In geography, antipodes are two places precisely opposite one another on the earth, such as Barfleur in Normandy and Antipodes Island, south-east of New Zealand. At antipodes the hours and seasons are reversed, so that when it is midnight in summer in Barfleur it is noon in winter on Antipodes. Research Antipodes
Gudrun is a celebrated German popular epic belonging to the end of the 12th century, receiving its name from its heroine Gudrun, daughter of King Hettel of Hegelingen. Hettel is defeated by Hartmut, son of King Louis of Normandy, who carries Gudrun off, and on her steadfast refusal to marry him, has her subjected to various kinds of ill treatment, and in particular lets his mother keep her for years engaged in the lowest kinds of drudgery. At last she is released and revenged by her brother and her betrothed, king Herwig of Seeland. The poem also deals with the fortunes of Gudrun's father and mother, grandfather and grandmother, etc, and the scene is partly in North Germany, Denmark, Friesland, partly in Ireland and Normandy. Research Gudrun
The Treaty of Troyes was concluded between Henry V of England, Charles VI of France and the Burgundians in May 1420. Under the terms of the treaty Henry V gave up the title of king of France, but was to marry Charles' daughter Catherine, have the title of regent and heir of France and succeed to the throne of France on Charles' death. Normandy and all Henry's conquests were to be restored to France on Henry's accession to the French throne. The Dauphin was to be disinherited.
A second Treaty of Troyes was signed in 1564, after the English surrender of Havre. By it France undertook to pay England 120,000 crowns and free trade was to be allowed between the two countries. Research Treaty of Troyes
In drama, vaudeville is a light and amusing play in which dialogue is intermingled with songs, and almost identical with musical comedy. The term originated in the 15th century with Olivier Basselin of the valleys of the Vire, in Normandy, the author of a number of drinking and love songs, which he circulated under the title Lais des Vaux de Vire, of which Vaudeville is a corruption. Research Vaudeville
The Normandy Cob is a French breed of heavy horse developed by the Romans. The Normandy Cob stands 15 to 16 hands high and is chestnut or bay in colour. They have minimal feathering on the legs and a characteristic energetic and free-flowing trot. Research Normandy Cob
The Selle Francaise (French SaddleHorse) is a French breed of riding and sports horse developed during the 19th century around the Normandy region. The Selle Francaise stands between 15.2 and 16.2 hands high, is usually bay, chestnut or brown in colour and a classy looking horse. A naturally athletic horse, they are superb show jumping horses and are frequently used by the French show jumping team. Research Selle Francaise
Bertrand Du Guesclin was Constable of France. He was born about 1314 and died in 1380. He was largely responsible for the expulsion of tlie English from Normandy, Guienne, and Poitou. He was captured by Chandos at the battle of Auray in 1364, and ransomed for 100,000 francs. While serving in Spain against Peter the Cruel he was made prisoner by the English Black Prince, but was soon liberated. For his services in Spain be was made Constable of Castile, Count of Trastamare, and Duke of Molinas; and in 1370 he was made Constable of France. Research Bertrand Du Guesclin
Charles III (Charles the Simple) was a King of France. He was born in 879 and died in 929. He was the son of Louis the Stammerer. His reign is noted for his long struggle with the piratical Northmen or Normans, to whose chief, Hollo, he eventually ceded the territory of Normandy. Research Charles The Simple
Charles VI (Charles the Silly) was a king of France. He was born in 1368 at Paris and died in 1422. He was a son of Charles The Wise and succeeded to the throne at the age of twelve. His reign was plagued by fits on insanity and the country plagued by civil war between the Armagnacs and the Burgundians, making the country easy prey for the English under Henry V who crossed over to Normandy, took Harfleur by storm, won the famous victory of Agincourt, and compelled the crazy king to acknowledge him as his successor.
Charles VI was Emperor of Germany. He was born in 1685 and died in 1740. The second son of the Emperor Leopold I, he was destined by the rules of inheritance to succeed his relative Charles II on the throne of Spain, but Charles II by his will made the French Prince, the Duke of Anjour, his heir. This led to the War of the Spanish Succession in which England and Holland took the part of the Austrian claimant. He held Madrid for a while before conceding Spain to the French claim and content himself with the Spanish subject-lands, Milan, Mantua, Sardinia, and the Netherlands (sanctioned by the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713 and the Treaty of Rastadt in 1714). He became Emperor of Germany in 1711.
In a war against the Turks his armies, led by Eugene of Savoy, gained the decisive victories of Peterwardein and Belgrade. After the death of his only son, Charles directed all his policy and energies to secure the guarantee of the various powers to the Pragmatic Sanction, settling the succession to the Austrian dominions on his daughter Maria Theresa. In 1733 a war with France and Spain regarding the succession in Poland terminated unfavourably for him, he having to surrender Sicily, Naples, and part of Milan to Spain, and Lorraine to France. In 1737 he renewed the war with the Turks, this time unsuccessfully. Research Charles VI
Claude Duval was an English highwayman. He was born in 1643 in Normandy and died in 1670. He came to England during the Restoration and became noted for his audacity and gallantry, chiefly on the Bath and Portsmouth roads. He was captured near Covent Garden, London and executed at Tyburn. Research Claude Duval
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Antipodes
