The Dog of Montagaris
"Let God be the judge."
an incident in France that occurred around the year 1380 during the reign of Charles V. It concerned a greyhound named Dragon, who belonged to Aubrey De Montdidier, a noble, who was the nephew of the Count of Montargis. Dragon accompanied his master where ever he went, and slept in his bedroom on a braided rug.
One day Aubrey was supposed to meet with a friend, Sieur De Narsac. He had known Aubrey for a long time and had also become quite friendly with Dragon who would often visit his home with his master. De Narsac was also well known at court since he was a knight and captain of the king's men at arms. Aubrey had planned meet with his comrade to watch a local tournament that afternoon, however, Aubrey did not show up at the agreed upon time. Although De Narsac searched and made inquiries about him, for three days no one seemed to know Aubrey's whereabouts. Early on the morning of the fourth day, De Narsac was awakened by the sound of scratching at his door. When he opened it he found Dragon, standing unsteadily on the threshold. He looked weak and starved, with his ribs standing out beneath his coat. The poor dog was in great distress, whining and looking up piteously into De Narsac's face. When food and water were brought to him, Dragon gulped it down swiftly. It was obvious that he had had nothing to eat for several days.
As soon as the dog finished eating he seemed to regain much of his strength. He nuzzled De Narsac's hand and began running back and forth between him and the door, looking toward the outside and barking at the end of each run. It seemed clear to De Narsac that the dog wanted the young captain to follow him. The dog's movements were so unusual that De Narsac concluded that the dog's behavior must have some connection to the disappearance of his master. Perhaps he was trying to bring help to Aubrey who might be injured.
De Narsac decided to follow the big dog, and Dragon led him down the stairs and into the streets, over the bridge, and out of the Porte St. Martin. It was clear that the dog intended him to follow since every few yards the dog would turn back to see if De Narsac was following him. So they went on until they entered the Forest of Bondy. This was considered to be a dangerous place, especially at night, since it was infested with bandits and brigands.
The dog led De Narsac through several narrow forest paths until he reached a location beneath a large spreading oak tree, where the dog laid down at full length and refused to move. De Narsac had a feeling of foreboding about this and decided to return to the city for help. He tried to induce the greyhound to follow him, but Dragon protested with a combination of growls and whimpers. Returning as fast as he could to Paris, De Narsac gathered some help and the party arrived and began to dig up the earth where the dog had been stretched out. Here they found the body of Aubrey De Montdidier. The body showed evidence of a violent death. When they took the body to Paris for final burial, the faithful greyhound followed.
After this incident Dragon attached himself to De Narsac. They lived as close friends for some weeks when, one fine day as they walked out together along the Rue St. Martin, De Narsac startled when Dragon began to growl fiercely. The dog broke from his side and attacked a young man named Macaire, who was wearing the uniform of the King's bodyguard and who had been walking quietly along the opposite side of the street. Two people nearby used their walking sticks to beat the dog off, and he was led away by his new master. A few days later Dragon again encountered Chevalier Macaire and once more tried to attack him.
With the second attack, people began to talk. The rumors of these strange attacks by the dog of an officer of the king's men at arms, directed at one of his personal bodyguards soon reached the ear of the King himself, along with whispers of a long-standing quarrel between Aubrey De Montdidier and Macaire. King Charles decided to determine the substance of the matter and had the young Sieur De Narsac and his greyhound brought before him at the Hôtel St. Pol. The young man entered and bowed low before the king, but the dog broke from his side and charged through the crowd of courtiers near the throne to once again single out Macaire as a target. He was beaten off, but this led Charles to conclude that there must be a good reason for Dragon's hatred of Macaire. Although the guardsman protested that he didn't know why the dog was attacking him, the King suspected that this was not true and decided to put the issue to the time honored test of trial by combat and thus to let God decide who was the guilty party.
That very afternoon the strange confrontation took place with the King and his courtiers all acting as witnesses. Chevalier Macaire was armed with a stick, and the dog was given an empty barrel as a refuge to retreat from his opponent's attacks. The big dog seemed to understand the importance of this extraordinary fight, and the moment he was released he darted at his enemy, growling and snapping. Macaire seemed to lose his nerve. His swings of the stick went wild and hit only the air, and in what seemed like short moments, the dog found an opening and managed to pull the man down, tearing at him viciously with his teeth. In abject terror, Macaire pleaded to the King for mercy, shouting out a confession that he had murdered De Montdidier. The King allowed that God had indeed judged the matter and no further trial was needed. Macaire was executed that same night.
The story of this powerful bond between a dog an its owner has become known in the retelling as the "The Dog of Montargis" or "Aubrey's Dog." It's truth is supported not only by contemporary documents, but it was also memorialized in a scene carved upon the stone mantelpiece of a fireplace in the old castle of Montargis shortly after the incident occurred.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/canine-corner/201008/murder-and-dog-seeking-justice
Stanley Coren's Canine Corner appears in Psychology Today.
