Historical characters you admire

[abaris]

You should read a book about her sometime. She was pretty extraordinary. Was an 18 year old girl and led a whole army to victory at Orleans back when women weren't even allowed to go to war... much less be in a position of power over the soldiers.

Well, don't forget the political implications. There was a reason for the Dauphin giving her that chance and that was prophecy. Shrewd as he was he used that to his advantage. He got nothing to lose but everything to win. If she was indeed successful, and she probably was because of a boost to morale, he could claim the fame for himself. If she hadn't been, he would have still been in the same position as before.

Also, she never actually led an army. That's pure legend. She was just there to represent while trained militaries planned the attacks. The one time she went against them, she lost and got captured.

[ApeNotKillApe]

In my case, I admire many. 

1. Dante Alighieri, italian poet. He wrote the greatest book of all time: The Comedy, nowdays called The Divine Comedy. Took him around 20 years. He also made many investigations regarding language in Italy and other countries, and even though many of his research was based on christian beliefs, he made astounding progress all by himself. His life is interesting, too. He was exiled from Florence, and never had the opportunity to go back (except for once which he denied, since he had to accept public humilliation). He had to abandon his family and almost roam streets begging for food. And finally, he created the myth of Beatriz, who according to historians, was a real woman, and her name was Bice di Folco Portinari.

I've been reading a short history of Dante and the times he lived in, which came bolted onto the front of a copy of Inferno. Talks a lot about the political strife as well as the poetic trends of the time and the influencers of Dante, very interesting to learn about the context under which the Comedy was written. Makes it out as much more than the 'I'm going to put specific living people I don't like in Hell and the non-Christians I do like in a special nice Hell' self-insert fanfiction that I tend to think of it as.

[Jackalope]

Vlad T. Impaler for his visionary ideas re: yard decoration.

[abaris]

Vlad T. Impaler for his visionary ideas re: yard decoration.

He didn't do it in his yard. Just where it got the most publicity when fighting the Ottomans. Having a meal in front of the procedures certainly added to the fame.

[Jackalope]

Vlad T. Impaler for his visionary ideas re: yard decoration.

He didn't do it in his yard. Just where it got the most publicity when fighting the Ottomans. Having a meal in front of the procedures certainly added to the fame.

It's a metaphor.

Actually, the guy was a bit of a dick.

[abaris]

It's a metaphor.

Actually, the guy was a bit of a dick.

Compared to the general law of the land at his time, I wouldn't even say that. He fit in nicely.

[Thumpalumpacus]

In a world of shit, no doubt.

But because of him, we can be flushed with pride.

Boru

Oh, just pinch off the punnery already, Bri!

[Thumpalumpacus]

In my case, I admire many. 

1. Dante Alighieri, italian poet. He wrote the greatest book of all time: The Comedy, nowdays called The Divine Comedy. Took him around 20 years. He also made many investigations regarding language in Italy and other countries, and even though many of his research was based on christian beliefs, he made astounding progress all by himself. His life is interesting, too. He was exiled from Florence, and never had the opportunity to go back (except for once which he denied, since he had to accept public humilliation). He had to abandon his family and almost roam streets begging for food. And finally, he created the myth of Beatriz, who according to historians, was a real woman, and her name was Bice di Folco Portinari.

I've been reading a short history of Dante and the times he lived in, which came bolted onto the front of a copy of Inferno. Talks a lot about the political strife as well as the poetic trends of the time and the influencers of Dante, very interesting to learn about the context under which the Comedy was written. Makes it out as much more than the 'I'm going to put specific living people I don't like in Hell and the non-Christians I do like in a special nice Hell' self-insert fanfiction that I tend to think of it as.

Boorstein, in The Creators, gives over a chapter to Dante's circumstances as he was writing The Comedy. Seems clear to me that his vision of Hell was not nearly so revengeful, personally, as some critics say.

[Thumpalumpacus]

Vlad T. Impaler for his visionary ideas re: yard decoration.

What does the "T" stand for?

Just curious.

[Minimalist]

"The"


A Frenchman pisses on the Joan of Arc myth.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/1999/oct/26/jonhenley

Truth tarnishes legend of St Joan

"I'm very much afraid that precious little of what we French have been taught in school about Joan of Arc is true," said Roger Caratini, an eminent academic, historian, mathematician and psychoanalyst and the author of Joan of Arc: from Domrémy to Orléans, the stake to the legend.

"She was, it seems, almost entirely the creation of France's desperate need for a patriotic mascot in the 19th century. The country wanted a hero, the myths of the revolution were altogether too bloody, and France more or less invented the story of its patron saint. The reality is, sadly, a little different."

I wonder if that book has been translated into English.  Sounds like a good read.