Un tournoi à Romans en 1484

Set amid the bustling streets of Romans in June 1484, a grand tournament erupts to celebrate the marriage of Antoine de Montchenu and Louise de Clermont. The city’s lone square transforms into a sprawling arena, its open space framed by the church and surrounding medieval houses, where 84 armored knights—each bearing distinctive heraldic crests—prepare to joust with lances, their swords merely ornamental. The lively proclamation of the herald summons nobles from across the Dauphiné, promising a spectacle of chivalry and pageantry that will fill the Pentecost holidays with colour and clangor.

Beyond the clashing lances, the narrative weaves a fanciful romance: the Ottoman prince Zizim, smitten with the elegant Philippine de Sassenage, watches the tournament from the sidelines, his yearning echoing the age‑old ideals of courtly love. Interlaced with meticulous historical notes, the story paints a vivid portrait of medieval life—tax records, town councils, and the proud lineage of the participants—offering listeners both an immersive adventure and a glimpse into the real traditions that shaped such festivities.