Blog Archives

CATHEDRALS OF ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA

5/25/2018

My July release, All For Spilled Blood, fourth book in the Tour Director Extraordinaire romantic suspense series, is set in St. Petersburg. I visited there in 2004 and found it to be a fascinating and beautiful city with canals like Venice, earning it the nickname Venice of the North.

◄Cathedral at Peterhoff

St. Petersburg, second largest city in Russia, was built by Tsar Peter the Great in 1703, so it isn’t ancient like other parts of Europe. The Tsar set out to make the city as European as possible. And it is, but with a Russian flare for design. Like most European cities, among the most magnificent buildings are the cathedrals.

In spite of the confiscation of churches by the government after the October Revolution of 1917 and the destruction and looting of religious sanctuaries in the 1920’s, many of these marvelous cathedrals have been restored. While many artifacts and works of art were lost, the restorations have captured some of the prior splendor. Don’t look for pews or seats in the churches still used for Russian Orthodox services. There aren’t any. It is customary to stand during the service.

A few of the many examples follow. The Church On Spilled Blood is my favorite, and figures prominently in the title of my upcoming release, so let’s start our tour there.

CHURCH OF THE SAVIOR ON SPILLED BLOOD
This Russian Revival-style church, built between 1883 and 1907, is known as Resurrection of Christ Church or The Church of Our Savior On The Spilled Blood, but it is generally called The Church On Spilled Blood.

Everyone questions the word “on” in the name, but there’s a reason. It marks the exact spot where, in 1881, Emperor Alexander II was assassinated by a group of revolutionaries who threw a bomb into his royal carriage. His heir and younger brother, Alexander III, insisted on building the church on the exact spot of the assassination. ▼

Photo:https://www.c.afarom Marc Perrotta ▲ Photo:http://www.ellecroft.com/blog/2014/ Elle Croft▲

CATHEDRAL OF SAINTS PETER AND PAUL
Valsilyevsky Island

Designed in the Baroque style, SS Peter and Paul was built between 1712 and 1733, and is the oldest landmark in St. Petersburg. This was the first wooden church to be erected at SS Peter and Paul Fort on Valsilyevsky Island after St. Petersburg was officially founded. It is the burial site for nearly the rulers of Russia since Peter the Great through Alexander III. The bell tower makes it unusual among Russian churches.

The cathedral closed in 1919 and became a museum in 1924. It is still a museum, but services have been held there regularly since 2000. According to Wikipedia, “When renovators were cleaning the angel on the spire in 1997, they found a note in a bottle left in one of the folds of the angel’s gown. In the note, renovators from 1953 apologized for what they felt was rushed and shoddy work.” It is rumored another note was found also in the same renovation, but the message has never been revealed. Photos:https://tournavigator.pro/

SMOLNY CATHEDRAL
This cathedral, built between 1748 and 1761, was part of a complex planned by Empress Elizabeth to include a nunnery and a school for girls. The cathedral was completed, but when Elizabeth died, the work on the monastery came to a halt. By the early 1830s, much of the cathedral had fallen into disrepair until it was restored in 1832 by Nicholas I. ▼

Photos: https://lidenz.ru Wikipedia

ST. ISSAC’S CATHEDRAL
St. Isaac's Cathedral, 1818-1858, was originally the city's main church and is the largest cathedral in Russia. Today, the rebuilt Church of Christ the Savior in Moscow exceeds its size, but St. Issac’s gilded dome of still dominates the skyline of St. Petersburg and it boasts much more impressive façades and interiors than its competition in Moscow. ▼

The Russians are really into having something “bigger” than everyone else. Competition is fierce for the biggest, tallest, strongest, etc. Photos: Wikipedia

ANNUNCIATION OF THE MOTHER OF GOD
Valsilyevsky Island

Of the ten churches in St. Petersburg named after the Annunciation of the Mother of God, this is one of the only two surviving structures.

Some sources named this as the first wooden church built here in the earliest years of St. Petersburg; others say it was SS Peter and Paul. At that time, Vasilevskiy was planned as the center of the city, and rows of canals were built along what are now the Lines. In 1750, by which time Vasilevsky was predominantly a merchant quarter, construction began on a stone church, funded by wealthy members of the congregation, and principally the Chirkiniy family of brewers.

TRINITY IZMAILOVSKY CATHEDRAL
Sometimes called the Troitsky Cathedral, this cathedral is an example of the Empire style, built between 1828 and 1835 to a design by Vasily Stasov. According to the Russian tradition, each regiment of the imperial guards had its own cathedral. The Trinity Cathedral was the regimental church of the Izmailovsky regiment of Imperial guards, which moved to Saint Petersburg when the city was established as the Russian capital under Empress Anna Ioannovna (1693-1740).

Constructed during the reign of Emperor Nicholas I to replace a wooden church built in 1754-56 (damaged during a flood in 1824) began in May 1828, and the cathedral was consecrated in May 1835. The cathedral rises to a height of more than 80 meters, and dominates the skyline of the surrounding area.

After the revolution, most of the cathedral’s icons and valuables were stolen and the building was closed in 1938. At one point it was a warehouse of the Ministry of Telecommunications. It was returned to the Russian Orthodox Church in 1990. It is functioning but most bare inside.

