Castle Quest - Reply to Topic

Forum:	Medieval Life And Culture
Topic:	pets

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T O P I C R E V I E W
LadyCordelia Did people in the middle ages own pets? I've seen a tapestry of a Maiden petting a dog. I know they had hawks and horses and dogs, mainly for hunting. What about cats? and rabbits?
I'm just wondering. If anyone knows anything about it, please reply.
Peter Hm !
That's a thought.
I wouldn't have thought rabbits, as a 'warren' was part of the food chain like a Dovecot, or a fish-pool. We have a place not far from where I live which is known as the 'Warren', and is on the estate belonging to Hawarden castle.
Owning exotic pets was a symbol of power. And normally only available to a King or Queen.
The Tower of London, had the privilaged position of 'Keeper of Lions' as early as 1313, Peter Fabre of Montpeller. And does lists Lions & Leopards about that date, And does say 'including whelps', which means they were breeding in captivity.
No doubt on mainland Europe there would be a greater choice on animals brought from Africa etc.
ipflo Yes on the mainland was a bigger choice.
Especially the castle of Hesdin, a residence of the dukes of Burgundy, was very well known for its zoo.
And an other example, Charles V kept Lions in his Castle in Gent, the Prinsenhof.
An other known well known 'pet' was the bear.
Merlin Well, 'pet' may realy be the wrong word: But already Charlemagne had some kind of a zoo at his main residence in Aachen in the early 9th century. It is well known that the calif of Baghdad sent him an Elephant among other presents. Peacocks were also to be found in many castles.
deborahknowles they had cats but more as mousers than pets!
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Peter Also in the Oxbow listings;
Medieval Animals,
edited by Aleks Pluskowski