Dueling Stories of the Sixteenth Century: From the French of Brantome

by Pierre de Bourdeille

""Dueling Stories of the Sixteenth Century"" is a book translated from French by Brantome, Pierre De Bourdeille. The book is a collection of stories about duels that took place during the 16th century. The stories are based on real events and provide a fascinating insight into the culture and customs of the time. The book includes stories of duels between nobles, soldiers, and even women. Each story is told in a vivid and engaging way, with plenty of detail and drama. The book also includes an introduction that provides historical context for the duels and explains the rules and etiquette of dueling in the 16th century. Overall, ""Dueling Stories of the Sixteenth Century"" is an entertaining and informative read for anyone interested in history, dueling, or the culture of the 16th century.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

250 pages, Paperback

Published September 10, 2010

About the author

Pierre de Bourdeille, aka Pierre de Bourdeilles, or Pierre de Brantôme (sometimes spelled Branthome) was born in Perigord, Aquitaine, the third son of the baron de Bourdeille. His mother and maternal grandmother were both attached to the court of Marguerite of Navarre, on whose death in 1549 he went to Paris, and later (1555) to Poitiers, to finish his education.

He was given several benefices, the most important of which was the abbey of Brantôme, but had no inclination for an ecclesiastical career.

He became a soldier and came into contact with many of the great leaders of the continental wars. He travelled in Italy; in Scotland, where he accompanied Mary Stuart (then the widow of Francis II of France); in England, where he saw Elizabeth I (1561, 1579); in Morocco (1564); and in Spain and Portugal.

He fought on the galleys of the Order of Malta, and accompanied his great friend, the French commander Filippo di Piero Strozzi (grandson of Filippo Strozzi the Younger), in his expedition against Terceira, in which Strozzi was killed (1582).

During the French Wars of Religion under Charles IX of France, he fought for the Catholics (including at the Siege of La Rochelle (1572-1573)), but he allowed himself to be won over temporarily by the ideas of the Huguenot reformers, and though he publicly separated himself from Protestantism, it had a marked effect on his mind.

A fall from his horse compelled him to retire into private life about 1589, and he spent his last years in writing his Memoirs of the illustrious men and women whom he had known.

Brantôme left distinct orders that his manuscript should be printed; a first edition appeared late (1665-1666) and not very complete. Later editions include:

* one in 15 volumes (1740)
* another by Louis Jean Nicolas Monmerque (1780-1860) in 8 volumes (1821-1824), reproduced in Buchan's Pantheon littéraire
* that of the Bibliotheque elzevirienne, begun (1858) by Prosper Mérimée and L. Lacour, and finished, with vol. xiii., only in 1893
* and Ludovic Lalanne's edition for the Société de l'histoire de France (12 vols, 1864-1896).

Bust of Brantôme at the Medici fountain in Dordogne.

Brantôme can hardly be regarded as a historian proper, and his Memoirs cannot be accepted as a very trustworthy source of information. But he writes in a quaint conversational way, pouring forth his thoughts, observations or facts without order or system, and with the greatest frankness and naiveté.

His works certainly gave an admirable picture of the general court-life of the time, with its unblushing and undisguised profligacy. There is not an homme illustre or a dame galante in all his gallery of portraits who hasn't engaged in what Medieval Christian prescriptions as well as the Victorian society would regard as sexual immorality; and yet the whole is narrated with the most complete unconsciousness that there is anything objectionable in their conduct.

Besides the general promiscuity of the characters, some parts of the work depict in a more or less detailed fashion the practices of homosexualism (almost exclusively lesbianism), cunnilingus, and, marginally, sado-masochism (although the persons engaging in these activities usually aren't identified by name). It also contains a rather long and explicit description of the female intimate parts in general, focusing on their diversity.

Reviews

[Phil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Translated from Brantome’s original French (written before 1614), first published in English in 1904 - this book covers precisely what it says. I didn’t think story after story of sixteenth century duels would be that interesting, but the myriad detail, protocol, treachery, and sometime gentlemanly examples proved entertaining.

The most educational point of interest: the winner of a duel had full say over the treatment of the body (or corpse) of the loser.

At times this book reinforced my childhood dream of living as a medieval knight, and at other times it reinforced my gratitude for English law and a Church that was repeatedly outspoken against, and ultimately successful in outlawing, the duel.

[Paul · Rating 1 out of 5]

More of a 16th century gossip rag about dueling and the translation is much in the way of a paraphrase.