This morning, my beloved went to war.
Well, not an actual war. At least, not in our time.
As some of you might remember, back in October I posted about the Napoleonic-era reproduction pants that my boyfriend made entirely by hand (even the wooden buttons), following historic reference material. He made them to wear in his battle reenactment group, but I think he might have done it anyway and worn them around the house.
My boyfriend has always been fascinated by history, and as he grew older, the First Empire became his greatest historical passion. He’s become a respected young collector of sabers used in in the Napoleonic wars; a go-to reference for uniform styles, patterns, and materials; and a wealth of knowledge about everything Bonaparte-related.
Now he’s about to take another big step.
The first time he left to spend a weekend with his battle reenactment group, it was a sort of basic training to get to understand the experience and its rules and way of preserving the illusion of being in the early 19th century. For example, participants in the reconstruction can and do bring their cell phones, ID’s, and modern-day cigarettes, but these can only be used in a separate area known as “the 21st century zone”. The rest of the time, the people involved are wearing hand-made (or tailor-made, depending on your sewing skills) historically accurate uniforms of the Grand Armée, eating food cooked by a vivandière (woman who followed a regiment and sold vegetables and meats, as well as prepared meals for the officers), and handling reproduction weapons. If you wear glasses, you even have to get frames that look like the eyewear of the time. These people are hardcore.
This time around, my boyfriend and sixty other members of several reconstitution groups will be reenacting the Battle of Craonne, which took place on March 7, 1814.
I asked if I should attend to watch and show my support, but my boyfriend told me that apart from some large reenactments like the one they’ll be participating in for the 200th anniversary of Waterloo in 2015, the reconstitution groups generally like to keep things to themselves. A crowd of 21st-century dressed, cell phone toting spectators would only ruin the magic.
…The magic that will continue all weekend, with drills and sleeping in historically accurate tents in historically accurate hand-made burlap sleeping bags. In nearly 30 degree (Fahrenheit) weather.
One girl’s hell is another man’s heaven, I guess.
When I found out about the accommodations, I asked my boyfriend why they wouldn’t be housed somewhere, as they had been last time. He explained to me that this time it’s for real, and that to him and the others, two nights suffering from the cold, risking tick- and goodness-knows-what-else infestation by stuffing your sleeping bag with hay, and doing your business in a hole (I asked him what was used for toilet paper in Napoleon’s day, and he didn’t know), is a way to connect with the past.
I can understand that; I’m very glad I don’t have to wear a corset, but if I wanted to really understand how women in my favorite historical period, the Belle-Époque, used to feel, I would probably have to squeeze myself into one and walk around for a while.
~
My boyfriend may be smart, but he’s not a planner. Though he’s had months to do it, he only really started sewing the gilet à manches (sleeved waistcoat) to go with his pants, about 2 weeks ago. Since then, he’s been sewing almost non-stop from the time he gets home from work, till he collapses into bed in the wee hours. This morning he left for the reenactment. In order to have his waistcoat ready for battle, he stayed up all night.
Buttoned up, as it will be worn on the battlefield.
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Comments
This man can sew. I used to make costumes and this is hard work and he did a fantastic job. Just amazing..
Let him do his business in the trenches.. he will appreciate la belle vie once he gets home.:)
rated with hugs
R
Glad the boyfriend finished the waistcoat, but I'm staying over here in the 21st century zone.
They're not actors doing a movie, or working a festival.
This is just for fun?!?!
There's a group in my town that meets at the park on Sundays and dresses like knights and does jousting, but they're really of the lame half baked variety just goofing off, with their regular clothes on underneath, it's more about wearing armor and slamming into each other with oversized wooden swords, like some bizarre flashy wrestling match.
But your boyfriend's group sounds pretty hard core. I guess with all that detail and prep I just wish he was getting paid for it! lol Maybe there's some historical society that could sponsor them?
Michele (one "L") gave me britches.
I keep losing my comments today.
`
My cotton britches are Civil War Era.
Pants are quality made with crotches.
The loin area is mammoth sewed stitch.
