The Oldest Known Valentine
By celticeagle
@celticeagle (159034)
Boise, Idaho
January 31, 2017 10:24pm CST
Charles, duke of Orleans, a French nobleman, gave his wife a valentine in 1415. This while being held in the Tower of London as a prisoner. He had been captured at the Battle of Agincourt during the Hundered Year's War.
The valentine read as follows: "I am already sick of love, My very gentle Valentine..."
Before the poem reached the duchess she had died. The duke was imprisoned for 25 years and wrote 60 poems to her.
This collection is said to be the oldest existing valentine and is housed in a manuscript collection in the British Library.
https://pixabay.com/en/cloves-the-envelope-flowers-1997355/
4 people like this
3 responses
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
1 Feb 17
It is quite sad that she didn't get to read his sweet words. Did he die imprisoned within?
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (159034)
• Boise, Idaho
2 Feb 17
I guess so. He was in there quite a while. It didn't really say.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (159034)
• Boise, Idaho
2 Feb 17
@ScribbledAdNauseum .....Yes, those were the thing back in the last century even.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
2 Feb 17
@celticeagle It is so very sweet to see this. When we think of those times, we often think of arranged marriages for the sake of a higher lot in life. Atleast I do.
1 person likes this
