa4AJBuUFgvjpVSSMksad316NhXnP/s400/13C+hellmouth.JPG" width="268" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">13C manuscript with this page depicting the fall of the angels. Christ sits above in his circle of Heaven surrounded by ranks of angels. In the lower part of the circle rebel angels can be seen falling downwards into the jaws of Hell, transforming into devils along the way.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Sources Used</u></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All of the images above were from <a href="http://med-imag.english.cam.ac.uk/index.php" target="_blank">Medieval Imaginations: literature and visual culture in the middle ages</a></span></div><div><br />
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</span></div>The Medieval Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15682575257934473502noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1305563699277875807.post-36716501085810635902011-10-30T00:05:00.002+01:002011-10-30T00:10:41.033+01:00Heroes in Literature, Part One: William of Orange<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">William of Orange (or Guillaume d'Orange in Old French) is the central hero in a number of <i>chansons de geste</i>, including: <i>Chanson de Guillaume, Enfances Guillaume, Couronnement de Louis, </i>and <i>Aliscans</i>, amongst others. These poems along with others about William's family make up the 'cycle' of <i>chansons</i> known as the Cycle of William of Orange (the other two cycles are known as: The Cycle of the King, and The Cycle of Barons in Revolt).</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Perhaps the most well known epic that has William as the hero is the <i>Chanson de Guillaume </i>(The Song of William). It is one of the oldest <i>chansons</i> and was the founding poem of the entire William of Orange cycle. It is likely that it was the popularity of the central hero William that inspired further song-tales of him and his family.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg03l0XPyPbXOva9alrccwcS7_5Gm8I6U-IrMz_ClHYUzoUVAvyNJXu-rL_ooFy_LJTidXxH8MdlS9o0IokjFdYTrvjydiXVCL_kR4cy613Rc4bbJQIOIVi3Gv5HmBR5YAgx0Q5FMDhMik/s1600/abbey+of+saint+guilhe+le+desert.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg03l0XPyPbXOva9alrccwcS7_5Gm8I6U-IrMz_ClHYUzoUVAvyNJXu-rL_ooFy_LJTidXxH8MdlS9o0IokjFdYTrvjydiXVCL_kR4cy613Rc4bbJQIOIVi3Gv5HmBR5YAgx0Q5FMDhMik/s1600/abbey+of+saint+guilhe+le+desert.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Figure 1. Abbey of Saint-Guilhem-le-D</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">ésert</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The fictional character William of Orange has been identified with the historical Count William of Toulouse, a cousin of Charlemagne who was known for his defence of Christian land against Spanish pagans. After the death of his wife William befriended a monk, and later became one himself in Aniane. He founded an abbey in Gellone, which eventually became known as Saint-Guilhem-le-D<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16px;">ésert after him.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: x-small; line-height: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16px;">William of Toulouse died on 28 May 812, and was canonised in 1066.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4G6ERrOUNA2wEXtllDV7coz5j_EWj4xRgtGbm_o0-oKmghFVUVoXPup3dAQGMGdqNqoa0U1CeLIAiLk26IGANpTW0SsJ-Z1Kc9BGmYpXohEqsj-ZH3812390VLy3rz8bW59OWIvEk3P3m/s1600/Photo+29-10-2011+22+51+22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4G6ERrOUNA2wEXtllDV7coz5j_EWj4xRgtGbm_o0-oKmghFVUVoXPup3dAQGMGdqNqoa0U1CeLIAiLk26IGANpTW0SsJ-Z1Kc9BGmYpXohEqsj-ZH3812390VLy3rz8bW59OWIvEk3P3m/s320/Photo+29-10-2011+22+51+22.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Figure 2. William of Orange?</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This image is within the Abbey of Saint-Guilhem-le-D<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16px;">ésert (currently housed at The Metrapolitan Museum in new York). It was once believed to depict Daniel in the lions' den, however it has been suggested that it could instead be William of Orange with the lion from his coat of arms (described in various works, including </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>Couronnement de Louis</i>)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I'll end this post with a small extract from the </span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Chanson de Guillaume</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">, which in my opinion is one of the finest of the Old French epics. This extract has Count William bravely arriving to the battlefield with back-up; persevering with the fight against the odds (a key theme throughout the poem): </span><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Count set off with Sir Girart and leading</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Knights fully armed and thirty thousand liegemen</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> To Archamp field and Desramed the Heathen;</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> They journeyed through the cold night air, unspeaking</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Till break of dawn and light of day appearing;</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> When they arrived at Archamp on the seaboard,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> The Moor had won; the French were fled or beaten;</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> (. . .)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> A league or more they'd ridden from the beaches,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> When William the Count rode up to meet them</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> With well-armed knights and thirty thousand liegemen,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> One half of whom were very keen to greet them</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> With blows of iron to show their strength of feeling!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> They cried: "Mountjoy!" and moved to strike them fiercely;</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Those Pagan lords were helpless to receive them:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> They had no arms to counter blows or deal them;</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> They turned in flight towards the shore, retreating</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Inside their ships and sundry other sea-craft;</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> They seized their arms and roused themselves to wield them.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Sources Used</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Figure 2 is from William P. Gerritsen and Anthony G. van Melle (eds.), trans. by Tanis Guest, <i>A Dictionary of Medieval Heroes: Characters in medieval Narrative Traditions and Their Afterlife in Literature, Theatre and the Visual Arts</i> (The Boydell Press: Woodbridge, 2008), p. 134; see also pp. 132-6.</span></li>