Phd. Coren is Canadian psychologist and professor, and widely considered one of the world's foremost dog behaviorist's.
One day Aubrey was supposed to meet with a friend, Sieur De Narsac. He had known Aubrey for a long time and had also become quite friendly with Dragon who would often visit his home with his master. De Narsac was also well known at court since he was a knight and captain of the king's men at arms. Aubrey had planned meet with his comrade to watch a local tournament that afternoon, however, Aubrey did not show up at the agreed upon time. Although De Narsac searched and made inquiries about him, for three days no one seemed to know Aubrey's whereabouts. Early on the morning of the fourth day, De Narsac was awakened by the sound of scratching at his door. When he opened it he found Dragon, standing unsteadily on the threshold. He looked weak and starved, with his ribs standing out beneath his coat. The poor dog was in great distress, whining and looking up piteously into De Narsac's face. When food and water were brought to him, Dragon gulped it down swiftly. It was obvious that he had had nothing to eat for several days.
As soon as the dog finished eating he seemed to regain much of his strength. He nuzzled De Narsac's hand and began running back and forth between him and the door, looking toward the outside and barking at the end of each run. It seemed clear to De Narsac that the dog wanted the young captain to follow him. The dog's movements were so unusual that De Narsac concluded that the dog's behavior must have some connection to the disappearance of his master. Perhaps he was trying to bring help to Aubrey who might be injured.
De Narsac decided to follow the big dog, and Dragon led him down the stairs and into the streets, over the bridge, and out of the Porte St. Martin. It was clear that the dog intended him to follow since every few yards the dog would turn back to see if De Narsac was following him. So they went on until they entered the Forest of Bondy. This was considered to be a dangerous place, especially at night, since it was infested with bandits and brigands.
The dog led De Narsac through several narrow forest paths until he reached a location beneath a large spreading oak tree, where the dog laid down at full length and refused to move. De Narsac had a feeling of foreboding about this and decided to return to the city for help. He tried to induce the greyhound to follow him, but Dragon protested with a combination of growls and whimpers. Returning as fast as he could to Paris, De Narsac gathered some help and the party arrived and began to dig up the earth where the dog had been stretched out. Here they found the body of Aubrey De Montdidier. The body showed evidence of a violent death. When they took the body to Paris for final burial, the faithful greyhound followed.
After this incident Dragon attached himself to De Narsac. They lived as close friends for some weeks when, one fine day as they walked out together along the Rue St. Martin, De Narsac startled when Dragon began to growl fiercely. The dog broke from his side and attacked a young man named Macaire, who was wearing the uniform of the King's bodyguard and who had been walking quietly along the opposite side of the street. Two people nearby used their walking sticks to beat the dog off, and he was led away by his new master. A few days later Dragon again encountered Chevalier Macaire and once more tried to attack him.
With the second attack, people began to talk. The rumors of these strange attacks by the dog of an officer of the king's men at arms, directed at one of his personal bodyguards soon reached the ear of the King himself, along with whispers of a long-standing quarrel between Aubrey De Montdidier and Macaire. King Charles decided to determine the substance of the matter and had the young Sieur De Narsac and his greyhound brought before him at the Hôtel St. Pol. The young man entered and bowed low before the king, but the dog broke from his side and charged through the crowd of courtiers near the throne to once again single out Macaire as a target. He was beaten off, but this led Charles to conclude that there must be a good reason for Dragon's hatred of Macaire. Although the guardsman protested that he didn't know why the dog was attacking him, the King suspected that this was not true and decided to put the issue to the time honored test of trial by combat and thus to let God decide who was the guilty party.
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That very afternoon the strange confrontation took place with the King and his courtiers all acting as witnesses. Chevalier Macaire was armed with a stick, and the dog was given an empty barrel as a refuge to retreat from his opponent's attacks. The big dog seemed to understand the importance of this extraordinary fight, and the moment he was released he darted at his enemy, growling and snapping. Macaire seemed to lose his nerve. His swings of the stick went wild and hit only the air, and in what seemed like short moments, the dog found an opening and managed to pull the man down, tearing at him viciously with his teeth. In abject terror, Macaire pleaded to the King for mercy, shouting out a confession that he had murdered De Montdidier. The King allowed that God had indeed judged the matter and no further trial was needed. Macaire was executed that same night.
The story of this powerful bond between a dog an its owner has become known in the retelling as the "The Dog of Montargis" or "Aubrey's Dog." It's truth is supported not only by contemporary documents, but it was also memorialized in a scene carved upon the stone mantelpiece of a fireplace in the old castle of Montargis shortly after the incident occurred.
Stanley Coren's Canine Corner appears in Psychology Today.
Phd. Coren is Canadian psychologist and professor, and widely considered one of the world's foremost dog behaviorist's.
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