Hewing the Ancient Elm: Anger, Arboricide, and Medieval Kingship
Lindsay Diggelmann
In 1188, an eye-catching display of royal anger resulted in the destruction ancient elm tree at Gisors by Philip II France. Building on recent reappraisals and other emotions medieval context, this essay seeks to understand how contemporary observers may have interpreted their monarch's momentous outburst. The elm's longstanding significance as a site diplomacy peace negotiations border zone between France Normandy makes its downfall especially symbolic, suggests that deliberate emotional excess be under-appreciated factor history diplomatic encounters. Examining chronicle sources later literary renditions incident, retold from both French Anglo-Norman perspectives, article reveals commentators made use rich vocabulary order either celebrate or deplore Philip's act arboricide.
Journal of Medieval and Early Modern Studies