Pants under my britches make me itchy.
I hope Snoopy no take pants or comment.
I sure enjoyed this. Pants are worth money.
I promised to be 'jest' one brief-underpants
One moment.
I's in big trouble.
You cover for me?
Write a brief note?
I'd sure appreciate?
Email (pink-slip)
(frilly) (asap) to`
fellow farmers?
I adore the idea of reconstructing history,
but MY way of doing it would include
a mixing of the 21st century people
with the reconstructors, perhaps
at the end of the reconstruction....
maybe get people from several periods to mix..
all in character...
I wikked that battle and found out something odd:
the young recruits w/o beard were
called "MarieLouises"
after Napoleon's 2nd wife...hm.
"the real war is never in the books", i remember Whitman saying.
One might object that such loving reproduction
is usually of war ..but
what else could it be,
i guess...
war is never going away,
so we can learn alot..
Out on a limb – It’s long been my dream for my boyfriend to make me a historical outfit. He’s made me skirts and has helped me add other details to clothes I buy. But he always has stuff to sew for himself. I really need to bite the bullet and learn to sew more than a button onto a shirt. Someday….
Cranky – You make a very good point – I’m so conflicted about my love for the Belle-Époque. It definitely wasn’t a perfect time in a lot of key ways, including women’s rights and civil rights in general, healthcare, and hygiene. But then I look at the pretty dresses and the great literature and the cool art, and the bohemian lifestyle and…I just get seduced all over again, dang it. But you’re right – life probably is better in the 21st century zone.
dragonfly – I know what you mean. And some of these groups are even asked to be extras in locally-produced historical documentaries or costume dramas. I think they do it for free because it’s sort of like why we write here on OS – it’s more about love than money. Though in the case of people doing battle reconstitution, it sure would be good to have a little extra cash to help with their costume budgets. Generally you can find the necessary fabrics for a decent price, but it’s the extra things, like special buttons, that can add up.
Art – Thanks for reading, good sir. The thing about historical pants is, they must be re-made; few originals survive….mainly because urine is extremely corrosive and the soldiers didn’t really pay attention to shaking dry out there in the fields. 100% true.
rita – He doesn’t have a head ‘cause he lost it over me!
:-) No, actually, he’s very, very private and a bit paranoid and prefers not to be pictured fully. I respect that, even though it means the world’s missing out on one handsome face!
James – I’ve missed you! "the real war is never in the books" – so true. I’m in the Whitman camp, and if there were a real war that my boyfriend or brothers wanted to take part in, I’m sorry to say it but I’d cut off their trigger fingers so that they couldn’t go. As for the “Marie-Louises”, that doesn’t surprise me. The army at the time had all sorts of funny expressions for its soldiers and others. I think it was a more overt sense of humor – it still seems to exist among soldiers today, but it seems more secretive. And reconstituting a battle and then having everyone dressed in clothes from different time periods mingle together sounds fantastic. I would love to participate in something like that! As long as I didn’t have to empty my bladder and/or bowels in a hole…
Christine – Thank you! I’ll tell him you said so. He has made some skirts for me, including the one I’m wearing in my most recent photo in my post “My Changing Body”. He’s also done alterations and added trimmings to clothes I buy (at my request). I hope one day I’ll be able to sew and do that, too. But I don’t know….
♥R
This was an interesting read.
Your gentleman friend is a man of fascinating, delightful craziness. I hope you appreciate that gift. But obviously, you do.
Like you, I would not want to sleep outside with the bugs. There are more comfortable ways to "connect with history." Still, I'm glad your boyfriend gets to have this experience if it's what he wants.
Mumbletypeg – No, you’re right, it is a little crazy. I look at it and think of how I used to play pretend games with my friends when we were little. It would have been so cool to have had princess costumes (so much of my life is about never having had a princess costume…) and not had our moms telling us to come in for dinner. As for washing the uniform, you’re a kindred spirit, I see – I asked the boyfriend about that, too, and he says that it’s sort of a mark of pride for the guys in the group to let their uniforms get dirtier and dirtier. I am grossed out and surprised, because an army still had to look presentable. I think as time goes on and he does more of these reconstitutions, we’ll probably have to deal with washing at some point…and I’ll probably be the one to do it, as the boyfriend knows as little about cleaning fabrics, as he knows heaps about sewing them.
