Royal Bees: The Gender Politics of the Beehive in Early Modern Europe
Jeffrey Merrick
Royal Bees: The Gender Politics of the Beehive in Early Modern Europe JEFFREY MERRICK* W hen vestry parish Saint-Brice Flemish city Tournai undertook excavations necessary for reconstruction their poorhouse 1653, they stumbled upon grave Merovingian king Childeric, more than a thousand years after his death. artifacts recovered from grave, which eventually ended up hands Louis XIV, included weapons, coins, jewelry, and some three hundred gold “bees.”1 When antiquarian Jean-Jacques Chiflet published description these treasures, he assumed that swarm winged orna­ ments had decorated saddle gear Childeric’s horse. He identi­ fied bee as emblem dynasty source Capetian fleur-de-lis. Struck by resemblance stylized figures, suggested clumsy medieval artists inadvertently transformed bees into lilies repertoire royal symbolism.2 Mezeray, Montfaucon , Mabillon, other historians refuted speculations,3 but Chiflet’s survived chorus learned refutations iconoclasm French Revolution. Like Carolingian eagles, figured prominently Napoleonic symbolism. Bees Notre Dame cathedral imperial coronation 1804 subsequently materialized medallions nestled wreaths surrounding XIV L’s on Perrault facade Louvre.4 legitimized regime iconographically linking it 7 8 / MERRICK Figure 1: Merovi ngian Childeri c. JeanFigure 2: Napole onic imperia l coro nati 1804. Jacqu es Chiflet, Ana stas is Childerici (Antw erp, 1655). Le sacre de I ’ empere ur Napo leon (Pari s, 1804). 9 with past lost not forgotten worlds antiquity. Thousands before Egyptians used to symbolize authority. “Alone all animals,” Horapollo’s Hieroglyphics explained, “the have king, whom rest follow body, just people obey king.”5 Classical mythology associated insects gods, since nymphs Crete concealed infant Zeus hungry father sacred cave bees, where raised him milk honey. Greek Roman naturalists moralists only praised divine qualities loyal industrious creatures also mortals much learn example.6 modern animal lore, apiculture man­ uals, books likewise pointed hive model human societies under rule male monarchs.7 Political orthodoxy infiltrated natural history, lent scientific symbolic support As result revolution entomology time, reign bee, like own version collapsed during Enlightenment. Thanks invention microscope, apiologists finally unrid­ dled mysteries fascinated baffled humans centuries. provoked enduring curiosity admi­ ration because they, unlike insects, produce useful commodities (both wax honey) provide an obvious example social order. contains thousands workers (small, infertile females stings, developed fertilized eggs), hundreds drones (large, sting­ less males, unfertilized single queen (the large fertile female, fed jelly endowed sting she uses against queens). During few weeks life, busy clean guard hive, collect nectar pollen, secrete regurgitate honey, build cells feed young. proverbially lazy drones, who live several months take none chores, do nothing fertilize queen. Copulation, takes place outside results castration death drone or mate her. After impregnation queen, expel kill remaining when food supplies run low. The...
Studies in Eighteenth Century Culture