Food for Thought…
The History Man and his Wenches are organising a series of feasts at Manèque, just outside the village of Alaigne 11240, in Department 11 (Aude), France. If you go to the maps section at the end (be patient with the load times) you will see where we are. The idea of the Feasts is to provide a convivial setting for some historical presentations, so that you will learn some relevant history and feast in the style of the times. Our feasts will include as many of the following as we can do, but not necessarily in this order…
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The Roman Province and the Dark Ages |
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The setting will be the feast after the wedding between the Visigothic Chieftain Ataulf and the Roman Princess Galla Placidia, which took place at Narbonne in 412 AD.
| 2. |
The Occitan Nobility and the Cathars |
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The Count of Foix celebrates his daughter’s new status as a Cathar Perfect at Fanjeaux in 1208 AD. St Dominic is not invited.
| 3. |
The Black Prince in the Razes? |
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On November 16th, 1355, the Lord of Alaigne hosts, somewhat prematurely, a dinner for local dignitaries to celebrate their delivery from the English.
4. |
A Catholic Feast, 1570 |
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To celebrate the good news from Paris of events on St Bartholomew’s Day
| 5. |
Barging into History 1685 |
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The guests discuss the pros and cons of the Sun King’s regime, and in particular Mr Riquet’s astonishing new venture down in the valley
| 6. |
Calm after the Storm 1795? |
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What has the new Revolution achieved?
La Gloire and after…
Return from Lauragel
The contemporary French Scene
Who we are:
The History Man: Hugh Nicklin, Oxford History Graduate resident in the Razès. Hugh has been researching the events which we hope will form the basis of authentic conversation at table.
The Wenches:
Averelle Nicklin is a graduate of the Mountview School of Drama. She has been a drama teacher and run a catering company. She is a writer with an interest in medieval history.
Kathy Evans is the Manager at Manèque and provides Gite accommodation and Chambre d'Hote. Kathy can provide catering services, for example Sunday lunches, and will arrange dinner parties on request. In recent years Manèque has been entirely refurbished but it was a typical Maison de Maître of this area. Its origins are lost in the mists of time, but it will certainly have witnessed most of the times we are trying to re-create.
Contact e-mail
hdjnicklin@wanadoo.fr or maneque@wanadoo.fr
or phone 0033 (0)468695683 (Hugh and Averelle) or (0)468691422 (Kathy)