Fusun – Thanks! I will definitely take pictures – and in those, maybe my boyfriend will have a head!
XJS – Thanks. Yeah, that’s definitely the way my boyfriend approaches this.
Brassawe – Thanks so much and I’m flattered you remember the post. I definitely appreciate the boyfriend’s eccentricity, no worries there!
Cranky – Thanks, but I can’t for now…he’s not in the 21st century zone!
Eva – Right on! I feel like even if I did find a way to participate in a Belle-Époque reconstitution group (my boyfriend showed me a site the other day where there is a group like this – they do ballroom dancing from the time and have gorgeous costumes), I would still use a toilet! Or a commode, as it were....
I have no trouble understanding the motivation.
What a talent your boyfriend has, how fun he has a passion for history, and how interesting re-enactments occur in Europe as well...I didn't know.
Matt – Interesting questions. From what I understand, the fighting in these battles was very real, but there was an idea of formation in battles in armies throughout Europe, which contributed to the British loss in the American Revolution, as well as horrible injuries during the Civil War, when weapons were too advanced to be shot at people so near you in orderly rows. The link I posted to Craonne shows that it was a horrible massacre, with huge losses on both sides. The sabers in my boyfriend’s collection often have signs of trauma, for example, places where other blades came into contact with them. That really impresses me and makes me realize how much force was involved. Like you, I do find it curious that the French had white uniforms. It’s not practical, and the color was associated with royalty – but then again, Napoleon was for all intents and purposes more or less a king. He just couldn’t call himself that. You’ve given me something to ask the boyfriend about – I mainly just panicked when I saw him sewing a white uniform, visions of grass stains dancing in my head. And thanks for your congratulations – I’m very pleasantly surprised and I know the boyfriend will be, too, when he returns to our modern times.
I have a friend who does the occasional Civil War reenactment. On especially hot days, everyone falls "dead" early in the battle rather than run across the field risking heat stroke.
the man is a genius! never met a man who could sew this well.
reenactments are not a "fashion" here on the island, only done once a year or something and I always seem to miss them
but I'd love to see one
Just Thinking – Thanks! Yes, I was surprised about the reenactments here, too. I thought it was mainly something Civil War buffs did before I came to France and met my boyfriend. I’m really fascinated by the world of reenactments, since for me it’s like grown-ups playing pretend…but over such a horrible thing that in reality killed many people.
vanessa – Thanks! I’ll pass on your kind words to my boyfriend. I’d also love to see a reenactment…I’ll probably have to wait till 2015 to do so, though. I bet they’re really cool when they’re done well, and the best part is, unlike a real battle, (hopefully) no one dies!
a reconstruction
of no fixed
temporal
identity...
let us make it so!
I think i'll call it
anerica
a reconstruction
of no fixed
temporal
identity...
let us make it so!
I think i'll call it
anerica
Just Thinking – I love Renaissance festivals and the like, as well. It really is admirable in a way to see grown-ups dressing up and sharing in collective make-believe. And you’re right about it starting young or being in the jeans: my boyfriend’s mom says he used to always pick up sticks when he was little, and pretend they were swords. I think violence is a part of human beings, alas, or at least most of us. That’s why people attended public executions or gladiator battles and the like in the past, and why we have violent shows on TV – can’t change it, it’s a part of us.
Linda – Thank you! I’m very surprised and honored – and I can't wait to tell the boyfriend he's on the cover!
steve – Your comment made me crack up and made me feel so bad for you at the same time! Children are crazy and sometimes even dangerous. I’m glad you survived that experience!
i have taken the metaphysical position that
my wifi in its bitch-goddess mode
is teaching me valuable lessons...about..um? ...patience
anyway...
i am ready for Whitman to take over the globe...
bringing democracy:
\"life immense in passion, pulse, and power,
cheerful , for
freesest action formed
under the laws divine...
the modern man..."
