FrenchFrench and Frankish culture and history Armoured combat covered on French TV
Submitted by Milica on Sat, 2009-05-16 07:39
Sir Angus O'Niall, Founder of the Academy of Knightly Arts, reports that French National television recently covered a documentary in which he participated involving "a bunch of steel fighters" who fought tournaments in castles in southern France.
Da Vinci to be subject of cultural theme park
Submitted by Milica on Wed, 2009-04-22 15:49
Was Leonardo da Vinci, "poet, musician, philosopher, engineer, architect, scientist, mathematician, anatomist, inventor, architect and botanist," the true Renaissance man, or was he just a "frustrating dilettante?" Curators of the Château du Clos Lucé in Amboise, France, da Vinci's last home, are betting on the former and hope for the success of their "world's first "intellectual and cultural theme park."
Today in the Middle Ages: April 22, 1370
Submitted by Ursula on Wed, 2009-04-22 07:51
On April 22, 1370, the first stones of the Bastille were laid in Paris. Initial construction of the fortress was completed in 1382.
Burgundy vineyards dated to Roman times
Submitted by Milica on Tue, 2009-03-24 21:14
A recent archaeological dig sponsored by the Institut National de Recherches Archéologiques Préventives and the ARTeHIS Laboratory (CNRS/Ministère de la Culture et de la Communication/Université de Bourgogne) shows that the production of burgundy wine near Dijon, France dates to Roman times.
13th century midden yields shoe soles
Submitted by Milica on Fri, 2009-03-20 17:43
A batch of leather shoe soles dating from the 13th to 18th centuries was found in 2005 in a hollow tree trunk in an ancient trash dump in Lyon, France. The soles are well-preserved.
Spirits reign in 12th century French house
Submitted by Milica on Tue, 2009-03-10 19:12
Writer, chef, and cooking school owner Susan Herrmann Loomis suspects that spirits may inhabit one room of her 12th century house in Louviers, a small Norman town north of Paris. Ronert P. Walzer of the New York Times looks at Loomis' renovation of the labyrinthan house into a home and cooking school.
Jewish treasures on display in England
Submitted by Milica on Mon, 2009-03-02 18:22
The Treasures of the Black Death exhibit at London's Wallace Collection showcase two hoards of medieval jewelry dating to the 14th century. The treasures were owned - and buried with - Jewish families who perished during the Black Plague. (photos)
Medieval chainmail for sale on eBay
Submitted by Milica on Mon, 2009-02-23 00:31
An authentic chainmail hauberk is being offered for sale on eBay. According to the description, the 14th to 15th century piece is "of highest quality and in perfect condition of preservation," although it appears to be missing one sleeve.
Benedictine nuns victims of Black Death
Submitted by Milica on Wed, 2009-02-18 18:59
The remains of several Benedictine nuns from the Sainte-Croix Abbey near Poitiers, France have shown evidence that the sisters died of the plague, probably while caring for other victims of the disease. Their deaths have been dated to the early 17th century.
Medieval Facebook
Submitted by Milica on Wed, 2009-02-18 08:48
Researchers working with land documents dating to the 13th century have discovered Facebook-like social networks that tied together ten villages in southwest France.
Secret letters of Mary, Queen of Scots to be available online
Submitted by Milica on Wed, 2009-02-04 11:58
Two dozen letters, written in a secret code by Mary, Queen of Scots, will soon be available online to visitors of the Scottish Catholic Archives website.
Jean I: Rightful King of France
Submitted by Milica on Tue, 2009-02-03 12:36
In a strange footnote to the Hundred Years' War, a Sienese merchant named Giannino di Guccio came to believe that he was actually King Jean I of France. A new book, translated from Italian, he Man Who Believed He Was King of France by Tommaso di Carpegna Falconieri, tells the story.
Bernard Cornwell, author of "Agincourt," interviewed
Submitted by Milica on Fri, 2009-01-30 17:40
National Review Online has posted an interview with author Bernard Cornwell discussing his new book Agincourt. The interview is in MP3 format.
Battling for cheese
Submitted by Milica on Mon, 2008-12-22 18:12
You've heard of "Bowling for Dollars?" In England, it's battling for cheese, a publicity stunt to determine who claims bragging rights for the best bleu cheese between representatives of France's Saint Agur and Britain's Stilton.
French and Saunders in the medieval kitchen
Submitted by Milica on Wed, 2008-12-03 12:51
British comedy stars Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders take on medieval life in this sketch set in a medieval French kitchen. The video is posted on YouTube. Cooks beware!
