This first novel about the adventures of Michel de Gallardon who leaves his father's castle where he was pampered for learning "man" Knight and learning the basic concepts of the profession of arms allows us to address the Crusades where those who crossed had little chance of returning alive, as mortality was high in this type of shipment, but whose prestige reflected upon their lordships and their descendants.
Acquire new land without being subject to the King's control was also a powerful motivation and individualism is the most common value among the barons who crossed, coordination under a single command was most difficult to obtain.
Even for those who had escaped the Saracen arrows, the return on the Franc kingdom was as perilous as weakened after travel months so that food was often rationed in the Frankish fortresses next to the kingdom of Jerusalem.
One of the scourges of all the most dreaded time of humanity, attributed to a divine curse, leprosy, called "Black Death" in the Middle Ages, has often sparked inhuman measures to patients. From India, where its existence is assumed very old, it spread through the Middle East to Europe until the thirteenth century.
This novel allows us to address the setting up all explanations made on hegemon bottom of the clergy and of the dominant religion of the time (the pride of every Pope is to do better than the previous power to impose Church on even competing dissident trends). Leaving his name in the history of the Church was the main motivation for each Pope. In his small world access to chivalry, Michel de Gallardon will be faced with a phenomenon that goes beyond but whose education will be even more trainer that he was totally unaware.
Very good introduction to the other two novels to follow.
Happy reading to dive into a bygone century and a conception of humanity that is no longer totally ours.
Kind regards. JM MARTIN.
