Louis XIV (part 2/2 - The Wars)

May 29 throuugh May 31, 1670 Le Roi Louis XIV

This is fascinating to me to realize this now. Think about this after I post this. Ayant passe devant le port Francois et le fort Philippe et dine (dejeune)au fort Louis, la famille royale arrive vers quatre heures de l'apres-midi a Dunkerque et y entre par le porte de Berghe. Le Roi va visiter la citadelle, puis se promene avec le Dauphin autour des remparts et va voir l'infanterie de la garrison a qui il fait faire l'exercise. This occurred on May 29. On May 30, this is what happens. La famille royale entend la messe en l'eglise principale, puis le Roi fait encore une fois le tour des remparts de la ville et en visite les fortifications. Il va ensuite au camp de ses troupes, a une demi-heure ( a l'ouest) en direction de Mardick. L'apres-midi, il fait la revue de la cavalerie de sa Maison, puis retourne a la citadelle et la famille royal va voir les vaisseaux sur le quai, ou elle est ac clamee.On May 31, Le Roi fait faire l'exercise a l'infanterie de la garnison de Furnes, puis va entendre la mess en l'eglise des Jesuites. L'apres-midi, il retourne au camp de ses troupes et va ensuite au bord de la mer. Le soir, un feu d'artifice est tire en l'honneur de la famille royale. This really gets to me because of Memorial Day, and what happened in France in my lifetime...even though a child then...This is making me think!nn In brief translation, the King and his family are on tour visiting forts, garrisons, and troops, and the ships. He attends several masses at the principal churches and the church of Jesuits. He takes his son, the Dauphin, and walks with him to see the troops. He has gone from one fort to another, to arrive at Dunkirk. He travels on, visits with the cavalry, inspects troops, and the ships on the seashore. A fireworks display is presented in honor of the King and his family in the evening. I find it absolutely amazing and fascinating to think about this.

Professional blogs

rThere are so many variety of blogs on the internet as to be unbelievable. Most are very well decorated, use lots of photos, have fantastic backgrounds, but a rare few just use words and little else to state whatever the purpose of that particular blogsite may be. One I like in the latter case is a creative writer's thoughts as she pens some ideas onto her page, having her followers think about the topic that she is discussing in that particular blog. Since google has created a new look, I have learned that this particular word processing page does not lend itself to paragraphs. I have been using asterisks to indicate where I would paragraph. I am wondering what google is trying to say...it seems to me that it is saying to keep copy short and use photos...I will publish this entry to see what happens with it. I may even stick a photo onto it just to see what will happen.

Post Memorial Day

I am rewritng the entire book which I had begun several years ago. I actually took historians timeline and paraphrased it, trying to turn it into a readable piece of work. I just rewrote ta story I like which has Alexander standing watching his father's army assemble to go to battle. I was trying to identify the different groups of Philip's army using Dodge's narrative. The problem is that when one writes it out the first time for later use it is still in the soundbite of the original author until I can rewrite it in my own words. So I just scotched the entire chapter realizing how like didactic it sounded. I had been sticking to Dodge too much. Notes to myself.

Memorial Day

Remembering the soldiers who gave their lives in past wars makes one hope that there will be fewer and fewer wars to remember one hundred years from now.