Grave of d’Artagnan found?
Submitted by Milica on Sun, 2008-11-30 19:08
Musketeer expert Odile Bordaz believes she has discovered the final resting place of Charles de Batz de Castelmore d’Artagnan, made famous in Alexandre Dumas’s novel The Three Musketeers, who died during the Siege of Maastricht in the Netherlands in 1673.
Gold ring may have belonged to Norman royalty
Submitted by Milica on Sun, 2008-11-23 13:04
British metal detector enthusiast Peter Beasley was intrigued recently when he pulled a heavy gold ring from the ground near Petersfield, England. Now experts believe that the ring may have belonged to Robert, the eldest son of William the Conquerer. (photo)
Norman contributions to the English language ala Garrison Keillor
Submitted by Milica on Tue, 2008-10-21 10:56
In his weekly podcast for September 24, 2008, humorist Garrison Keillor commemorates the 1066 Norman invasion of England with a discussion of how the French language affected food and cooking terms.
Laurel Challenges Met
Submitted by Broom on Wed, 2008-09-24 16:12
On Saturday the XX of September, A.S. XLIII, a Laurel's Challenge was held at the St. Festus Faire in the Barony of Dragonship Haven (Southern CT).
The last of the Cagot people traces her roots
Submitted by Milica on Sat, 2008-09-13 18:46
No one seems to remember why the French repressed the Cagot people for nearly one thousand years. Now Marie-Pierre Manet-Beauzac, the last of the bloodline, is attempting to uncover the truth about a persecuted people. Sean Thomas of the Independent has the story.
Queen Claude Prayer Book acquired by Morgan Library
Submitted by Milica on Mon, 2008-09-01 08:18
Several months ago, the Morgan Library and Museum received a new treasure: the prayer book of Queen Claude of France, a contemporary of Anne Boleyn. Bound in red velvet, the book is smaller than a credit card and contains "fifty-two folios, painted front and back with a hundred and thirty-two miniature illuminations."
"Dancing Plague" still puzzles scholars
Submitted by Milica on Fri, 2008-08-29 05:25
On a street in Strasbourg, France in the summer of 1518, a woman began a fervent 6-day dance that led to a month-long dancing frenzy by more than 400 people. Modern scholars are still undecided about what caused the "Dancing Plague."
Alleged Bayeux vandal cleared
Submitted by Milica on Mon, 2008-08-11 16:42
In an announcement at the major conference on the Bayeux Tapestry which took place recently at the British Museum, Anna Eliza Stothard was cleared of an accusation of vandalizing the tapestry.
Was King Arthur French?
Submitted by Milica on Fri, 2008-08-01 08:27
King Arthur might have been French. Heresy? Not according to the organizers of "King Arthur: A Legend in the Making," a medievalists' conference at Rennes University. Many of the Arthurian tales are set in Brittany in the north of France.
French Templar tomb found
Submitted by Milica on Wed, 2008-04-30 18:25
The remains of a Templar knight have been discovered in a tomb near Rennes-le-Chateau, France along with a cache of gold and coins. The mummified body wore the still-recognizable shroud of the order. (video)
Teribus to perform in Midrealm
Submitted by Nevik on Tue, 2008-03-11 08:13
Teribus (featuring Midrealm drummer Nevik) will be performing their first concert within the borders of the Barony of Fenix in the Middle Kingdom on March 22, 2008.
Renaissance Dance Database
Submitted by lorenzo_petrucci on Wed, 2008-02-27 10:13
The Renaissance Dance Database is a tool for accessing the various dance resources available on the web. It enables searching by style, creator, primary source, or number of dancers. Suggestions of new links and resources are always welcome.
Medieval music manuscripts online
Submitted by Milica on Sun, 2007-10-14 08:31
Genevieve la flechiere, of the Kingdom of Drachenwald, reports the discovery of a blog (mainly in French) dedicated to medieval illuminated manuscripts and, in particular, music manscripts.
Revisionist Joan of Arc angers historians
Submitted by Milica on Sat, 2007-10-06 12:18
A new book by French journalist Marcel Gay claims to prove that Joan of Arc was a French royal who did not die on the stake but was rescued by the English.
Burgundian exhibit on display in Belgium
Submitted by Karen on Sun, 2007-09-23 11:42
"The Dawn of the Burgundian Century" will be on display at the Groeningemuseum through January 6, 2008.
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