National Myths in Renaissance France: Francus, Samothes and the Druids.

Aus der Bibliothek von Prof. Wolfgang Haase, langj�igem Herausgeber der ANRW und des International Journal of the Classical Tradition (IJCT) / From the library of Prof. Wolfgang Haase, long-time editor of ANRW and the International Journal of the Classical Tradition (IJCT). - Ein tadelloses Exemplar / a pristine copy. - It was the seventh-century Chronicle of Fredegar which first gave the Franks a Trojan ancestry, and the lineage stuck. This fascinating new study shows how, even as late as the sixteenth century, historians and poets found the lure of the eponymic hero Francus, the Glorious Druids and the Great Celtic Past irresistible. It describes how, obsessed with the origins of their country and the prevailing nationalism of the age, early sixteenth-century writers were largely uncritical of their highly spurious sources - even acknowledged forgeries such as those of Annius of Viterbo. However, a desire to replace fiction with fact gradually took hold as the Renaissance progressed, and National Myths examines the reasons for this change of mood and discusses the emotional satisfaction afforded by a belief in the Trojan and Gallic legends. With its topical themes of nationalism and the politicisation of history, this book sheds new light on Renaissance historiography and on the history of ideas in general. / Contents Introduction Part I The Treatment by Historians of the Subject of Early French History 1 The Idea of a Trojan Origin 2 �Berosus� The text of the Antiquities of Annius of Viterbo The Antiquities as seen by French writers dealing with the subject of early French history 3 Other Sources Providing Material on the Subject of Early French History Part II The Treatment by Poets of Themes Concerning the Origin and Early History of the French 4 Francus Prelude: Guillaume Cretin Ronsard�s epic, La Franciade Epics and epic fragments on the same theme as Ronsard�s Franciade (Claude Garnier, Jacques Guillot, Geuffrin; Malvyn, Josset) Pierre de Laudun: Ea Franciade Jean Godard: Ea Franciade, Tragcedie 5 Gauls and Gallic Kings Le Fevre de La Boderie: Ea Galliade Jean Le Fevre de Dreux Jean Le Masle Robert Le Rocquez Jean Heudon: Les Adventures de la France Conclusion Appendix 1 Text and Translation of Annins Fragments Attributed to Berosus and Manetho Appendix 2 Jean-Pons-Guillaume Viennet: La Franciade Bibliography Index. ISBN 9780748604074