One for all, all Gascons !
Historical and emblematic figure of French literature, D’Artagnan was born in Gascony. He embodies both the Gascon identity and the ultimate folk hero.
A shroud of mystery surrounds the true life of D’Artagnan. With his real name Charles de Batz de Castelmore, he was born in the second decade of the 17th century at Château de Castelmore, near to Lupiac in Armagnac Tenarèze. A doubt still hangs over the exact year of his birth.
Few records exist on the history of D’Artagnan, except memories of uncertain authenticity mixing fiction and reality dating back to 1700. It is from these writings that Alexandre Dumas was inspired to create the fourth musketeer, hero of the famous adventure novel The Three Musketeers published in 1844.
The historical resonance and success of the book gave D’Artagnan a legendary reputation as a feared and formidable soldier with great inspirational verve. Despite the Béarn origins that Dumas gave him, it is his Gascon character that is emphasised in the history books.
Masters of the final thrust and the good word
For their qualities as formidable soldiers, masters of the final thrust and brilliant horsemen, recognised for their strength since the resistance of the Celtiberians against the Roman garrisons to the legendary showdown against the English, the Gascons are reputed to be excessive in all areas, in adversity as in passion. The famous phrase « One for all and all for one » could have actually been the Gascon motto.
Other novelists have found inspiration in Gascony’s characters and their legends. The stories of Lagardère (Paul Féval, The Hunchback, 1858) and Cyrano de Bergerac (Edmond Rostand, Cyrano de Bergerac, 1897) are related to the history of this land. All embody the character of adventure and the very finest popular heros: bold, clever and eloquent.
This identity forged for centuries, confirmed and claimed, the Gascons were able to rewrite it with patience and passion in the development of the most beautiful golden wealth of Gascony … Armagnac!
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