L’évolution de l’image des peuplades de l’Orient méditerranéen lors de la croisade de Hongrie dans les chroniques de France du XIVe et XVe siècle : le Turc
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Abstract
At the end of the 14th Century, the French monarchy discovers, through
the Hungary’s expedition, a new East Mediterranean World. But, if the
French Chronicles describe the violent and bitter contact with Turks, the Slavic
countries, places of the actions, will first interest our study. Effectively, this
area is the place of synthesis between two cultures and two representations of
Infidels: First the Turkish’s image, the new master of the Balkan and,
secondly, the Orthodox image who is, traditionally, the cultural source of this
area. It’s the reason why we will study how this synthesis is perceived by the
French Chronicles. In this article, we demonstrate a certain evolution of the
Turkish image. In the beginning, the Ottomans have the limited roles of
divine’s scourge and stay the literary archetype of the Infidel. Nevertheless, the representation changes and the chroniclers try to know the Turks for themselves. But the reasons of this interest are varied. First because the French king wants to know this new political actor in this part of the world. Another reason is to know, when the future Jean sans Peur was in Turkish jail, how to make good presents to Bajazet with the object to obtain the French’s liberation. In this episode, the French nobility has to know the sultan’s taste. Finally, the last reason is, for certain chroniclers, to make critics about their disturb epoch. In that way, they oppose a virtuous sultan with reference to a tom Occidental world. However, texts describe the Turks only moved by curiosity and we can
see the humanistic thought dawning in these dark ages.
the Hungary’s expedition, a new East Mediterranean World. But, if the
French Chronicles describe the violent and bitter contact with Turks, the Slavic
countries, places of the actions, will first interest our study. Effectively, this
area is the place of synthesis between two cultures and two representations of
Infidels: First the Turkish’s image, the new master of the Balkan and,
secondly, the Orthodox image who is, traditionally, the cultural source of this
area. It’s the reason why we will study how this synthesis is perceived by the
French Chronicles. In this article, we demonstrate a certain evolution of the
Turkish image. In the beginning, the Ottomans have the limited roles of
divine’s scourge and stay the literary archetype of the Infidel. Nevertheless, the representation changes and the chroniclers try to know the Turks for themselves. But the reasons of this interest are varied. First because the French king wants to know this new political actor in this part of the world. Another reason is to know, when the future Jean sans Peur was in Turkish jail, how to make good presents to Bajazet with the object to obtain the French’s liberation. In this episode, the French nobility has to know the sultan’s taste. Finally, the last reason is, for certain chroniclers, to make critics about their disturb epoch. In that way, they oppose a virtuous sultan with reference to a tom Occidental world. However, texts describe the Turks only moved by curiosity and we can
see the humanistic thought dawning in these dark ages.
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