Luparii
Encyclopedia
Luparii were royal officials responsible for controlling wolf populations in France
during the Middle Ages
. The office was created by Charlemagne
in 813. Luparii were paid for each slain wolf, and their hunts were funded by the crown. In severe cases of wolf aggression extra finances were appropriated to the luparii, which were typically spent in organizing grand hunts with beaters
or by lacing dead animals with poison and leaving them in afflicted areas. Pastoral societies like France depended on the survival of livestock like sheep and goats, perennial quarry of wolves, and thus the luparii enjoyed great renown and favour at court. Wolf "plagues" were also common and luparii often found themselves defending the kingdom from predatory aggression. The tradition of rewarding wolf kills with a bounty existed even into the modern period, and shepherds in France could expect payment from local government officials if they presented a wolf carcass. Luparii were responsible for the initial reduction of the wolf population in France, which would become decimated in later centuries. The luparii had a vast terminology; a grand vieux loup was a term used to describe an old, solitary male. A loup chevalier was a wolf which regularly attacked horses. A loup lévrier was a name given to exceptionally fast wolves. A loup moutonnier was a wolf specialised in killing sheep. A wolf den was referred to as a lovière. Wolf-dog crossbreds were referred to as lycisca.
The office of luparii is today known as the Wolfcatcher Royal
.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
during the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
. The office was created by Charlemagne
Charlemagne
Charlemagne was King of the Franks from 768 and Emperor of the Romans from 800 to his death in 814. He expanded the Frankish kingdom into an empire that incorporated much of Western and Central Europe. During his reign, he conquered Italy and was crowned by Pope Leo III on 25 December 800...
in 813. Luparii were paid for each slain wolf, and their hunts were funded by the crown. In severe cases of wolf aggression extra finances were appropriated to the luparii, which were typically spent in organizing grand hunts with beaters
Hunting
Hunting is the practice of pursuing any living thing, usually wildlife, for food, recreation, or trade. In present-day use, the term refers to lawful hunting, as distinguished from poaching, which is the killing, trapping or capture of the hunted species contrary to applicable law...
or by lacing dead animals with poison and leaving them in afflicted areas. Pastoral societies like France depended on the survival of livestock like sheep and goats, perennial quarry of wolves, and thus the luparii enjoyed great renown and favour at court. Wolf "plagues" were also common and luparii often found themselves defending the kingdom from predatory aggression. The tradition of rewarding wolf kills with a bounty existed even into the modern period, and shepherds in France could expect payment from local government officials if they presented a wolf carcass. Luparii were responsible for the initial reduction of the wolf population in France, which would become decimated in later centuries. The luparii had a vast terminology; a grand vieux loup was a term used to describe an old, solitary male. A loup chevalier was a wolf which regularly attacked horses. A loup lévrier was a name given to exceptionally fast wolves. A loup moutonnier was a wolf specialised in killing sheep. A wolf den was referred to as a lovière. Wolf-dog crossbreds were referred to as lycisca.
The office of luparii is today known as the Wolfcatcher Royal
Wolfcatcher Royal
The Wolfcatcher Royal , a position also known historically as the Grand Wolfcatcher which is presently known as lieutenant de louveterie, was first established as a prestigious office in the House of the King during the Ancien Régime and Bourbon Restoration of France, tracing its inception to the...
.