Photos from http://www.angelfire.com/pa/ImperialRussian/blog/index.blog?start=1366517699&topic_id=1070238

On August 25, 2006, while under reconstruction, a fire started in which the central dome collapsed and one of four smaller cupolas surrounding it was also destroyed. The most valuable icons and other items were saved, and structural damage beneath the roof area was minor.

CHURCH-OF-THE-EPIPHANY OF OUR LORD
Gutuevskiy-Island
Photo:http://www.saint-petersburg.com/churches/church-baptism-our-lord/

Still being restored, this small 19th century red brick church commemorates the escape of Tsesarevich Nicholas Akexandrivuch from an assassination attempt in 1891. It was designed by Vasiliy Kosyakov and funded by Ivan Boronin, a wealthy textiles manufacturer who wished to establish a family mausoleum at the church.

As were most churches, it was closed for religious uses in the mid-thirties and used for other purposes including a soap factory and a morgue. Being close to the waterfront, it suffered heavy damage during WWII. The interior embellishments and precious decorations were plundered or destroyed after the Revolution. In 1991, the ruined building was returned to the Orthodox Church. The first service was held on January 19th, 1992, and restoration work began later that year.

CHESME CHURCH
This Gothic-Revival style church was built by Russian court architect Yury Felten between 1777 and 1780 at the direction of Catherine the Great. It was the house church for the Chesme Palace, a stopover between St. Petersburg and the summer palace of the royal family in Tsarskoe Selo. It is now within the city of St. Petersburg.

Photos: http://www.saint-petersburg.com/

This striking red-and-white structure commemorates Alexsei Orlov’s victory over Turkish forces in 1770 at the Bay of Chesme. Fortunately, the unique piece of architecture has survived almost intact during the period of repressions and abandonment of religious monuments under the Soviet government. The land surrounding the church has been used for burial of war heroes of the Siege of Leningrad. Church services are held here regularly.

NAVAL CATHEDRAL OF ST. NICHOLAS
Konstadt
The Naval Cathedral of St. Nicholas, modeled after Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, is the last and largest naval cathedral of the Russian Empire built in Kronstadt (a small town which is now part of St. Petersburg) in 1903-1913. It is the tallest building in Kronstadt (70.5 meters).

This majestic Byzantine cathedral is a monument to all sailors of the Russian Navy. Kronstadt, founded by order of Peter I, was the main naval base of the Baltic Fleet since 1720s. It is considered the main church of the Russian Navy. It was built with the personal support of the last tsar, Nicholas II and consecrated in June 1913 during the 300th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty. The cathedral's dedication to St. Nicholas reflected not only the role of that saint as the protector of seafarers, but also a connection to the imperial patron, Nicholas II.

Photos by: Yuri Yuhanson
The building was closed in 1929 and reopened as a movie theater, a House of Officers (1939) and in 1980 it was converted to a museum of the Navy.

KAZAN CATHEDRAL
Kazan Cathedral, known as the Cathedral of Our Lady of Kazan, is a Russian Orthodox Church on the Nevsky Prospekt dedicated to Our Lady of Kazan, probably the most venerated icon in Russia.

The cathedral was built between 1801 to 1811 by architect Andrev Voronikhin at the order of Emperor Paul I who wanted it to duplicate the Vatican’s Basilica of St. Peter.

Photos: https://www.rbth.com/ Photo: Wikipedia Photo: visit-petersburg.ru/en/showplace/

CHURCH OF THE TRANSFIGURATION OF OUR SAVIOR
Kizhi Island
I've strayed a distance from St. Petersburg for this example, but it's too magnificent to not include. Two of the most remarkable churches I saw in Russia are located side by side on Kizhi Island. a small island of the Kizhi Archipelago in Lake Onega, about 300 miles northeast of St. Petersburg.

Photos: http://www.designsponge.com/ http://naturalhomes.org/kizhi-island.htm

The structures were almost lost to deterioration but, in 1990, UNESCO designated the entire island as a World Heritage Site. As such, smoking is prohibited except in certain identified areas due to the nature of the wooden structures. Also, no one lives on the island and staying there overnight is prohibited. □

Sources
http://www.saint-petersburg.com/cathedrals/church-resurrection-jesus-christ/
http://russiatrek.org/blog/architecture/the-church-of-the-savior-on-spilled-blood-in-st-petersburg/
https://www.afar.com/places/church-of-our-savior-on-the-spilled-blood-saint-petersburg-2
http://russiatrek.org/blog/travel/kronstadt-naval-cathedral-in-st-petersburg/
http://russiatrek.org/blog/art/amazing-interior-of-the-naval-cathedral-in-kronstadt/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kronstadt_Naval_Cathedral
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g2394587-d2618634-Reviews-The_Naval_Cathedral_of_Saint_Nicholas_in_Kronstadt-Kronshtadt_Kronshtadtsky_Dist.html
https://www.rbth.com/travel/2013/08/09/the_kronstadt_cathedral_byzantine_monument_to_russias_navy_28797.html
https://www.rbth.com/travel/327369-things-foreigner-should-never-do-in-russia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kazan_Cathedral,_Saint_Petersburg
http://www.visit-petersburg.ru/en/showplace/195646/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chesme_Church
https://www.bluffton.edu/homepages/facstaff/sullivanm/russia/stpeter/chesme/chesme.html
https://travel.sygic.com/en/poi/chesme-church-poi:5187795
https://theculturetrip.com/europe/russia/articles/the-most-beautiful-churches-in-st-petersburg/
http://www.angelfire.com/pa/ImperialRussian/blog/index.blog?start=1366517699&topic_id=1070238
http://orthodoxinfo.com/praxis/whystand.aspx
http://www.slate.com/blogs/atlas_obscura/2014/04/28/the_intricate_wooden_churches_of_kizhi_island.html
http://naturalhomes.org/kizhi-island.htm
https://www.rbth.com/articles/2011/01/28/the_churches_of_kizhi_russias_sacred_island_12318.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saints_Peter_and_Paul_Cathedral,_Saint_Petersburg
https://www.tripsavvy.com/kizhi-island-1502253
http://tripconnoisseurs.com/product/russian-waterways2/
https://holeinthedonut.smugmug.com/DailyPhotos/HITD-Daily-Photos/i-87xn52Q
http://www.visit-petersburg.ru/en/showplace/195646/
http://www.designsponge.com/2009/09/past-and-present-log-cabin-cast-iron-skillet-project.html