Et son petite amie :)
Lunchlady – Thanks so much for your kind words. I’ll pass them on to the boyfriend when he returns to our time.
dirndl – Merci beaucoup!
Naomi – Thanks so much – and I’m glad someone else is curious about the toilet paper question. I will definitely keep you posted! : - )
marcell – Thanks. The boyfriend wants to do a modern one for himself one of these days, too. You should definitely give it a shot!
Bonnie – Ooh, good point…I never thought about spoils…maybe he’ll swipe some unguarded cell phones from the 21st century zone!
maryway – Thanks for your kind words about the uniform. He does look handsome - but then again, I might be biased. As for reenactments, I’m not into military stuff, either. The way I figure is, we all have worlds we want to escape into, be they relatively realistic, or completely fantastic. I think we just all have different ways of doing it. Some of us read or play video games or watch movies, and others dress up and run around with swords.
I am a re-enactor also. :-) I always play the part of the Civil War Surgeons Nurse for the North. I know every tool the civil war surgeons used at the time of the civil war, how it was used, when it was invented, what the dangers were, how the health care system worked during that era, etc.. etc.. For instance, you would most likely be surprised that many times the doctor and surgeons were paid with chickens or an animal rather than money. :-) Can you just imagine someone taking a cow into the doctors office for payment for the whole family for a year? Well, during the time of the Civil War in the US this kind of thing was done all the time.
Your boyfriend will have a blast. Hope you do to. :-)
And the costume is marvelous.
Napoleon had flaws for sure, but Marengo and Austerlitz and his final defense of Paris were magnificent, and always studied in the Art of War.
Hand stitching is an art, I have my mothers sheets from her trousseau, all hand sewn and the edge worked in Hardanger. The couldn't get much "off the rack" in Cairo 60 years ago. I was going to have them made into drapes (no one wants to sleep on their parents wedding sheets) and I didn't have the heart to have them cut. Somewhere in her house is a tiny wedding gown, bolts of lace came from Paris for a dress that would never have fit anyone but her.
I'm very happy to see this post, I'm sorry he had to push so hard at the end but the details are really gorgeous.
This week at Goodwill I found a leather belt for jeans that was curved with two pieces stitched in the back, I wouldn't have thought to go to the Gap. That tiny detail drew my eye, I had a patent leather belt cut like that almost 40 years ago. I hope you two will bring back human shaped belts, the buckling on the hip is uncomfortable. I stock up when things I like come back in style.
rated
Also, what role did that particular unit have in the Grande Armee?
Here is a link to a theater fencing youtube channel of a friend of mine in Germany. I tried it (theater fencing) a few times while I was living there. It's not easy to wield those blades, and pretending to do so in a theater environment definitely gives one a sense of how dramatic, to put it mildly, an actually battle with these weapons must have been.
http://www.youtube.com/user/DierkHagedorn
Saludos~
Flower Child – How cool that you, too, were involved in making historical costumes. I wish I could sew….
Victoria – That’s so interesting! I really love how people who do the reenactments do so much research. It’s admirable – and quite useful (if I ever get onto “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire,” I might have to use you as one of my lifelines!)!
Hardly – I don’t know, he’s very out of it when it comes to practical things. I think he’d be fired from that job tout de suite!
Lea – Thanks. I agree – I think it’s a way for adults to play make-believe games. I wish I could find a make-believe Belle-Époque world!
Don – Yes, he was a very talented general. A huge jerk in real life, though, if you ask me.
liz – Yes, I’m in awe of all the work he did, too. And I’d be right with you in the 21st century zone – any enterprise without toilets is not for me!
L’Heure Bleue – It sounds like you and my boyfriend could have a long conversation, especially about changing some inconvenient aspects of modern fashion. He’s also inherited some embroidery and things done by his great-grandmother. Some of them are cloth napkins, and I just feel bad using them and possibly staining them, so they’re put away. I know he’ll enjoy reading your comment. Thanks.
