Games People Played: Drama and Ritual as Propaganda in Medieval Europe
D. A. Bullough
On 6 January 1378 King Charles V of France took his place in the centre top table at a banquet given honour distinguished guest, uncle Emperor IV. The setting Palais de la Cité, company and menu were appropriately sumptuous. Resplendent hangings covered wall behind marble table: noblest guests sat five large tables, each raised on its own platform; divided from them by barriers other tables with seats for more than 800 knights. entire was treated to three elaborate courses, ten dishes. Then, previous concealment end hall, massive model ship emerged carrying crowd armed warriors, among persons identifiable their arms as Godfrey Bouillon leaders First Crusade, together Peter Hermit, looking—we are told—as much like descriptions him chronicles possible. Propelled smoothly along floor men concealed within, it crossed front then turned round face towards centre. An even structure next brought forward—this time representing city Jerusalem, complete battlemented walls towers defended dressed Saracen Temple high middle rising still higher above tower which another figure dress ‘crying Law’ Arabic. Crusaders descended attacked scaling ladders, some made fall off, until finally knights entered city, tossed unfortunate defenders over triumph banners they had them: after dinner finished.
Transactions of the Royal Historical Society