</ul><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The extract of </span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Chanson de Guillaume </i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">is from Michael Newth (trans.), <i>Heroes of the French Epic:Translations from the Chansons de Geste </i>(The Boydell Press: Woodbridge, 2005), p. 77; see also pp. 31-142.</span></li>
</ul><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">‘The Coronation of Louis’, in Joan M. Ferrante (trans.), Guillaume d’Orange: Four Twelfth-Century Epics (Columbia University Press: Chichester, 2001), pp. 63-139.</span></li>
</ul><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">‘The Song of William’, trans. by Muir, Lynette, in Glanville Price (ed.), William, Count of Orange: Four Old French Epics (J.M.Dent & Sons Ltd.: 1975), pp. 131-203.</span></li>
</ul>The Medieval Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15682575257934473502noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1305563699277875807.post-33525529236296573642011-05-25T20:13:00.002+01:002011-05-26T17:28:50.445+01:00The Bearded Lady - The Legend of Saint Wilgefortis<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidZg9hR8Ro4hxfDXZ3n0WsPucK_Bwea8gbuPIdUSeNKx0TuGLCVeZMER8d7K2-dab1FzfgczwR8pOdSdFWukMweo7nEzfmBlLSPUVTKXIv3r4ZtjxMVXPJUZHStpHJHhpVeCjtgcda0JJc/s1600/st+w.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidZg9hR8Ro4hxfDXZ3n0WsPucK_Bwea8gbuPIdUSeNKx0TuGLCVeZMER8d7K2-dab1FzfgczwR8pOdSdFWukMweo7nEzfmBlLSPUVTKXIv3r4ZtjxMVXPJUZHStpHJHhpVeCjtgcda0JJc/s400/st+w.JPG" width="225" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wilgefortis was a young Christian noblewoman, the daughter of a pagan king (sometimes the King of Portugal). Her father had arranged a marriage for her to another pagan. Reluctant to enter into the marriage because of the vow of chastity she had taken, she prayed for God to make her repulsive to her future husband. Miraculously, when she awoke she discovered she'd sprouted a beard! The newly grown beard had the effect Wilgefortis had hoped for, and as a result the engagement was broken. Her father was rather less pleased with his daughter's actions, and the consequences of her new beard. He became enraged, and ultimately had her crucified.</span></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This legend is connected to a story that when a destitute fiddler played before her crucified body (or a statue of her) she gave him one of her golden boots. The fiddler was sentenced to death for the theft of her boot, but was granted his request to play before her for a second time. He did so, and in the presence of an audience she kicked off her other boot, thereby proving his innocence. Images of Wilgefortis often show her on the crucifix with one shoe off, and a fiddler playing at her feet.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The legend of Saint Wilgefortis <span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">became quite popular during the medieval period, and her cult spread from around 1350.</span> She was often invoked by women having marital problems with their troublesome husbands. There are different versions of the story from various places, and the saint is known by many names. In England she was known as Uncumber. In the Austrian version she was known as <span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Kümmernis, which came from 'Kummer' meaning 'sorrow' or 'sadness'. Whilst in Italy and France she was known as Liberata, meaning 'liberator'. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Further Reading:</span></span><br />
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<ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/kummernis.html">Austrian version of the legend from the Medieval Sourcebook</a></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15622a.htm">Catholic Encyclopedia</a></span></li>
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<ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Elizabeth Nightlinger 'The Female <i>Imitatio Christi</i> and Medieval Popular Religion: The Case of St Wilgerfortis', in Bonnie Wheeler (ed.), <i>Representations of the Feminine in the Middle Ages </i>(Academia Press: Texas, 1993).</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Isle E. Friesen, <i>The Female Crucifix: Images of St. Wilgefortis Sine the Middle Ages </i>(Wilfrid Laurier University Press: Ontario, 2001).</span></li>