Shiral – Thank you – I’m impressed, too. And I agree completely and totally with what you said about reenactments.
Harry’s – Haha! Good point….
Pilgrim – Thanks. I’m really proud of him.
Rw- Wow – a lot of questions, and I can’t answer them for the time being, unfortunately. The one about reconstitution groups having links to accommodation is a very good one – I’d imagine that they would, but only for each other, not for outsiders. Still, you could probably piggy back. I’d say to try www.venere.com – I use the site for most of the traveling we do in Europe, and they always have reasonably priced but high quality hotels, b&b’s, etc. This would also solve the problem of language, since reservations are made in English. I’d offer a recommendation, but I haven’t even started to think about accommodations…I guess in our case, if it’s finished early enough we might just head back to Paris. But your questions make me think I’ve got to be sure of that, or else I”ll be sleeping outside, too! As for my boyfriend’s regiment…hmmm..I don’t think they did anything extraordinary at the battle (well, bearing in mind of course that anyone risking his life is extraordinary) – they don’t have hussards or cavalry amongst them. I’ll ask if he wants to give more information, and I’ll let you know.
500 words – Yes, I really do think these uniforms are flattering to most male figures. It’s weird, because I’ve never been a girl who’s attracted to men in uniform, but he does look good. I hope he has fun, too – he sent me an sms from the 21st century zone a little while ago and told me it was below freezing last night. Poor sap.
ocular – I’m not surprised that you’ve roughed it – you live in such a naturally beautiful place. Still, no matter what, I’ll never understand people’s desire to go camping! As for the boyfriend’s face, he’s very private and forbade me to take anything above the uniform’s collar. As I responded to another poster, though, he has to make one of those funny hats to go with his uniform, eventually. Then I’ll have to show at least the back of his head!
Inverted – You are right: there are many bathrooms, especially in the older restaurants here that have what are called “Turkish toilets” – i.e., a ceramic-tiled hole in the ground. I hate them and have the same problem as you with losing my stuff. If I absolutely have to use one and am with someone, I strip myself down so that I have as little as possible on me that might fall into the hole or touch the ground. It’s just awful and luckily it seems they’re slowly disappearing. Thanks for the link – I learned to stage fence at a drama camp a long time ago and loved it…I’ll have to check this out once my computer is behaving and will let me watch videos again….
& cover...you deserve it...
How come they changed your clever title on the cover?
Anyway: thank you for becoming scatological..
we were all secretely wondering about that kinda stuff...
I imagine a good bowel movement before battle
might make you more on your toes
when the guns start firing.
Algis – I live with the undying hope that many great 19th century fashions will make a comeback and will be readily available for all of us to wear and look amazing in!
Joan – Thanks so much! I can’t believe how talented he is, either. I’m really proud of him.
RedNose – Ooh, I never thought about the fun side of a reconstitution campfire at night. That could indeed be great…and it may be what they do in my boyfriend’s group, too, since he’s told me they know songs from that era….I’ll have to ask. And yes, I’ve got plenty of warm food ready for when he gets back!
http://www.brigade-napoleon.org/
Felisa – Thanks for reading, and I’m glad to find another Belle-Époque fan out there!
Fred – Good idea…but he’s just returned and from what he told me about the toilet conditions (or lack thereof), sleeping conditions (or lack thereof), and the cold…nah. I’ll stay right here….
BB – Thanks! I wish I could be so devoted to something like this, too. Maybe one day we’ll find our motivations.
Francy – Love the name. Thanks for reading and for the link – I’ll definitely check it out and see if my boyfriend knows it!
"le chat botte reconstitution historique"
"atelier christine falieu"
"empire costume"
Vive l'Empereur! ;)
loveinmexico – It really is a useful and fun skill!
Francy – Thanks for these other links – in fact, I recognize them well; they’re among my boyfriend’s favorite sites!
Mimetalker – It seems to be a pretty big thing in the US and Europe, but I’m not sure about other countries. I agree it’s fascinating – I try to think of it as playtime for grown-ups.