0 Comments

ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA: Venice of the North

5/18/2018

0 Comments

VENICE OF THE NORTH
Before I traveled in Russia in 2004, the term “Venice of the North” meant nothing to me. Color me dense.

A great deal of St. Petersburg’s charm derives from being built around a network of canals and rivers, and the most incredible bridges you can imagine, bringing pedestrian and vehicle traffic across those canals. In addition to being the main lifeblood of the city, the waterways help define the unique atmosphere by creating eerie mists which rise from the frozen water in the winter and glimmering mirror facades in the summer.

ONE OF EUROPE’S MOST ROMANTIC CITIES
Saint Petersburg, Russia, is one of the most romantic cities in Europe, with an ambiance which maximizes the rich cultural background and history of Russia. If you read or write historical fiction, Russia and St. Petersburg are both vast sources of inspiration. In 1990, the entire central portion of the city of St. Petersburg and a related groups of monuments were deemed the first Russian site to be inscribed in the UNESCO list of world heritage sites.
Google Borderline map of Russia showing geographical relationship to other Countries ▼

St. Petersburg, the second largest city in Russia (population 5.28 million in 2016), is located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea.

Founded in 1703 by Tsar Peter the Great, it served as the capital of Russia from 1703 to 1728 and again from 1732 to 1918. In 1914, the name was changed to Petrograd. In 1924, again it was changed, this time to Leningrad. In 1991, the city’s official name went back to Saint Petersburg.
Map: http://canacopegdl.com - Diwecke International Atlas

VENICE OF THE NORTH
Although founded by Peter the Great, this city began as the fortress Nyenskans, built in 1611 by Swedish colonists. A small town named Nyen grew up around the fortress. In 1703 the Tsar began to build a new city to be the capital of his empire and a seaport in order to trade with Europe. The physical construction was done by conscripted peasants from all over Russia and Swedish prisoners of war from the from the Great Northern War.

The first buildings were situated on ten islands to the north side of the Neva in the river delta. As the city grew, the center moved south of the river. Today St. Petersburg spreads over more than forty islands, with 342 public bridges cataloged, all sizes, types, and designs. It’s impossible to walk more than a few hundred meters without crossing a bridge.

Tourist map of the city

Peter the Great created St. Petersburg to be as much like a European city as possible. While the older parts have the definite “feel” of a European city, the buildings themselves take on some of the special expansive qualities typical of Russian architecture. Nothing there is ancient by European standards. Port of St. Petersburg on Neva River
   http://www.cruisin.me/cruise-port-webcams/europe/st-petersburg-russia.php
Being built on the marshlands of the delta, there are at least seven rivers, four major canals, and other smaller canals running through the city (300 kilometers) and 800 bridges of all sizes to cross them.

The climate in St. Petersburg is described as mild, but that depends on what you’re used to. Winters, with freezing winds and snow, average around 9ºF to 10ºF (-13ºC to -12ºC), and during those months the Neva River is frozen solid. You can see in the photo that it is a big river.

The Tsar expected residents of the city move around during the summer months by boat on the canals. In the winter, when the canals are frozen, the people were to use them with sleds. There were few, if any, bridges.

Good luck with that! After Peter’s death, the residents started building bridges. The first permanent bridge of bricks and stone across the main branch of the Neva was constructed in 1850.

Church on the Savior on Spilled Blood*
on the Gribojedov (Griboedov) Canal    The Winter Canal       The Bolshaya River The Bridge of Four Lions

Griffons at Bank Bridge Palace Bridge Lomonosov Bridge Trinity Bridge

IN ADDITION TO CANALS AND BRIDGES
There is so much to see there, but don’t expect any of it to be ancient – the city itself isn’t that old -- and there are many modern marvels to see as well.

◄The State Hermitage Museum is one of the most famous museums in the world. Consisting of a complex of five buildings, it was initially the winter palace of the imperial family built in 1754-62. It was opened by Nicholas I as a public museum in 1852 and houses nearly three million.

The General Staff Building is a neo-class structure located on Palace Square across from the Heritage Museum (The Winter Palace). The triumphal arch is adorned with a bronze sculpture of the mythical Victory in her six-horsed chariot, commemorating Russian victory over Napoleonic France in the War of 1812. ►

Peterhof Palace, located outside St. Petersburg, is a palace built by Peter the Great in 1714-21 which he wanted to rival French Versailles. It is well known for its fountains and gardens. ►

The Catherine Palace is named after Catherine I, the wife of Peter the Great, who ruled Russia for two years after her husband's death. Originally a modest two-story building commissioned by Peter for Catherine in 1717, the Catherine Palace owes its awesome grandeur to their daughter, Empress Elizabeth, who chose Tsarskoe Selo as her chief summer residence. ▼

Starting in 1743, the building was reconstructed by four different architects, before Bartholomeo Rastrelli, Chief Architect of the Imperial Court, was instructed to completely redesign the building on a scale to rival Versailles.