Perdiccass confesses a problem

Alexander, Hephaestion, Perdiccas, Philotas, Harpalos, Leonnatus, and Craterus had spent the afternoon in the forest gathering samples of various fauna and vegetation that grew in the woodland. Each had carried a large bag to fill with berries, nuts, fruits, and plants. They had carried a small knife, a large knife, rolls and coils of rope and cords, and small towels or cloths in which to keep each item separate from one another. They then were required to identify and explain the usefulness of each sample that they found. * They were busily arranging the fruits of their treasure hunt in front of them when Perdiccas asked, "Has any one of you ever been accosted or approached by an adult male for sexual favors?" * "Who would dare?" lauged Philotas. "No! Decidedly not. Why? Have you?" * Perdiccas grimaced. He was a tall, strapping boy who resembled his father in appearance. He had long arms and legs, was lanky and lean, and appeared to be older than the other boys because of his size. "Yes, I have been. I did not know what to do to be honest."* "Well, what happened?"asked Craterus. "Did you submit or resist his advances? What did he do exactly?" * Perdiccas grimaced again and sighed. "I don't know if I should tell you now. We were wrestling together when he all of a sudden put his hands where he is not supposed to do, and said to me, 'I want you to want me now.'". I threw him off and shouted out, 'What do you think you are doing?' He then pulled my leg out from under me and threw me back on the ground. He then said,"You heard me. I want you to want me now. I mean it. He then put my arm behind my back and said loudly, "NOW! Then he put his mouth on my penis and he sucked me as hard as he could. Have any of you ever had that happen to you? " *"Oh, my word," Philotas gasped. "I can't believe it." * *"I can," answered Leonnatus."There are some men who do it to one another regularly and that is how they add to their numbers. One simply has to learn who they are. Who did this to you? When was it? Recently?" * Alexander asked, " How did you feel after that? What did you do?" *"No, Perdiccas answered, " I did not enjoy it. It was forced upon me. He was mean and ugly to me about it. But he had me pinned down. I could not escape it. I never spoke of it until now. It happened recently so that is why I brought it up." * "Well, I have my bags contents separated into groups now," piped up Harpalos. " We must see if any us has found all that we were supposed to collect...But I am listening...Go ahead with your story. I do know of boys who have been used that way but I myself have never been accosted or approached." * "He laughed at me and jeered when he was finished. He said loudly, 'There boy, you liked it, didn't you? Now you know how to be a man in this army. I was outraged at that thought. Is it true, Alexander? Is that what it takes to be a man in your fahter's army?" Perdiccas asked. * "NO, absolutely not!" Alexander retorted. "How outrageous. Tell me who did this to you and I will see what I can do to prevent it from ever happening again." "Oh, Alexander, you know very well that some of the soldiers are that way, even your father is said to have male lovers!" Philotas reponded. "My father will have nothing to do with them so that is why I have not ever had that problem. But you? Has anyone ever tried to do that to you?" . "Me?! Never! Noody would dare to think of it.answered Alexander. They are not only afraid of my father but more afraid of my mother. And I would daresay nobody could ever get close to me to attempt it!, he stated firmly. "Besides it is my sister I protect from men's advances. Since she is growing into such a beauty many want her for a bride," he added. * Craterus spoke up. "I had a bad experience one time when I was riding alone. A group of men tried to follow me and I could tell that they were a threat to me so I luckily gave them a chase and escaped them. They were not any of Philip's soldiers. Philip's army is rough and bawdy enough. I suppose that is what some think makes men men." * Alexander said, "What do you think your father would do if you were to tell him, Perdiccas?" * "I won't ever tell him.I don't know what he would say. I don't think that I want to know yet." he answered "I was caught, unprotected. There was nobody around t see or hear me, but I protested loudly and finally had no choice but to give in to his demands." *"Well," Hephaestion said" Some men do worse and make boys suck them as well. I know of a young boy who had been forced to have his buttocks bruised by a huge male cock and it nearly killed him.His mother cried and screamed when she learned what had happened. You know that there are laws posted that it is a crime to perform this kind of sex against children but army soldiers don't often care about laws, do they?" * Alexander retorted,"I care, and so should we all care. We are going to be soldiers of honor, not a group of rapists." Hephaestion smiled, "I agree with you, Alexander. Let's always stay honorable."*Leonnatus who had remained silent during the discussion finally spoke up. "Well, Alexander, you can set ideals and have ideals, but realism is that men do these things all the time and you very well know it. I hope that we as leaders can follow your example and do honorable deeds. Hail to you for thinking wisely and well. I have organized my samples together and am finished. Aristotle will be pleased with my collection I hope. Anybody need any help with yours or are we ready to return home now?" * Perdiccas said, "I hope that you won't think poorly of me for sharing this experience with you." "Not at all,"responded Alexander. We should all be able to share our experiences with each other in confidence and trust. He looked around at each member of the group to see them all nod their heads in agreement.* Philotas answered, "Let us help each other to avoid such problems through these kind of dicussions. I had no idea that this would happen to any of us. I thought that we are a special elite group. Isn't that so, Alexander?: "Yes, indeed!" Alexander affirmed. We are the future. We are men of honor."

Two mothers Olympias and Lanice

I actually had two mothers, my natural mother, and my foster mother who breastfed me as an infant and who is my governness. Lanice spent her time caring for me when my mother was performing official duties as Queen and ruler of the court. My mother, Olympias, is a very regal woman whose sense of duty is strong. Therefore, she responds to the dutiful tasks that must be done to maintain the decorum and business of the court when Father is away in battle somewhere. Because of that I spent many hours with Lanice who looked after my personal needs, feeding me, bathing me, clothing me, and nurturing me with love and patience. Mother would visit me in my bedroom to be certain that I was well and healthy but my closest and most personal contact was with Lanice and her family. * Lanice actually spent more hours with me, holding me, teasing me, cheering me, loving me openly and steadfastly than did my natural mother. I learned how to crawl, how to walk, how to stand, and all with Lanice watching over me and guiding me. Whenver I fell down, stumbled, or struck some object, it was Lanice who would pick me up, mend my wounds, wipe my tears, and rock me to sleep. I grew up depending upon Lanice and her family to help me through my childhood. * One time in particular, I hd had a bad time with one of my tutors, so I ran to Lanice crying that I did not want him to teach me anything any longer. Lanice sighed, "Oh, Alexander. What am I to do with you now? Com on now...you will get over this very soon." * I naturally put up a fuss and stamped my foot angrily and said, "No, I have had enough of him. I don't want to work with him anylonger. he has gone too far this time." * She shook her head wisely and said,"Now, Alexander, I know better. You can and will be able to work with him but you must find a way to convince him to trust you. I will see what i can do about it myself, but don't let this get the best of you."* Later, I went to Mother and told her about the incident that had so upset me. The difference between her and Lanice is absolutely amazing to me. She simply said, "Let me know if it happens again. If it does, he will be terminated. We will find another tutor for you." *She did not try to make me feel anything but justified in wanting to get a new tutor. I loved her that much more for simply trusting my word and wanting to help me.