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</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></span></div>The Medieval Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15682575257934473502noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1305563699277875807.post-23301738705668860342011-01-17T13:38:00.000+00:002011-01-17T13:38:51.015+00:00The Crusades and Those Left Behind<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ5i6IsNywBK4SILM4NULCVLekp7hq4AiWqSaXEcsvzpNZ5H6aOiRVMWRw3MBvJL6EYlmQSd_Ubp9m4L0x6tR80YAleBJlRcWC83PFT03kZKT7KDzP0zAVyEDLbLe8_GQ6wmmMZen8HOlA/s1600/dancing+couple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ5i6IsNywBK4SILM4NULCVLekp7hq4AiWqSaXEcsvzpNZ5H6aOiRVMWRw3MBvJL6EYlmQSd_Ubp9m4L0x6tR80YAleBJlRcWC83PFT03kZKT7KDzP0zAVyEDLbLe8_GQ6wmmMZen8HOlA/s320/dancing+couple.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I've been reading through a lot of medieval poems/songs recently as part of research for my dissertation. I came across one called<i> Giammi Non Mi Conforto </i>(Never Again that Comfort for Me). It is from the mid-thirteenth century, and was written by an Italian nobleman named Rinaldo d'Aquino. I found it interesting because although it was written by a man, it is from the perspective of a woman who has been left behind by her crusader lover. It is really quite insightful into what the people who were left behind went through; and actually rather sad. </span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: black;">Never Again that Comfort for Me</span></b><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Never again that comfort, </span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Never that joyous heart.</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">The ships down in the harbor</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Are straining to depart.</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Away all the people run</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">To lands across the sea.</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">But me - poor weeping thing -</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">What shall become of me?</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Away, away he'll run, </span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Fade quietly out of sight, </span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Leaving me here alone.</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">All day, all the night</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Many will be the sighs</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">That assail me constantly</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Not in heaven, nor on earth</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Will life exist for me.</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">O holy, holy Savior</span><span style="color: black;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Who from Mary came our way!</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Watch, protect that lover, </span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Since you're taking him away.</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">O reverenced and feared</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Power from above!</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">In your hands I place</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">My tender love.</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">O cross that saves mankind, </span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">You plummet me to error,</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Twisting my grievous mind</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Beyond all hope of prayer.</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Why, O pilgrim cross,</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Why this bitter turn?</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Bowed beneath my loss,</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">I kindle; O I burn.</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">The Emperor who rules the world</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">In his peaceful sway</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Ravages poor little me</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">By taking my hope away.</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">O reverenced and feared</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Power from above!</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">In your hands I place</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">My tender love.</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">When he took up the cross,</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">I didn't know the end was this:</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Whatever love he gave me</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">I repaid him kiss for kiss.</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Now I'm thrust aside -</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Yes, condemned to prison -</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Now I'm forced to hide</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">In lifelong derision.</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">The ships are in their moorings.</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Soon they'll depart.</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">With them and that rabble</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Sails my heart.</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">O Father, O Creator,</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Guide them to holy haven, </span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">By your sacred cross</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">They're all enslaven.</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">And O darling, I beg you:</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Take pity on my hysteria.</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Write me a little sonnet.</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Send it to me from Syria!</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Night and day I'll know</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Only this bitter strife.</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">In lands beyond the ocean</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Lies my whole life</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">1</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">1</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span>Translation from S.J. Allen and Emilie Amt (eds.), <i>The Crusades: A Reader</i> (Broadview Press: Peterborough, 2003), pp.215-17.</span><br />
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<blockquote> </blockquote>The Medieval Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15682575257934473502noreply@blogger.com3