Entrance to The Catherine Palace

Statues and Sculptures abound in the city and there will be one any place you choose to go. Many are serious monumental dedications to heroes of history and mythology and famous people. Others, contemporary, are more whimsical.

The Bronze Horseman Monument to Photographers St. Petersburg Angel
The Bronze Horseman is one of the must-see’s. The statue stands in Senate Square and is the most popular. Dedicated the Peter the Great, founder of the city, it faces the Neva River by the Admiralty, and St. Isaac’s Cathedral.

Although I didn’t see these when I was in St. Petersburg – they weren’t there yet -- they are my favorites. First, a moment to photographers, and second, the bronze angel in in Izlailovo Park. Called the “Petersburg Angel” , the sculpture appeared on the back of park bench on October 12, 2012. In his rumpled coat, he is hidden under the umbrella and carefully reads his wise book. The author of the bronze sculpture is the famous St. Petersburg artist Roman Shustrov.

CHURCHES AND CATHEDRALS
These structures are the highlights of St. Petersburg and deserve their own article. That will come next week.

EVERY DAY LIFE IN RUSSIA
As a tourist, it’s often hard to get a true sense of the way people live in a country. I went on a tour, so I went where they took me and I saw what they showed me. Still, we did get out on our own, and we talked to average citizens, not just in St. Petersburg but in Moscow and all along the Volga.

Now remember, this was more than ten years ago. Like everywhere else, people have changed, and the city has grown more than half a million inhabitants. However, at the time, we found many Russians spoke English, and I found them very friendly and helpful.

I also noticed most of the older Russians can assume at will a disinterested blank expression, and they don’t “step outside the box” much. There were several instances when individuals could have been helpful by giving information or doing something, but because it was not in their job description (and would have infringed on someone else’s responsibility), they only did/said what they were required to do/say. For example, on the cruise ship I asked at the excursions signup desk what time the gift shop opened. The answer I got was "You will have to ask the gift shop employees." In fact, for the rest of the trip the gift shop opened and closed at exactly the same time every day. I'm 99.9% sure to lady at the excursion desk knew the answer.

You have to wonder where that attitude comes from, and if it will change over time. However, there were other instances of people going out of their way, and taking a risk, to be helpful.

The Parquet floors are a highlight of Russian craftsmanship, no matter where you go. They are incredible.

Grocery Store Flea Market Flea Market
We found no shortage of food, and the grocery stores and marketplaces seemed not only well stocked, had everything available.

There was a police presence when I was there, but we didn't see anything like that shown in the photos below. It felt very safe in 2004.

Women from Police Academy http://ewn.co.za Rioters being arrested 2017

I love the history and the architecture, but I also love meeting the people and finding out what life is like living in different countries. And one of the best parts of traveling is coming home with a new appreciation for my own country and culture, and grateful for living where I live.□

Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Petersburg
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/zhivago/ei_love.html
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/zhivago/ei_love.html
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g298507-St_Petersburg_Northwestern_District-Vacations.html
http://nightfame.com/style/2011/01/thousands-of-russians-jump-in-ice-holes-for-holiday/
https://www.rt.com/news/419778-light-pillars-russia-petersburg/
https://www.britannica.com/place/St-Petersburg-Russia
https://wikitravel.org/en/Saint_Petersburg
http://www.cruisin.me/cruise-port-webcams/europe/st-petersburg-russia.php
https://www.destinationtips.com/destinations/europe/15-things-not-to-do-in-russia/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=adwords&utm_content=Dont+Do+Russia&utm_campaign=ADW001-DST-gentravelus-conv&utm_term=&mmp=&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI0Juj2YvH2QIVybrACh3YHQcsEAAYAyAAEgL
https://www.divergenttravelers.com/best-photo-spots-in-st-petersburg-russia/
https://splashmans.wikispaces.com/Place+for+Location+for+Russia+%26+Neighboring+Countries
http://www.st-petersburg-essentialguide.com/rivers-and-canals.html
http://www.takeusanywhere.com/2016/07/11/15-things-to-do-saint-petersburg/
https://themoscowtimes.com/photogalleries/victory-day-celebrations-across-russia-and-crimea-57945
https://kgiop.gov.spb.ru/en/st-petersburg/
http://www.saint-petersburg.com/rivers-and-canals/
http://blogs.pjstar.com/eye/2013/01/23/russian-orthodox-believers-celebrate-epiphany-with-an-icy-plunge/
https://yandex.ru/collections/card/58657ae91e37f62f46ab6760/
http://www.saint-petersburg.com/rivers-and-canals/neva-river/
https://www.airpano.com/360Degree-VirtualTour.php?3D=Saint-Petersburg-Russia
http://vsuete.com/saint-petersburg-bronze-angel/

0 Comments

SIR LANCELOT AND QUEEN GUINEVERE: Greatest Love Stories Ever Told Series

5/11/2018

0 Comments

One of the most recognized love stories in the world, the love between Sir Lancelot and Queen Guinevere, presented problems in the telling. Their tragedy is a combination of vague history, medieval folklore, and literary invention rooted in Arthurian legend.

