With Richelieu the taste for cats was a mania; when he rose in the morning and when he went to bed at night he was always surrounded by a dozen of them with which he played, delighting to watch them jump and gambol. He had one of his chambers fitted up as a cattery, which was entrusted to overseers, the names of whom are unknown.
Abel and Teysandier came, morning and evening to feed the cats with pates fashioned from the white meat of chicken. At his death Richelieu left a pension for his cats and to Abel and Teysandier so that they might continue to care for their charges.
When he died Richelieu left fourteen cats of which the names were: Mounard le Fougueux, Soumise, Serpolet, Gaette, *Ludovic le Cruel, Mimie Piaillon, Femimare, *Lucifer, Lodoiska, Rubis sur l'Ongle, Pyrame, Thisbe, Racan and Perruque. These last two received their names from the fact that they were born in the wig of Racan, the academician.
I have never been to sure about Richelieu but with his love of cats he can't have been all bad.
*the two names I highlighted, EC, I thought could perhaps be AKAs for Jazz.
I have certainly called Jazz very similar names. It is lucky that he is a beautiful (and sometimes very loving) cat.
ReplyDeleteInteresting. I would have categorised Richelieu on the less desirable side of the equation. I love that he left monies to care for them after his death though.
Our KoKo was a little like Jazz, loveable but you had to watch him. He was a lilac Siamese and one day he disappeared never to be seen again. Years ago now but we still often wonder if he met a nasty end.
DeleteRichelieu was perhaps not the most desirable of persons but his love of cats helps balance him a little. Leaving money for his cats to be cared for after his death does it for me.
Another picture worthy of a coffee mug.
ReplyDeleteI love cats, but don't think I could possibly have that many. I haven't heard of Richelieu.
I thought it so beautiful.
DeleteRichelieu was a Cardinal in the time of Louis XIII of France.
His is quite an interesting life, well worth reading about.
There are paintings of him and some of his cats.
Hari OM
ReplyDelete...images of kittens in wigs now... great Sunday image!!! YAM xx
I am sure in their wigs they would look extremely wise. xx
DeleteNo one can be all bad if they love cats.
ReplyDeleteThat is very true and have you ever noticed that cats will often make straight for people who are not cat lovers? They seem to know they need to show those people how beautiful they are.
DeleteCats are COOL! They are so independent and aloof all while being caring and cuddly!...:)JP
ReplyDeleteThey are all of those things and more. Everything you need in a furry friend. :)
DeleteMy memory is a bit marshmallow but I'm sure that Richelieu had the most awful skin rashes and spent a lot of his time in a calming bath. Now I know he had lots of cats and was probably allergic. Still it was a filthy age he lived in, the cats were lucky they could clean themselves. ABC has a great series of The Musketeers on at the moment and no pretty velvets or silks.
ReplyDeleteActually Richelieu suffered from many ailments (as people did in those times) but it doesn't mention hay fever so hopefully hid cats didn't cause any of his illnesses.
DeleteI did catch a glimpse of The Musketeers but didn't watch it in full.
Thanks for paying my blog a visit.
Cats can cause skin irritations. When I was younger I couldn't hold any cats as I would get very itchy on the inner side of my forearms and under the chin. I seem to be okay now with Angel. But my grand daughter can't visit me as she is allergic. Five minutes in my home and her eyes start watering and her sinuses block up, so she stays away.
ReplyDeleteThe very earliest mention of the Cardinal have cats is towards the end of the 18th century, and various early researchers deny that the Cardinal ever owned a cat,Still, that he suffered suck illnesses maybe he really was allergic to Cats. The jury is still out as to whether it's a myth about the Cats, or is true.
ReplyDelete