The final novella of the Lora Ley - Winter Tales has a time travel twist and takes us to the Germania of 1148 AD. The Feast of Fools festival or Narrenfest falls on January 1. It's a time of revelry and debauchery in the volatile environment of the Crusades.
In the historical background, Konrad III is Holy Roman Emperor. Together with Louis VII of France and Louis' controversial queen, Eleanor of Aquitaine, he embarks upon the Second Crusade.
READ: Feast of Fools - A Lora Ley Adventure
He and Louis march separately through Europe. Arriving in Anatolia (Asia Minor, Turkey) their armies are both defeated by the Seljuk Turks, who are still unhappy about being the target of the First Crusade.
It's a disaster from the start and Louis' wife Eleanor isn't speaking to him. She married Louis at the age of sixteen. She's the warrior of the family. Louis, a devout Christian, is madly in love with her despite disapproval from kin. The French dislike her high-spirited progressive ways.
READ: Feast of Fools - A Lora Ley Adventure
As Queen she takes a strong position. She receives a call for help from her uncle, Raymond of Poitiers. Raymond is Prince of Antioch, a Greek city in what is now south Turkey. Eleanor chooses to come on the Second Crusade with her ladies and three hundred Aquitaine vassals.
Despite his protests she exerts her influence over the lovelorn uncertainty of Louis. Riding astride, she leads knights into battle while he frets and prays. They arrive at Constantinople hailed as heroes, with Eleanor compared to an Amazon warrior queen.
It looks hopeful, but they're deceived by false news of Konrad III's success. His army has been demolished at Dorylaeum in today's northwest Turkey.
As the French set up camp the remnants of the German army come staggering by, shocked by their defeat. They hook up with the French and everyone goes in a confused and disorganized fashion toward Antioch.
On the way the armies suffer further separation and attacks by guerrilla riders. Eleanor wants to remain in Antioch with her uncle, Raymond of Poitiers. The discussion gets heated.
She starts to urge Louis for a marital annulment on the grounds of consanguinity ie she and Louis are too closely related, and this prevents the conception of a son and heir. Rumors of an affair with her uncle color up the situation.
Louis exerts his husbandly authority and commands her to come with him to Jerusalem. Things turn nasty as Eleanor burns with humiliation. Talk continues to circulate, as it always does. Opinion is divided about the Queen.
Her uncle Raymond expects them to help fight the Turks, but Louis abandons him, dragging Eleanor with him, heading for Jerusalem on a pilgrimage more religious than military. Raymond of Poitiers dies at the Battle of Inab in 1149.
The beautiful artwork above is a miniature of Konrad III of Germany from Chronica Regia Coloniensis (Cologne Kings' Chronicle; Cologne; ca. 1240). The word miniature originally comes from the Latin "to color with minium", a red lead. The pigment is used extensively in illuminated manuscripts.
The Second Crusade lasts only a couple of years, from 1147 - 1149, and it's two years too many. King Konrad III begins with an army of 30,000 men.
Louis has 10,000. Crusaders are promised Papal indulgences and forgiveness of sins; lands and riches; a guaranteed place in Heaven, honor, prestige and a great adventure.
In the end, it's a bust. Battles erupt with heavy losses and failure for the Crusaders. Guerrilla attacks cut their ranks further. A flash flood takes countless lives.
Bad decisions and in-fighting reduce morale. After the disastrous siege of Damascus in July 1148, the end comes to a final fizzle as the everyone wanders home to bicker with the neighbors.
READ: Feast of Fools - A Lora Ley Adventure
Eleanor and Louis eventually get an annulment from the Pope in 1152. Eleanor marries the future King of England (Henry II) a few months later. She's 30. He's eighteen. Henry becomes King in 1154. He and Eleanor have eight children, three of them sons. One is the future Richard the Lionheart.
In 1399 Richard attacks a small fort on the speculation it holds a treasure. He's struck in the shoulder with a crossbow bolt. The wound begins to fester and gangrene sets in.
Richard calls for his guard to bring the one who shot him. It's a young boy, who says Richard killed his father and brother, and he was out for revenge.
As his last living act Richard pardons the boy and sends him away with 100 shillings, about the value of a cow at the time. His will has little effect. As soon as Richard departs this world, one of the King's mercenary captains has the boy arrested, tortured and killed.
What a medieval life.