While all great love stories have an exterior context dependent on events [real or imaginary] occurring around the lovers, I found the story of Lancelot and Guinevere more difficult than usual.

● First, because all original accounts of our hero and heroine come from literary works about King Arthur.
     ● Second, since this is a love triangle, it is impossible to tell without addressing the many legends of King Arthur.
     ● Third, there is no canonical version of the legend, and the number of authors telling the story are numerous. Each used his own imagination to expand and embellish the older legends, and I’m not even considering all the television and movie versions.
   ● In all versions, there is an interrelationship between many characters. To tell the story of three could require filling in about dozens of other characters. Yikes!

I think I need to take a rest here, before we begin. I’m suffering from a severe case of T.M.I.

Tapestry showing Arthur
wearing the coat of arms
attributed to him (c.1385)▼

IT'S ALL ABOUT KING ARTHUR
Origins: Fictitious or Historical
King Arthur Pendragon is a legendary king who led the defense of the Britons against Saxon invaders in the late 5th and early 6th centuries AD and established an empire over Briton, Ireland, Iceland, Norway, and Gaul.

Whether he existed or not is a matter of debate among historians. His background is gleaned from several writings, primarily the 6th century works of Gildas the Wise, a monk who wrote the history of the Britons The Ruin and Conquest of Britain about the coming of the Saxons, the 9th century Historia Brittonum penned in 830 AD by a Welsh cleric named Nennius, and the 10th century Annales Cambriae.

However, King Arthur is not mentioned in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle or named in any surviving manuscript written between the 6th and the 9th centuries. To date, there is no physical or other evidence to prove he did exist – which doesn’t necessarily mean he didn’t.

If he did exist, he might have been a warrior or officer of Roman affiliation who led a British military force against incoming Saxons during the 5th to 6th centuries AD.
Illustration by Charles Edwin Butler ▼

The Literary Birth of King Arthur
Regardless, by medieval times, King Arthur had become a legendary figure. We can thank Geoffrey of Monmouth, the Welsh author who wrote an imaginative pseudo-historical [Historia Regum Britanniae] in 1136, which is responsible for creating the now-familiar persona of King Arthur.

The work introduced, for the first time, many of the characters populating later versions of the Arthurian legends, including Uther Pendragon, Merlin, Guinevere, and Mordred, as well as the sword Excalibur, Arthur’s conception at Tintagel, and his final battle against Mordred at Camlann. The writings are considered an imaginative and fanciful account of the Kings of Britain, rather recorded history.

The work was intended to be an historical document, but it fired the imagination of European Fiction writers, who added their own twists, characters, and creativity. In the poem titled The Welsh Triad, Arthur had three wives, all named Guinenvere: Gwenhwyfar daughter of Gwent (Cywryd), Gwenhwyfar daughter of Gwythyr son of Greidiawl, and Gwenhwyfar daughter of Gogfran (Gogrvan) the Giant.

Subsequent events and characters of the Arthurian legends vary widely from one book and poem to another, but Geoffrey’s version often serves as a starting point for the later writings. Also, Le Morte d’Arthur (The Death of King Arthur) by Sir Thomas Malory (1459) had a great deal of influence on Arthurian literature.

Painting by Herbert James Draper
1900 Edinburgh Museums and Art
Galleries, Edinburgh ▼

IT’S ALL ABOUT GUINEVERE
Origins
The earliest datable reference to Guinevere [as Guanhumara] is in Geoffrey Monmouth’s Historia Regum Britanniae. Geoffrey establishes her persona as descended from a noble Roman family and was the ward of Cador, Duke of Cornwall.

She makes a second appearance in the Welsh tale Culhwch and Olwen, written in the second half of the 12th century after Historia Britanniae. In this tale, she is Arthur's wife, Gwenhwyfar, daughter of Gogrfan. Not much is said about her other than she had a sister named Gwenhwyfach.

In later works, she is described as the daughter of Leodegan, King of Camelide [Camelerd]. There are numerous spellings of her name [over 15] in various literary works, including: Guanhumara, Guenhuuara, Guenevere, Gwenevere, the Welsh name Gwenhwyfar [means White Ghost], and the Breton name Gwenivar.

Her mother died when she was seven and, not long after, a fortune teller prophesied she was destined to be the wife of the King of England … in whatever words were appropriate, since there was no England yet. At some point, her father, who had helped Arthur defeat an enemy, requested Arthur to reciprocate and help him defeat King Ryons [Rion, Rience, Ryence] who had attacked his lands. Arthur came with assistance and consequently met Guinevere.

A number of the accounts of the legend indicate that Arthur had been married once before he meets Guinevere. Some say she is his third wife.

In some literary works, she is said to be a wise queen and the most beautiful woman in the world, resulting in her being abducted several times and having to be rescued. In the Latin version, she was also a powerful sorceress with the ability to foretell.

According to https://www.timelessmyths.com/arthurian/women.html, in the 13th century cycle of stories, there were actually two Guineveres. They were half-sisters, supposedly conceived on the same night, born on the same day, and looked like identical twins. Oo-kaay! But that’s another story.

The daughter of Leodegan and his wife became the Queen Guinevere we know and love. She supposedly had the birthmark of king’s crown on her back. The second Guinevere, daughter of Leodegan and his Chief Steward’s wife, had none.

