The Man Who Believed He Was King of France : A True Medieval Tale

Replete with shady merchants, scoundrels, hungry mercenaries, scheming nobles, and maneuvering cardinals, The Man Who Believed He Was King of France proves the adage that truth is often stranger than fiction—or at least as entertaining. The setting of this improbable but beguiling tale is 1354 and the Hundred Years’ War being waged for control of France. Seeing an opportunity for political and material gain, the demagogic dictator of Rome tells Giannino di Guccio that he is in fact the lost heir to Louis X, allegedly switched at birth with the son of a Tuscan merchant. Once convinced of his birthright, Giannino claims for himself the name Jean I, king of France, and sets out on a brave—if ultimately ruinous—quest that leads him across Europe to prove his identity. With the skill of a crime scene detective, Tommaso di Carpegna Falconieri digs up evidence in the historical record to follow the story of a life so incredible that it was long considered a literary invention of the Italian Renaissance. From Italy to Hungry, then through Germany and France, the would-be king’s unique combination of guile and earnestness seems to command the aid of lords and soldiers, the indulgence of inn-keepers and merchants, and the collusion of priests and rogues along the way. The apparent absurdity of the tale allows Carpegna Falconieri to analyze late-medieval society, exploring questions of essence and appearance, being and belief, at a time when the divine right of kings confronted the rise of mercantile culture. Giannino’s life represents a moment in which truth, lies, history, and memory combine to make us wonder where reality leaves off and fiction begins. (20081208) Replete With Shady Merchants, Scoundrels, Hungry Mercenaries, Scheming Nobles, And Maneuvering Cardinals, The Man Who Believed He Was King Of France Proves The Adage That Truth Is Often Stranger Than Fiction-or At Least As Entertaining. The Setting Of This Improbable But Beguiling Tale Is 1354 And The Hundred Years' War Being Waged For Control Of France. Seeing An Opportunity For Political And Material Gain, The Demagogic Dictator Of Rome Tells Giannino Di Guccio That He Is In Fact The Lost Heir To Louis X, Allegedly Switched At Birth With The Son Of A Tuscan Merchant. Once Convinced Of His Birthright, Giannino Claims For Himself The Name Jean I, King Of France, And Sets Out On A Brave-if Ultimately Ruinous-quest That Leads Him Across Europe To Prove His Identity. With The Skill Of A Crime Scene Detective, Tommaso Di Carpegna Falconieri Digs Up Evidence In The Historical Record To Follow The Story Of A Life So Incredible That It Was Long Considered A Literary Invention Of The Italian Renaissance. From Italy To Hungry, Then Through Germany And France, The Would-be King's Unique Combination Of Guile And Earnestness Seems To Command The Aid Of Lords And Soldiers, The Indulgence Of Inn-keepers And Merchants, And The Collusion Of Priests And Rogues Along The Way. The Apparent Absurdity Of The Tale Allows Carpegna Falconieri To Analyze Late-medieval Society, Exploring Questions Of Essence And Appearance, Being And Belief, At A Time When The Divine Right Of Kings Confronted The Rise Of Mercantile Culture. Giannino's Life Represents A Moment In Which Truth, Lies, History, And Memory Combine To Make Us Wonder Where Reality Leaves Off And Fiction Begins. Ch. 1. At Rome -- Ch. 2. At Siena -- Ch. 3. In The East -- Ch. 4. In The West -- Ch. 5. In Prison -- Ch. 6. Giannino In History, Legend, And Literature -- App. 1. The Direct Capetian Line -- App. 2. The Angevins Of Naples And Hungary. Tommaso Di Carpegna Falconieri ; Translated By William Mccuaig. Translated From The Italian. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 199-211) And Index. Replete with shady merchants, scoundrels, hungry mercenaries, scheming nobles, and maneuvering cardinals, __The Man Who Believed He Was King of France__ proves the adage that truth is often stranger than fiction—or at least as entertaining. The setting of this improbable but beguiling tale is 1354 and the Hundred Years’ War being waged for control of France. Seeing an opportunity for political and material gain, the demagogic dictator of Rome tells Giannino di Guccio that he is in fact the lost heir to Louis X, allegedly switched at birth with the son of a Tuscan merchant. Once convinced of his birthright, Giannino claims for himself the name Jean I, king of France, and sets out on a brave—if ultimately ruinous—quest that leads him across Europe to prove his identity. With the skill of a crime scene detective, Tommaso di Carpegna Falconieri digs up evidence in the historical record to follow the story of a life so incredible that it was long considered a literary invention of the Italian Renaissance. From Italy to Hungry, then through Germany and France, the would-be king’s unique combination of guile and earnestness seems to command the aid of lords and soldiers, the indulgence of inn-keepers and merchants, and the collusion of priests and rogues along the way. The apparent absurdity of the tale allows Carpegna Falconieri to analyze late-medieval society, exploring questions of essence and appearance, being and belief, at a time when the divine right of kings confronted the rise of mercantile culture. Giannino’s life represents a moment in which truth, lies, history, and memory combine to make us wonder where reality leaves off and fiction begins. Contents 8 Preface (2005) 10 Preface to the American Edition (2008) 12 Translator’s Note 12 Map of Europe in 1360 15 Chapter One, At Rome 16 Chapter Two, At Siena 38 Chapter Three, In the East 62 Chapter Four, In the West 80 Chapter Five, In Prision 106 Chapter Six, Giannino in History, Legend, and Literature 132 Appendix 1 172 Appendix 2 174 Notes 176 Bibliography 212 Index 226 The setting of this improbable tale is 1354 and the Hundred Years' War is being waged for control of France. Seeing an opportunity for political and material gain, the dictator of Rome tells one Giannino di Guccio that he is in fact the lost heir to Louis X, and encourages him to set out on a quest to prove his identity