The Capetians: The Dynasty That Made Medieval France and Gave Us the Fleur-De-Lys

History Unplugged Podcast

History Unplugged

Society & Culture, History

4.2 • 3.7K Ratings

🗓️ 4 July 2024

⏱️ 58 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

If Gothic cathedrals, troubadours, and the Crusades evoke a certain picture of medieval Europe, you might be surprised that these foundations of a shared French culture continue to shape European society, all beginning with a single dynasty. Reigning from 987 to 1328, the Capetians transformed an insecure foothold around Paris into the most powerful European monarchy of the Middle Ages.

Today’s guest is Justine Firnhaber-Baker, author of “House of Lilies: The Dynasty That Made Medieval France.” She tells the epic story of the Capetian dynasty, showing how their ideas about power, religion, and identity are all-too-relevant to the Europe we know today. The Capetians were the first royal house to adopt the iconic fleur-de-lys, displaying this lily emblem to signify the belief that their nation was chosen by God to fulfill a great destiny. By 1250, Capetian France stood as the richest and most prestigious kingdom in Europe, with Paris lauded as a new Rome, a new Athens, and—due to a tradition of both profound piety and violent persecution of religious minorities—even a new Jerusalem.

Transcript

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0:00.0	It's going to hear with another episode of the History Unplugged podcast.
0:08.0	The Florida Lease is a symbol that you may not have heard of, but you've definitely seen
0:11.4	before.
0:12.4	The Three Leaf Lily has been the symbol of France since the 13th century and you can see it all over royal coats of arms, paintings, flags of basically any form of French territory on earth. And if you're a fan of football, the helmets of the New Orleans Saints.
0:25.0	This symbol was adopted by the French Royal Dynasty of the Capetians, who displayed this lily, which has three leads to signify the Trinity,
0:32.0	to show that their line and their nation was chosen by God to fulfill great destiny.
0:37.0	The Kamesh reign from 987 to 1328,
0:40.0	and were one of the longest reigning dynasties in Europe, when most died out after three or four generations.
0:44.8	Paris was a somewhat unimportant city when they started raining,
0:48.0	but over the centuries they transformed it into one of the richest and most prestigious cities in Europe,
0:52.4	lauding Paris as a new Rome, new Athens,
0:54.9	and based on their role at the time in the Catholic Church,
0:57.0	even in New Jerusalem.
0:58.6	To look at this dynasty, essentially created
1:01.0	what we understand the Middle Ages to be as today's guest,
1:03.6	Justine Fernehaber Baker, author of House of Lilies the dynasty that made medieval France.
1:08.5	We look at the fascinating figures that make out this dynasty.
1:11.3	They included Saints, five crusader kings, and one of them the leader of the Second
1:15.5	Crusade, how descendants of this dynasty ruled France until the monarchy was abolished
1:19.7	in 1792 and the incredible influence they had on Western history.
1:23.7	Hope we enjoy this discussion with Justine Fernhavar Baker.
1:27.0	And one more thing before we get started with this episode, a quick break for word from our sponsors.
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