History’s first valentine was written in perhaps one of the most unromantic places conceivable: a prison. Charles, Duke of Orleans wrote the love letter to his second wife at the age of 21 while captured at the Battle of Agincourt. As a prisoner for more than 20 years, he would never see his valentine’s reaction to the This is probably the oldest surviving Valentine’s letter in the English language. It was written by Margery Brews to her fiancé John Paston in February 1477. Describing John as her “right well-beloved valentine,” she tells him she is “not in good health of body nor of heart, nor shall I be till I hear from you.” February 14, 2023 1400s, celebrity & famous people, dating & love, England, event & history, Valentine Born in 1394, Charles d’Orléans was a member of the French royal family, the grandson of King Charles V of France (r. 1364–1380) and nephew of King Charles VI (r. 1380-1422). A letter from the teenager Margery Brews to her suitor John Paston contains the oldest surviving Valentine greeting in English. It is an extraordinary window on love and marriage in the late Middle Ages. This is probably the oldest surviving Valentine’s letter in the English language. It was written by Margery Brews to her fiancé John Paston in February 1477.Describing John as her “right well-beloved valentine,” she tells him This intimate letter between these two lovebirds is thought to be the earliest surviving Valentine’s love letter. Letter of Margery Brews to John Paston, February 1477: London, British Library, Add MS 43490, f. 24r. Despite their passion, there was trouble ahead for Margery and John. Their relatives initially opposed the marriage. In February 1477, Margery Brews, a Norfolk gentlewoman, sent her beloved John Paston two Valentine letters. They were written on the eve of their marriage and, besides expressing Margery's undying love for John, reveal the couple's concerns for their future. The first letter is on display until 3 April 2011 Charles’s Valentine’s Day poetry. Although he can’t qualify as having written the first Valentine, Charles d'Orléans was still an important figure in the development of Valentine’s Day. About fourteen of his poems explore the subject of Valentine’s Day, a surprisingly high number, many of which can be found in British Library The Oldest known Valentines message in the English Language is also at the British Library, written in Norfolk more than 500 years ago, the love letter dates to 1477 and was from Margery Brews to her fiance John Paston. Lecturer in History Dr Rachel Moss gives us a peek at the first known Valentine’s letter written in English. This post first appeared in a slightly adapted format on her blog. Love Letter by John Jennings for Unsplash The Paston Valentine: Margery Brews’ letter to John Paston, 1477 The Oldest known Valentines message in the English Language is also at the British Library, written in Norfolk more than 500 years ago, the love letter dates to 1477 and was from Margery Brews to her fiance John Paston. Romantic ideas for Valentine’s Day include going for a romantic picnic, cooking a special meal together, taking a weekend getaway, watching a romantic movie, writing love letters to each other, or simply spending quality time together. Because of that, the oldest surviving Valentine's letter award might go to Margery Brews, a noblewoman who wrote to her betrothed in 1477. The world's oldest Valentine's card, believed to be sent in 1797, sold at auction in 2019 for £7,000, or about $8,500 U.S. dollars. Jakki Brown, editor and co-owner of a greeting card trade magazine in From writing a salty letter of insults to rid yourself of unwanted attention to using a key to ward off epilepsy, here are 11 of the oddest old-timey Valentine’s Day traditions from years past. Charles 1st of Orléan dressed as Knight of the Order Of The Golden Fleece. Adapting the text Fortunes Stabilnes: Charles of Orléans’s English Book of Love (edited by M. Arn in 1995), website Charlesdorleans.net described him as “a vitally important pawn in the Hundred Years War (1337 – 1453) as it was played out by the various French and English factions, each of whom seemed to vie It’s a letter written by Margery Brews to her fiance in February 1477. It begins, “Unto my right well-beloved Valentine John Paston, squire, be this bill delivered.” You can read the transcript here. Oldest English valentine (held by the British Library) The first Valentine’s Day cards were sent in the 18th century. Valentine’s Day is the holiday (February 14) when lovers express their affection with greetings and gifts. It may have had beginnings in the Roman festival of Lupercalia, which celebrated the coming of spring and included fertility rites and other activities, but the origin of the holiday is vague at best. From Johnny Cash's note to wife June Carter and Richard Burton's sweet words to Elizabeth Taylor, a new survey reveals the greatest love letters of all time. Read them and weep (literally). A Love Letter to My Son on Valentine’s Day. By. Andrea Genevieve Townson - February 14, 2017. Facebook. Twitter. Pinterest. ReddIt. Email . But, as the oldest The oldest known Valentine was written from prison in 1415 by Charles, Duke of Orleans, during the 100 Years War, when he used “Valentine” as a term of endearment for his wife in a letter: “My gentle Valentine, since for me you were born too soon, and I for you was born too late, God forgives him who has estranged me from you for the
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