Greetings from a côsin

par Normandie 2.0 Sam 12 Avr - 13:20

Greetings to all côsins I have some problems because I am not a native 'French' speaker although I speak a little bit - having lived/worked in French speaking countries for some years. So, I have to translate everything, which is slow.

I would like for you to consider that not all those who aspire to a Norman identity come from Normandie. A thousand years ago the Conqueror came to England (although there were existing links before then of course) .. for most English people they do not know the difference between 'Normans' and 'Angevines' ... Richard the Lionheart was a Norman in popular English culture ... 99.9% of English do not even know where Anjou, or Aquitaine, are/were.

For others, like myself, I have to ask (as did Che Guevara in the movie 'The Motorcycle Diaries') "How is it possible to feel nostalgia for a world I never knew? How can a civilisation that built this [the glories of the Norman world] be destroyed to build this [the crap that characterises the modern world]? A few months ago I was in Fécamp, and Jumièges... and I felt that nostalgia like a pain. Normandie might only flow shallow in our veins - but it still flows. For those where it does not flow at all in their veins, it may still flow in their hearts and in their souls, and in their imaginations ... a philosophical and spiritual kinship and yearning if not a genetic one.

When Britain was invaded by the Romans ... they intermarried .. and left .. and the native population felt an affinity to a culture that was not truly theirs but which had moulded and shaped them. They continued to model their society on Romano-British culture for centuries. I believe there are others who are similarly touched by 'memories' of their Norman inheritance ... whether in the UK, or in the Mediterranean, in the Levant, or in USA/Canada [settlers having departed from Honfleur means that the NORMANS settled those countries ... even if we for a moment ignore the fact that the Vikings were already there earlier].

So, there are those of us (I hope) who are not only inspired by the past, but also aspire to something in the future ... a world where the glories of Normandie are not merely historical curiosities. As the remembrance and renaissance [rebirth] of the Norman ideals (without the dysentery) are our primary aspiration, then we have common cause with those who seek to celebrate the accomplishments of the geographical Normandie.

Warm regards

Ryan

par Belkën Dim 13 Avr - 1:28

Sois le bienvenu ici
La Vilkoume ichin
Welcome here !

par Normand-Quebecois Dim 13 Avr - 5:08

Welcome among us, Ryan!!! Glad that some anglo-cousins come on this site, So that we can exchange about our feelings and thoughts on what is been a norman today and in the future. I'm from Canada and my ancestor came at the begginning of the colonisation of Canada in 1617. He was from Alencon, Normandy. Would be interesting to know how british from anglo-normans ancestry perceive themselves today. One of my collegue at work is British from anglo-norman ancestry and by the temper, he is really like us, a real conqueror lol!!!!

Hope to read you soon!!

Welcome (Bein'venu!!) again!!

Alain

par palmentier philippe Dim 13 Avr - 12:04

welcome Normandie

par Normandie 2.0 Dim 13 Avr - 13:10

I am lucky, I live in a part of England where there is much evidence of the Norman period thanks to William FitzOsbern. From my girlfriends house I am 2km away from the site of Gloucester Castle (now vanished) built in 1067 by William himself .. and the Abbey of St. Peter (now Gloucester Cathedral) built at the same time ... and from where William commanded the writing of the Domesday Book. We have abbeys and monasteries ... Odo's Chapel is nearby .. we have dozens of well-preserved castles (Chepstow, Goodrich) .. Tintern Abbey .... plenty to remind us. On a spring/summer or even autumn day I go to these places often and 'remember'.

The Normans launched their conquest of Wales (and eventually Ireland) from here .. and the locals supported Matilda against Stephen during the 'Anarchy'. We suffered greatly (architecturally) by the abuses of the English civil war with both Cromwell (Parliament) and the Royalist forces destroying much of our Norman heritage. Barbarians.

par Belkën Dim 13 Avr - 15:18

You live in England ? In London ?

par Normandie 2.0 Dim 13 Avr - 15:34

Belkën a écrit:You live in England ? In London ?

In England yes, in London no .. I am 155km west/northwest of London (lots of Templier/Hospitallier sites around here too)

I will be in Normandie in August (my annual pilgrimage) ... I will be start at Jumierge -> Les Andelys ->.then a week along the Eure, into the Perche for a few days (with another visit to the Commanderie d'Arville near Le Mans). Then returning via Alencon, Argentan, Falaise, Orbec/Bernay .. and a final few days in the Parc naturel regional des Boucles de la Seine Normande.

par palmentier philippe Lun 14 Avr - 19:14

Les Andelys ?? in Normand Vexin !!! http://www.lagrangedebourgoult.com/

par Normandie 2.0 Lun 14 Avr - 19:27

Oui, la ancienne Commanderie des Templiers ... du XIIIe siècle. Magnifique. Je vais aller aussi a la Château Gaillard. - pour le souvenir, la réflexion et la contemplation.

s'il vous plaît excusez mon français, je sais que je ressemble à un enfant de 5 ans. Laughing

Ryan

par palmentier philippe Lun 14 Avr - 19:57

Mais , vous parlez trés bien Ryan Wink

Je suis natif du Vexin Normand , né pas loin de l'Abbaye de Mortemer , ou nos Ducs de Normandie venaient chasser en Forêt de Lyons !!!
Philippe...

par Nordlys Mer 20 Aoû - 7:38

Welcome Ryan! There is actually a section about England in Le coin des côsins. Not every member here is from Normandy. I know how it feels, the nostalgia of an era past. I am a history enthusiast too.I live in Canada and I remember, my grandfather did the genealogy of my family.Normandy is in my blood and there is a place in my heart that calls it home.

I think Anjou is immediately southwest of Normandy, as for Aquitaine it is in Southwest France by the Pyrenees mountains.

par Normandie 2.0 Ven 22 Aoû - 12:54

Nordlys a écrit:Welcome Ryan! There is actually a section about England in Le coin des côsins. Not every member here is from Normandy. I know how it feels, the nostalgia of an era past. I am a history enthusiast too.I live in Canada and I remember, my grandfather did the genealogy of my family. Normandy is in my blood and there is a place in my heart that calls it home.

I think Anjou is immediately southwest of Normandy, as for Aquitaine it is in Southwest France by the Pyrenees mountains.

My reference to Anjou and Aquitaine were more rhetorical .. I know where they are, and what they signified during the medieval period .. but 99% of the English do not. While they may have vaguely heard of Crecy and Agincourt .. they won't understand the history or the politics behind them ... and they couldn't find them on a map :)

I often wonder how history would have differed had our Norman ancestors been a little less keen on plotting against and killing each other ...

par Normandie 2.0 Mar 14 Oct - 23:58

948 years ago today! Happy Birthday! Very Happy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d60eBcLrO0k

par Normand-Quebecois Mer 15 Oct - 7:12

Yeah!! And still there!!! Happy 948th anniversary to all normans and specially our anglo-normans brothers!!! - Bon 948 eme a tous les normands et spécialement a nos frères anglo-normands!!!