Catherine de Montsalvy

Mâchefer, King of Thune and Argot
sovereign lord of the sixteen Parisian Cours des Miracles and grand master of all French beggary. It was there Catherine, her mother and Loyse were able to flee, after her father was killed during the riots of Paris in 1413. Helped to free Loyse, her sister.

there is no King of Thune and Argot in the tv-series.

Malencontre, Gauthier, read more on Who is Who...
a Norman woodcutter, whose life Catherine had saved - when La Hire wanted him hanged. He asked to become her servant - he loved Catherine until his dying day - Catherine herself gave a part of her heart to this faithful and honest man.

(in French he is called Gauthier le Bûcheron or Gauthier Malencontre)
there is no Gauthier Strongitarm (in English he is called Strongitarm) in the TV-Adaption Catherine Il suffit d'un amour. Most of his role was given to Barnaby the beggar, who dies in book 1 (Philippe Clay gave a fantastic performance as Barnaby!)

Malfrat, Gervais read more on Who is Who...
was a thief, quick as a fox and a young girl seducer. He stole from the fathers and left the girls pregnant. When the lady of Montsalvy had him flogged from the town (Arnaud had gone to Paris to Arthur de Richemont) he betrayed the town of Montsalvy. He was Azalaïs lover and confessed after he was caught, to Abbot Bernard and Catherine about the devious plan to murder Arnaud de Montsalvy and denounce Catherine as an adulterous wife. He was hanged without mercy by the abbot Bernard d'Olt.

Alain Berguig played Gervais Malfrat in TV-Adaption Catherine, Il suffit d'un amour

Mansour-ben-Zegris, en lire plus sur Who is Who...

Lord Mansour-ben-Zegris, cousin to Sultana Amina, was madly in love with the Caliph's castaway wife.He was tricked to believe his beloved had been poisoned - with his desert warriors to Granada he tried to seize the throne. He was beaten, went to see Sultana Amina (who was wise enough not to tell him, that it all had been a plan by the ingenious Abou-al-Khayr, to save his old friends.) He took the fugitives with him to Almeria. On the way they were attacked by bandits, but together with Arnaud, Josse and Gauthier, they were able to arrive savely at their destination. Though Gauthier Stronghitarm lost his life, because of that attack... Lord Mansour-ben-Zegris and Arnaud de Montsalvy respected each other as brother-in-arms. Even though he offered them on of his ships to bring them home, he was more than relieved when Jacques Coeur arrived at Almeria with his ship - to bring them home to France.

Salah al Hamdani played Lord Mansour-ben-Zegris in TV-Adaption Catherine, Il suffit d'un amour

* there is no Sultana Amina in the TV Adaption of "Catherine"

Medieval Code of Chivalry,The
There was not an authentic Medieval Code of Chivalry as such - it was a moral system which went beyond rules of combat and introduced the concept of Chivalrous conduct - qualities idealized by knighthood, such as bravery, courtesy, honor, and gallantry toward women. The Medieval Code of Chivalry was understood by all but a Code of Chivalry was documented in 'The Song of Roland' in the early Medieval period of William the Conqueror. The 'Song of Roland' describes the 8th century Knights and battles of the Emperor Charlemagne and has been described as Charlemagne's Code of Chivalry. The idea of the Code of Chivalry were emphasised by the oaths that were sworn in Knighthood ceremonies. These sacred oaths were combined with the ideals of chivalry and with strict rules of etiquette and conduct. The idea and ideals of a Medieval Code of Chivalry was publicised in the poems, ballads, writings and literary works of Medieval authors. The myths of Arthurian Legends featuring King Arthur, Camelot and the Knights of the Round Table further strengthen the idea of a Medieval Code of Chivalry. The Arthurian legend revolves around the Code of Chivalry followed by the Knights of the Round Table - Honour, Honesty, Valour and Loyalty.

Medieval Code of Chivalry - the Oaths made during the Knighthood Ceremony
The entry into Knighthood was highly ritualised which started with a Night Vigil in the Chapel of the Castle
The Knight swore an oath of allegiance to the lord and swore the following oaths:
Never traffic with traitors.
Never give evil counsel to a lady, whether married or not; he must treat her with great respect and defend her against all.
To observe fasts and abstinences, and every day hear Mass and make an offering in Church

The Public ceremony of Knighthood followed a deeply religious ceremony with blessings from the Church to go forward and protect the church by the use of arms.

Medieval Code of Chivalry - the Rules of Courtly Love
I. Marriage is no real excuse for not loving.
II. He who is not jealous cannot love.
III. No one can be bound by a double love.
IV. It is well known that love is always increasing or decreasing.
V. That which a lover takes against the will of his beloved has no relish.
VI. Boys do not love until they arrive at the age of maturity.
VII. When one lover dies, a widowhood of two years is required of the survivor.
VIII. No one should be deprived of love without the very best of reasons.
IX. No one can love unless he is impelled by the persuasion of love.
X. Love is always a stranger in the home of avarice.
XI. It is not proper to love any woman whom one would be ashamed to seek to marry.
XII. A true lover does not desire to embrace in love anyone except his beloved.
XIII. When made public love rarely endures.
XIV. The easy attainment of love makes it of little value; difficulty of attainment makes it prized.
XV. Every lover regularly turns pale in the presence of his beloved.
XVI. When a lover suddenly catches sight of his beloved, his heart palpitates.
XVII. A new love puts to flight an old one.
XVIII. Good character alone makes any man worthy of love.
XIX. If love diminishes, it quickly fails and rarely revives.
XX. A man in love is always apprehensive.
XXI. Real jealousy always increases the feeling of love.
XXII. Jealousy, and therefore love, are increased when one suspects his beloved.
XXIII. He whom the thought of love vexes eats and sleeps very little.
XXIV. Every act of a lover ends in the thought of his beloved.
XXV. A true lover considers nothing good except what he thinks will please his beloved.
XXVI. Love can deny nothing to love.
XXVII. A lover can never have enough of the solaces of his beloved.
XXVIII. A slight presumption causes a lover to suspect his beloved.
XXIX. A man who is vexed by too much passion usually does not love.
XXX. A true lover is constantly and without intermission possessed by the thought of his beloved.
XXXI. Nothing forbids one woman being loved by two men or one man by two women.

