Coup de Jarnac
The expression coup de Jarnac, 'Jarnac's blow' in French, refers to a violent, skilful and unexpected attack. It has taken on a negative connotation of a deceitful or unfair strike, although it was not its original meaning. In its original and fencing sense, it refers to a blow to the back of the knee or thigh, made famous by Guy Chabot de Jarnac, who delivered it during a judicial duel in 1547 outside the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye.
Guy de Jarnac and the duel of 1547
Origins of the duel
Guy Chabot de Saint-Gelais, the future second Baron of Jarnac[1], married Louise de Pisseleu, sister of the Duchess of Étampes, mistress of François I, in March 1540. She was in constant rivalry with Diane de Poitiers, mistress of the Dauphin, the future Henry II. One day, when Guy Chabot was asked how he came by his rich clothes, he replied that he owed it to the generosity of his stepmother, Madeleine de Puyguyon, the second wife of his father, Baron Charles Chabot. These remarks, made in front of Diane de Poitiers and the Dauphin, were opportunely distorted to ridicule the relative of the Duchess of Étampes. The Dauphin spread the rumour that this generosity concealed some very special favours.
When Guy Chabot heard of these rumours, he strongly denied them, having to convince his father of his innocence and that of his stepmother, and asked for compensation. It was inconceivable that he would challenge the Dauphin to a duel. François de Vivonne, seigneur de La Châtaigneraie, a friend of the Dauphin's and a formidable swordsman, took it upon himself to say that he was the author of these rumours, and that he had merely repeated what Guy Chabot had told him.
Chabot, in turn, could only ask the king for permission to avenge his honour, but Francis I refused all his life, believing that these were merely "the quarrels of jealous women".
Organisation of the duel
In 1547, on the accession of Henri II, Chabot renewed his request, which was then favourably received. But La Châtaigneraie's reputation as a fencer was such that, in the meantime, Chabot took lessons from an Italian swordsman — Captain Caize, according to Brantôme — who taught him a previously unknown backhand stroke. Jarnac was therefore not the inventor of the move that bears his name, but only its promoter. According to François de Vivonne's nephew, this fencing master also advised Chabot, who had a choice of weapons, to use equipment that would hinder his opponent's movements.
The duel took place on the 10th of July, 1547, in an enclosed battlefield in the meadow in front of the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye. At either end of the field, two wooden boxes were built, where each of the two combatants stood after being given a sword and a dagger, and after having chosen their sponsors and squires. All preparations completed, the king and his entire court stood on an amphitheatre and signalled to a herald to proclaim the fight. The herald announced: "By the King, let the valiant combatants go, and, on pain of life, let no hand, foot, eye, voice or cough be made, nor any other favour done by either of them". "With this proclamation completed, La Châtaigneraie, as the aggressor, stepped out of his box first, Jarnac then out of his, and both advanced at an equal and confident pace. At first, they landed several blows without touching each other, but when La Châtaigneraie moved his right leg a little too far forward, Jarnac hit him in the ankle, and, having knocked him down with the blow he gave him, he held him under him, turning to the King to ask if he hadn't satisfied his honour enough. The King immediately called in Anne de Montmorency for advice. But while they were talking, La Châtaigneraie made a few efforts to get back on his feet, Jarnac disarmed him and was about to kill him until the King stopped the fight by throwing his stick into the field to get their attention. Jarnac was declared the winner to the applause of the entire assembly. His opponent was seriously wounded and died some time later, both from his wound and from the pain of having been defeated in the presence of the King.".
It is said that La Châtaigneraie, expecting to win the duel easily, had a feast on the day of the duel. Humiliated by his defeat, he tore the bandages off his wound and died the next day.
The king was so touched by La Châtaigneraie's death that he immediately declared that he would never again allow public duels. This duel was the last example in France of a judicial duel authorized by the magistracy..
Evolution of expression
The expression soon became synonymous with skill. However, from the time of the Dictionnaire de Trévoux (late 18th century, published by the Jesuits, when Jarnac was Protestant), it took on a pejorative meaning, which it still sometimes has today:
Coup de Jarnac, a deadly and unexpected blow. He gave him a coup de Jarnac, the coup de Jarnac: a situation that has taken an unexpected turn, that which ruins someone, or destroys one's fortune, by allusion to the duel where Jarnac killed La Châtaigneraie by an unexpected blow.
Émile Littré favours the original meaning:
In a duel on July 10, 1547, Gui de Chabot Jarnac cut his opponent François de Vivonne, seigneur de La Châtaigneraie's ankle with the back of his sword. This move was considered very skilful and gave rise to a proverbial expression, which has taken on an odious meaning; but this is a fault of usage, for the coup de Jarnac was nothing but fair, and the duel took place in accordance with all the rules of honour. As a result, the word jarnac was also used for a dagger.
In the first chapter of Petites Misères de la vie conjugale by Honoré de Balzac.
Notes et references
- ↑ Louis Morerichez, Pierre (1725). Le grand dictionnaire historique ou Le mélange curieux de l'histoire sacrée et profane. Jean-Baptiste Coignard..
Bibliography
- Caillet, Geoffroy (2014). "Le « coup de Jarnac » fête son anniversaire" (php). Le Figaro (in français). Retrieved 20 April 2017..
- Mémoires de la vie du maréchal de Vieilleville [Document électronique de la BNF] CHAP. XII. Duel de Jarnac et de la Châtaigneraie.
- Histoire du coup de Jarnac sur le site de la ville de Jarnac.
- Revue des deux Mondes, 2e série de la nouvelle période, Paris, 1854, et suivantes.
- Franklin, Alfred (1909). Le duel de Jarnac et de La Chataigneraye, d'après une relation contemporaine et officielle. Émile-Paul..
References
External links
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