Gascony is a region in the south of France that borders Spain very closely. The Duchy of Gascony was originally part of the Duchy of Aquitaine, which comprised about a third of the land area of modern France in the 12th Century. It ended up being the fighting ground for most of the 100 Year's War, which ended before our play is set, but left widespread economic devastation across this farming country. The war ceded Gascony, finally, from England to France.
Gascony is and has been very rural. The way of life is slow. There were fewer educated people in Gascony than in Paris.
Gascon Cadets
Gascons are full of pride and bravery. There was a specific identity attached to Gascon cadets:
"They were impoverished, certainly; they carried strange or convoluted names; they were fiercely proud of their lineage (however debatable it might seem in the eyes of the northern French aristocracy). They were boastful and swaggering and short-tempered, quick to avenge a slight, however small- or imaginary- and equally quick to recite their own achievements. They were brave, be it in warfare or in duels, and they had a strong military bent. They were clannish, helping and suporting each other in their careers. They were strongly attached to their homeland, retaining a marked regional accent." (The Gascon accent pronounced 'v' as 'b' and 'g' for 'c'.)
Gascony as a region was regarded as a homeland of romantic martial heroes during the time of de Courlitz (see D'Artagnan) and Dumas.
Gascony is and has been very rural. The way of life is slow. There were fewer educated people in Gascony than in Paris.
Gascon Cadets
Gascons are full of pride and bravery. There was a specific identity attached to Gascon cadets:
"They were impoverished, certainly; they carried strange or convoluted names; they were fiercely proud of their lineage (however debatable it might seem in the eyes of the northern French aristocracy). They were boastful and swaggering and short-tempered, quick to avenge a slight, however small- or imaginary- and equally quick to recite their own achievements. They were brave, be it in warfare or in duels, and they had a strong military bent. They were clannish, helping and suporting each other in their careers. They were strongly attached to their homeland, retaining a marked regional accent." (The Gascon accent pronounced 'v' as 'b' and 'g' for 'c'.)
Gascony as a region was regarded as a homeland of romantic martial heroes during the time of de Courlitz (see D'Artagnan) and Dumas.