Thomas Mallory, in Le Morte d’Arthur [1459], wrote that when Arthur married Genevere, her father gave him a huge round table seating 150 men. Guinevere was often present when the Knights of the Roundtable convened, and acted as a moral compass for the knights, rewarding knights who behaved well and chastising those who choose poorly.

IT’S ALL ABOUT LANCELOT
Origins
Lancelot du Luc [also Launcelot] makes his first appearance as a character in Arthurian legend in the early works of French author Chrétien de Troyes -- considered the father of medieval romances -- but only mentioned as being a knight of Arthur’s court. He is not mentioned at all in Monmouth’s tale written about forty years earlier.

Later, when Chrétien wrote “Lancelot, The Knight of the Cart” [between 1175 and 1181], Lancelot becomes a primary character from the land of Gorre. The author places Lancelot in the role of the most formidable, bravest, and most perfect knight at King Arthur's Round Table -- Arthur’s best friend and advisor -- and bestows the knight with a family back-ground, including King Ban and Elaine [Helaine or Helen] of Benoic/Benwick [Lancelot’s father and mother)] Lady of the Lake [his foster mother in most versions], and Hector de Maris, Lancelot’s younger half-brother and also a knight of the Round Table.

This work is definitely the first to introduce the tale of Queen’s Guinevere’s abductions and rescue, and also the first to reveal a relationship between Lancelot and Queen Guinevere.

Lancelot is always portrayed as handsome, gallant, respectful of women, the vision of the term “Knight in shining armor.” From the time he came to court and was knighted, King Arthur admired his courage and character. Lancelot became the King’s best friend and trusted confidant.

The Lady Of The Lake
I’d never heard of much about Hector de Maris, but the Lady of the Lake is in every rendition since “Lancelot, The Knight of the Cart”. Her roles in the legend are many, including evil sorceress, but in most she fostered Lancelot, hence the name du Luc [of the lake]. Her names are many, as well: Nimue, Nymue, Nimueh, Viviane, Vivien, Vivienne, Ninianne, Nivian, Nyneve, or Evienne.

After he was parted from his mother he never saw her again and was raised by Vivian until he was eighteen, when she took him to King Arthur's court.

Chrétien is French, Lancelot is sometimes considered of French origin, but Benwick is located in the Cambridgeshire, England.
Illustration of Lancelot by on horseback by Howard Pyle
from The Lady of Shalott by Lord Alfred Tennyson ▼

Fictitious or Historical
Although historians believe the Lancelot created by Chrétien is a purely fictitious character, some scholars profess that in 13th century, Sir Lancelot’s character and actions have been fleshed out to resemble Sir William Marshal, Earl of Pembroke, [born approximately 1147].

According to Davis Carlton, “This great Arthurian Knight of the Round Table is reputed to be the most brave, skilled, and chivalrous of Arthur’s knights. Lancelot is reputed to be the greatest jouster, swordsman, and tournament champion of his age. The legendary Lancelot … was raised by the Lady of the Lake and presented to King Arthur’s court in Camelot. Lancelot is a tragic figure whose affair with Arthur’s wife, Queen Guinevere, is said to bring about Arthur’s downfall and force Guinevere into a life of penitence. Lancelot is the father of Sir Galahad, the noble knight made famous for his quest for the Holy Grail.” [http://faithandheritage.com/2017/01/the-greatest-knight-the-historical-basis-for-sir-lancelot/

IT'S ALL ABOUT LOVE
If I’m sounding redundant – or totally confused – I am both.

Remember the number of written tales and the differences between them. Writing this blog, I’ve come to admire greatly the scholars who studied all of these books and poems and made the comparisons of one to another. It’s the work of a lifetime.

In some literary works, Guinevere is already married to Arthur when Lancelot sees her for the first time. In others, Arthur and Guinevere have not yet married but are betrothed. Some stories say that Arthur was in love with Guinevere, and a few contend it was marriage of convenience. Some stories have Lancelot and Guinevere falling in love over time while some insist they began having an affair soon after Lancelot’s arrival at Arthur’s court.

The love story of Sir Lancelot and Queen Guinevere is either a very short and tragic tale, or a very long and tragic tale, depending on how much detail you want in it. I had to pick one interpretation and present it, so I chose Le Morte d’Arthur, by Thomas Mallory. Below is my summary of the love story [not the entire book] based on the summary prepared by the Houghton-Mifflin-Harcourt Cliff Notes: https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/l/le-morte-darthur/summary-and-analysis/book-1-the-tale-of-king-arthur-merlin

The Short Version
Young and beautiful Guinevere was betrothed to King Arthur early in his career. The two were smitten with each other, married, and ruled happily for a number of years.

When Lancelot arrived at court, again it was love at first sight … for both of Lancelot (age 18) and Guinevere. Once knighted, Lancelot left court to prove himself and soon was considered the bravest and most honorable of Arthur’s Knights, Arthur’s best friend and confidant. Lancelot was the embodiment of chivalry, the knight in shining armor, except for his one failing: being in love with Queen Guinevere.
Illustration of Guinevere and Lancelot from Knowing the risks, they still began a dangerous love affair. article http://www.historyandwomen.com/ ▼

On one of his quests, Lancelot killed a dragon, saw the Holy Grail, and was tricked into lying with King Pellas' daughter Elayne, with whom he had a son, Galahad. Guinevere, upon hearing of the affair, had Lancelot banished from court. He wandered from place to place in his grief. Elayne, through her father, healed Lancelot through the Grail, and he eventually returned joyously to Camlann and the Round Table.

