Re: CHAT: national identity

Tom Wier wrote:

> Apparently, there's one guy, Henri d'Orleans,
He's a Bourbon, a Johnny-come-lately.

> who's the current
> claimant to the French throne.  There's also an organization I read
> about that's trying to reestablish monarchies descendent from Charlemagne
> in all the major countries of Europe (*real* Merovingian restorationists).
No, no.  The Merovingian Party considers the line of Charlemagne
barely-tolerated usurpers.

See John Steinbeck's novel _The Short Reign of Pippin IV_, in which
Pippin Arnulf Heristal, a legitimate descendant of
Charles Martel, is appointed King in order to break through one of
those political lockups that France is well-known for.  He makes the
mistake of standing for democracy and good government, and is
consequently overthrown.  A wonderful book.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0140187499/qid%3D926968753/002-5603038-2990402

--
John Cowan      http://www.ccil.org/~cowan              cowan@ccil.org
        You tollerday donsk?  N.  You tolkatiff scowegian?  Nn.
        You spigotty anglease?  Nnn.  You phonio saxo?  Nnnn.
                Clear all so!  'Tis a Jute.... (Finnegans Wake 16.5)