THE SCENE: Despite his nickname, no one could ever accuse Louis VI of France – also known as Louis the Fat – of being indolent when it comes to matters of war.
THE TEXT: [Louis] maneuvered against Drogo of Mouchy and found him amid a large force of knights, archers, and crossbowmen. They had advanced only a short distance from their castle so that their retreat, if necessary, would be quite short. Rushing upon [Drogo], the lord Louis allowed him no way to escape back into the fortress amid the crush of arms. His charge against the enemy carried him with them through the gate; and being a marvelous swordsman and brave champion, he kept striking and sustaining blows until he had made his way to the middle of the castle. He considered it would have been unworthy if anyone had ousted him or forced him to withdraw before he burn the entire place with its furnishing all the way up to the precinct of the tower. In his great heroic fervor he gave no thought to turning aside from the blazing fire, even though it was dangerous for him and his host, and made him very hoarse for a long time. Thus he humbled the man beneath the powerful arm of God, whose affair it was, and made Drogo subject to the dominion of his will like some bedridden patient.
– The Deeds of Louis the Fat, Suger, 12th Century AD
[Image Credit: French School 19thC, Louis VI Le Gros]