Back at court after a series of trials, Guinevere was convinced of Lancelot's continuing love for her, and they maintained their affair for years. Arthur knew, but didn’t intervene. Finally, he was prompted by Guinevere's sorceress enemy Morgan le Fay [Arthur's own half-sister], Aggravain, and Mordred [Arthur's son by his half-sister], to take action.

Under pressure, Arthur reluctantly sentenced Guinevere to be burned at the stake. Lancelot rescued her but in the battle, he killed Gareth and Gaheris, Sir Gawain’s brothers, who were attending the execution unarmed. Lancelot returned Guinevere to Arthur, but was banished, along with his followers.
Gawain, who had been Lancelot’s close friend, swore vengeance for the death of his brothers and confronted Arthur, insisting he attack Lancelot. Arthur agreed, but while he and Gawain were on their way to battle with Lancelot, Mordred pronounced himself King of England, claimed Guinevere as his wife, and attacked Arthur's army.

Having learned of this, Arthur and Gawain and their followers rushed back to Camlann and battled Mordred. Gawain was mortally wounded. He came to the king in a dream, and warned him not to continue the battle. Through a misunderstanding, however, the battle went on. Arthur killed Mordred but was mortally wounded by him, as Merlin had prophesied.

Lancelot and Guinevere both die of illness soon after, and Constantine becomes king. The Round Table is disbursed. ◘

Resources
http://www.historyandwomen.com/2010/10/love-story-of-lancelot-and-guinevere.html
https://www.arthurian-legend.com/sir-lancelot/
https://www.datehookup.com/singles-content-a-medieval-love-affair.htm
https://lemortedarthur.wordpress.com/2015/01/09/brief-summary/
https://951648577824371161.weebly.com/the-story.html
http://www.sir-lancelot.co.uk/Guinevere-Lancelot.htm
http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/sherwoodtimes/guinever.htm
http://legendlovestory.blogspot.com/2016/02/legend-love-story-of-lancelot-and.html
https://prezi.com/32wncjegqyxy/the-legend-of-king-arthur-queen-guinevere-and-sir-lancelot/
https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=A86.J7sr9RpaokQABvQPxQt.;_ylu=X3oDMTBzdmVvZmlwBGNvbG8DZ3ExBHBvcwMxMAR2dGlkAwRzZWMDc3I-?qid=20111207170645AATI3M9&p=the%20conspiracy%20against%20lancelot%20and%20guinevere
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Morte_d%27Arthur
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Arthur
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lancelot_and_Guinevere
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guinevere
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idylls_of_the_King
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lancelot,_the_Knight_of_the_Cart
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_of_the_Lake
http://www.answers.com/Q/How_did_King_Arthur_meet_Guinevere?#slide=1
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Guinevere
https://www.timelessmyths.com/arthurian/lancelot.html
https://www.timelessmyths.com/arthurian/women.html
http://world.time.com/2012/02/01/disgraced-british-knights-a-not-so-chivalrous-history/slide/sir-lancelot/
http://faithandheritage.com/2017/01/the-greatest-knight-the-historical-basis-for-sir-lancelot/
https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?search=the+land+of+Gorre&title=Special:Search&go=Go&searchToken=7270zfssmu683h870ywp9v4q3
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rience
https://www.timelessmyths.com/arthurian/vulgate.html
http://www.caerleon.net/history/arthur/page2.htm
https://www.biography.com/people/king-arthur-9190042
https://www.ancient.eu/King_Arthur/
http://www.earlybritishkingdoms.com/bios/bagdemagus.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_works_based_on_Arthurian_legends
https://people.clas.ufl.edu/jshoaf/arthurnet/king-arthur-in-medieval-sources/
https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/l/le-morte-darthur/book-summary

Scholarly Arthurian Resources
King Arthur Page: Many different aspects of King Arthur.
Background on King Arthur: Gives a lot of detailed information about King Arthur.
The Mystic Realm of King Arthur: Has links to many great pages that discuss King Arthur.
The homepage for the Journal of Arthurian studies.
Arthurian Sites In England: Gives detailed information on every place in England Arthur supposedly visited.
The Legend of King Arthur: Touches on all aspects of King Arthur.

0 Comments

Cinco De Mayo

5/4/2018

0 Comments

NOT JUST AN EXCUSE FOR A PARTY
Cinco de Mayo is a widely celebrated holiday in the US, particularly in the southwestern parts of the county, but like many other holidays in the US, the commercialization of Cinco de Mayo has obscured the meaning of the event being commemorated.

Having lived most of my life in Southern California, I grew up assuming it was celebrated everywhere with lots of music, dancing, food and margaritas, and everyone knew what they were celebrating.

It came as a minor shock to learn so many people, including Mexican Americans, had no idea what is being commemorated or believe May 5 is:
● Mexican Independence Day (which, in fact, occurred on September 16, 1810), fifty years earlier;
● The anniversary of the defeat and expulsion of the French forces from Mexico (which did not happen until 1867).

This is amazing because there are at least a zillion articles on the web about the origins of the holiday.

The answer is simple enough. It’s an annual celebration commemorating the Mexican army’s unlikely victory over the much larger and better-equipped military forces of the French Empire at the Battle of Puebla, on May 5, 1862, under the leadership of General Ignacio Zaragoza.

