This website requires JavaScript.

The plum from Brignoles... fatal for the duke de Guise!

Illustration picture | Jebulon / CC0
Wars of Religion Homicide Speciality Henri I de Guise

What’s this?

You can eat plums from Brignoles in jams, in cakes, as a dry fruit...

It’s an oblong fruit, with a black or red peel. Its pulp is pretty sweet with a nice orange colour.

The little history

A yummy plum!

The tradition says Brignoles name comes from Celtic brin, "plum", and on, "delicious"... a delicious plum!

It’s a dry fruit produced since the 16th century: we also call it pistole, which was a money (when they dried the fruit, it became round and flat like that money).

In 16th century, people were fond of those plums. Even duke de Guise loved Brignoles' plums! He ate one when he was murdered in castle of Blois...

Duke de Guise's plum

We were in the height of wars of Religion. Catholics against Protestants.

Guise led the League, the Catholics. Guise wanted the French crown, so he started to plot with Spain and multiplied intrigues.

King of France Henri III asked Guise to join him in Blois castle, to take part in the Estates General. To put an end to his throne claims.

We were on December 23th 1588. An awfully chilly morning on Blois! The castle apartments, still plunged into darkness, literally froze. Duke de Guise had to go the Estates General.

He crossed the castle’s gallery, gravely, tight-lipped. He had a sleepless night... He fell ill. Guise shook his head and pulled himself together.

He opened the door of the meeting’s room. Guise suddenly shivered and realized his nose was bleeding. Damn.

He asked a handkerchief to his butler and also plums from Brignoles to the king’s butler, Saint-Prix. Guise ate them and felt better.

But few minutes later, duke de Guise would be murdered by Henri III’s henchmen... Whoosh, they threw his corpse in river Loire, with fishes... what a death!

So, were our Brignoles plums fateful?

About the the author

Vinaigrette
I'm fond of strolls and History, with juicy and spicy details!