Chocs En Plumes

Le Carre Hermes Paris >> Printemps-Ete 1996

Plumed Clashes

Boxing and rugby do not shock our sensitive souls; the human male has always relished a certain amount of violence. From the 12th to the 16th Century, knights fought with the weapons of chivalry at tournaments where ladies presided. After the death of Henry II, king of France, killed while jousting, the taste for those warlike games diminished in France. Merry-go-rounds, which succeeded them, through strictly equestrian, somehow preserved their turbulent energy.

Le Carre Hermes Paris >> Automne - Hiver 1993 / 94

Crash of Feathers

During the age of gallantry, a knight adorned the top of his helmet with delicate plumes, but his amusements were quite virile. During a tournament in 1559, Henri II of France, son of Francois I, lost his life when he was pierced in the eye by the lance of his opponent, Montgomery, the captain of the Scotish guards. The day after this tragedy, tournaments were abolished and replaced by carousels, purely equestrian parade exercises.