Viola! But remember, real history is never simple. In this circumstance, we must keep in mind the army of the French Empire, under the rule of Napoleon III, was considered the premier army in the world at the time. The victory boosted the morale of the Mexican army and created a sense of national unity among the people, but ultimately the battle was only a setback to the French occupation.

THE SPARK THAT LIT THE FLAME
The battle -- and therefore, the holiday -- had its roots in the French occupation of Mexico which took place after the end of the Mexican-American war and the Reform War (a civil war in Mexico over separation of church and state and freedom of religion).

President Benito Juárez
▼Courtesy of Smithsonian’s National Anthropological Archives

These wars left Mexico nearly bankrupt. In July, 1861, Mexican President Benito Juárez called for a temporary moratorium on payment of debts for two years.

Mexico owed money to Britain, France, and Spain who all sent naval forces to collect payment. Mexico negotiated successfully with Britain and Spain, but Napoleon III, ruler of the French Empire, decided this was a chance to set up a Second Mexican Empire ruled by France. He definitely had grand aspirations for French control in the new world.
Napoleon III, Emperor of the French Empire ▼

Late that year, he landed troops at Veracruz. President Juárez retreated toward Mexico City, the French on his heels. At the city of Puebla, the French met with determined resistance and the battle of Puebla took place.

The number of French troops, well-trained and well-supplied vastly outnumbered the rag-tag Mexican troops. The numbers vary depending on the source, but clearly the French expected it to be cake. It wasn’t, and the French withdrew in defeat … but not permanently.

MEANWHILE, BACK IN THE NORTH
News of the Battle of Puebla didn’t reach the Latino population of California for several weeks, but when it did there was lots of celebrating. California-based Latinos, who had been disheartened by the falling Union forces in the Civil War, truly turned the date into a memorable celebration. They raised funds to support the Mexican troops, formed a network of patriotic organizations, and linked the fight for freedom, democracy, and racial equality in Mexico to the struggles in the Civil War.

THE SHORT-LIVED FRENCH OCCUPATION
A year later, the French returned to Mexico with 30,000 troops, took Mexico City, and installed Austrian Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian as Emperor Maximilian I who ruled Mexico from 1864-1867.

Emperor Maximilian I ▼

Once the American Civil War was over (May, 1865), the United States began to provide military assistance to Mexico. The French began to withdraw, Maximilian was captured and executed, and by June of 1867 President Juárez was back in office.

WE ALL HAVE A REASON TO CELEBRATE
Although shortly after the Battle of Puebla (on May 9, 1862), President Juárez declared May 5 as a national holiday, all references indicated the date is largely ignored in Mexico, except in the state of Puebla, and is overshadowed by Independence Day and other holidays. I found conflicting references as to whether or not Cinco de Mayo, today, is a federal holiday.

As stated, Cinco de Mayo commemorates a battle between the Mexicans and the French and, in the long run, didn’t prevent the takeover by the French, it did several important things.
● First, it surprised the western world that the Mexicans won a victory over an army considered the best in the world, that hadn’t been defeated in nearly fifty years.
● Second, since the battle of Puebla, no country in the Americas has been invaded by a European nation.
● Third, without that defeat, France would have thrown its support to the Confederacy in the Civil War which might have resulted in a different outcome.

CINCO DE MAYO
Cinco de Mayo has been celebrated in California continuously since 1862, a hundred and fifty-five years. In the US this observance day has taken on a greater significance beyond that in Mexico, and is associated with the celebration of the of the Mexican-American culture and heritage. Some of the largest festivities take place in Los Angeles, Denver, Chicago, and Houston.
Omaha, NE Los Angeles Dancers, Los Angeles Dancers

Sources
http://www.history.com/topics/holidays/cinco-de-mayo
http://www.ibtimes.com/cinco-de-mayo-facts-history-things-know-mexican-holiday-1905597
http://www.hlntv.com/article/2013/05/04/cinco-de-mayo-food-cuisine-mexican-holiday
http://latinamericanhistory.about.com/od/thehistoryofmexico/p/Seven-Facts-About-Cinco-De-Mayo.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinco_de_Mayo
http://www.mexica.net/literat/cinco.php
http://time.com/4313691/cinco-de-mayo-history/
https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/us/cinco-de-mayo
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Cinco-de-Mayo
https://insider.si.edu/2017/04/celebrating-history-behind-cinco-de-mayo/
https://wonderopolis.org/wonder/do-people-in-mexico-celebrate-cinco-de-mayo
https://www.history.com/topics/treaty-of-guadalupe-hidalgo
http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h101.html
http://blamemyfather.com/cinco-de-mayo/
https://grants.nmsu.edu/cinco-de-mayo-what-is-it-all-about/
https://thenib.com/cinco-de-mayo-isn-t-what-you-think-it-is
https://www.tastemade.com/articles/13-things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-cinco-de-mayo
https://www.popsugar.com/latina/Real-Meaning-Behind-Cinco-de-Mayo-40579049
http://www.sheknows.com/food-and-recipes/articles/808930/cinco-de-mayo-recipes-fiesta-food-and-drink

0 Comments

CATHEDRALS OF ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA

ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA: Venice of the North

SIR LANCELOT AND QUEEN GUINEVERE: Greatest Love Stories Ever Told Series

Cinco De Mayo

Author R. Ann Siracusa

Archives

Categories