Castle Quest - Reply to Topic

Forum:	Medieval Life And Culture
Topic:	Meals

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T O P I C R E V I E W
Maria I've done some research on the Romanian Court and I have found ou some traditions regarding the so called royal meals. I would like a comparison with the western traditions. For example, before lunch, the King would choose who remained to dine with him. In the beggining of official dinners(when ambassadors werer invited), the king would toast in the honour of all neighbour kings (the danger of getting drunk was serious, and there are plenty of books containing advice for young princes on that matter). Oh, did western kings write books of advice to their sons? There is one in Walachia, called "The Teachings of King Neagoe Basarab to his son Teodosie". It contains plenty of advice on different subjects, from table manners to negociations, war and religion.
Dorothy Davies as I understand it, our kings and noblemen did not dine alone but had their entire household at the table, in order of status. Those who were high up in the family or household were near the king, the others at the farther end of the tables, many of them.
There were books generally on being aristocratic, on knighthood, which the young men studied. They were sent to other great households to be tutored in the arts of knighthood, chivalry, etc.
Maria No, the king dindn't eat alone in Walachia(except if he was runing for his life). He sometimes dinned with only a few persons around (someone who had a pleasant speach). Higene was very important, they washed hands before and hands and beards after (this washing of beards seems really funny to me, was in a usual custom?).
Peter Now what is funny about washing a beard?
Think of all that pork fat that can run down your chin into it. Perhaps they didn't keep them as neatly trimmed as I do mine.
You can't beat a good bristling clean beard. Even better if it is red.
Peter
Maria
I understand several courses were served (up to 17 if it was an important dinner). And they dindn't take the empty plates away, just let them pile up until you couldn't see past the table.
And, as Romanian Kings were ortodox (and religion was a strict thing), they had to keep all the fasts, and they ate only vegetables (boiled). But later they decided the french snails weren't really meat...
[This message has been edited by Maria (edited 05-20-2005).]