Montsalvy family

Amaury, Comte de Montsalvy, Lord of the Châtaignerie in Auvergne
Father of Michel and Arnaud. Married late, his son Michel calls him an old soldier, rather grim and harshly. Spent his youth at the side of the Great Constable of France, Bertrand du Guesclin (1320 - 1380) after his death, hung up his sword and never accepted another leader - died in 1403

Arnaud, Comte de Montsalvy, * 3.9.1399* read more on Who is Who...
Lord of the Châtaignerie in Auvergne - younger brother of Michel
married to Catherine since 28, Decembre 1431

Pierre-Marie Escourrou plays Arnaud de Montsalvy in the TV-Adaption Catherine, Il suffit d'un amour

* Arnaud de Montsalvy does not have black hair and black eyes in the TV-Serie. Pierre-Marie Escourrou's performance is so excellent, that we can overlook this otherwise important detail! (webmistress Mistral's personal opinion ☺

**extract from Mistral's second meeting with Juliette Benzoni 28.2.2010
"did Arnaud de Montsalvy return to war? Ah...this is a question we all wanted to know for how many years? We all know the answer, do we not? He could not resist the call of war... to join his friends Xaintrailles and La Hire! His love for war was stronger than his promise to Catherine..! How could a man in full possession again of his health, stay home in the little village of Montsalvy? "

Catherine, Comtesse de Montsalvy * 27.10.1400 * read more on Who is Who...
wife of Arnaud
née Legoix - first husband Garin de Brazey (sentenced to death for high treason) whom she was forced to marry by order of the Duke - became Philippe of Burgundy's mistress, when she thought she had lost Arnaud de Montsalvy forever.

Claudine Ancelot plays Catherine in TV-Adaption Catherine, Il suffit d'un amour

Isabelle, Comtesse de Montsalvy died 1434 read more on Who is Who...
mother of Michel and Arnaud
née Ventadour - beloging to the powerful family of Limousin in Auvergne. After her husband died - raised her sons and run their estates as competent as a man. Aunt of Marie de Comborn.

Nicole Maurey plays Isabelle de Montsalvy in the TV-Adaption Catherine, Il suffit d'un amour

Isabelle, born 1435, read more on Who is Who...
daughter of Catherine and Arnaud
inherited her father's black curls and her grandmother Isabelle's **blue eyes**.

Michel, born 1432, read more on Who is Who...
son of Catherine and Arnaud
inherited his uncle's blue eyes and blond hair - but had the same clear-cut profile like his father.

Rodolphe Duguet & Grégory Pergeaux played little Michel in the TV-Adaption Catherine, Il suffit d'un amour

Michel de Montsalvy, Comte de Montsalvy born circa 1397 read more on Who is Who...
Lord of the Châtaignerie in Auvergne - elder brother of Arnaud
Page of Marguerite, Duchess of Guyenne (Philippe of Burgundy's sister) murdered in 1413

Pierre-Marie Escourrou played also Michel de Montsalvy - his own brother.

*The date of Catherine and Arnaud de Montsalvy's birthday, were reveiled to Mistral on her second visit to Saint-Mandé 28.2.2010 - 3.9. being the birthday of her son, and 27.10 that of her daughter Anne.

**Though in La Dame de Montsalvy, it is written, that little Isabelle's eyes were of a dark black!

Morayma, keeper of the Harem, read more on Who is Who..
Morayma, keeper of the Harem over 50 women, had brought "Light of Dawn" to Caliph Muhammad VIII who chose Catherine as his new favourite! Princess Zobeïda "caught" Catherine near her Pavillion, Arnaud, her "Frankish lord" at her site! She did not believe that "Light of Dawn" was supposed to be her captive's sister. She ordered Moryama to bring her near her own rooms - out of kindness, so he could see her when he wished too – since men were not allowed to enter the Harem. The old Jewess Moryama took Catherine to her new lodgings. She seemed very nervous, but denied it and placed a pitcher of milk, on the ground by the head of Catherine's bed. Catherine exhausted from the hot discussion with Arnaud, fell into a slumber - felt danger! She awoke and was paralysed with fright! Gliding nearer and nearer was a great long snake! Catherine understood in a flash - milk was the favourite food of snakes! Everything was planend between Moryama and Princess Zobeïda!

Thamis Mesbah-Detraz played Morayma in the TV-Adaption of Catherine Il suffit d'un amour.

Muhammad VIII, Caliph of Granada, read more on Who is Who..
Brother of Princess Zobeida, married to Sultana Amina, who did not live in the Al Hamra all the time, out of fear for her life. He wanted to marry Catherine de Montsalvy and his "wedding gift" would have been more than odd! See Who is Who page...

Jean-Pierre Belissent played Caliph Muhammad VIII in the TV Adaption of Catherine Il suffit d'un amour.

non fictive character
Caliph Muhammad VIII of the Nasrid Kingdom of Granada, had lost his throne more than once. In 1445 he was replaced a third time. His nephew took over as Caliph Muhammad X.