“D'une plume de fer sur un papier d'acier”: faith, nationalism and war in the poetry of the first French War of Religion
Sara Barker
The arrival of Protestantism in mid-sixteenth century France prompted the redefinition an emerging national identity hitherto built around twin concepts inherent Catholicism and monarchical legitimacy. In popular writing day, poets deliberately used overtly nationalistic languages weaponry, fidelity treason to define religious groups. This article traces evolution loyalty, war exchange polemical poems between Pierre de Ronsard his protestant critics discusses their efficiency establishing enduring tropes which outlived sixteenth century. It argues that Catholic Protestant subverted medieval image as “most Christian” nation achieve vilification opponents, a core sustained French life up beyond Revolution. then considers reflection civil unrest use weaponry. Enabling men who were not soldiers “fight” away from battlefield, it also saw engaging single combat defence faith, consciously referring codified rules duel.
International Journal of the Sociology of Language