France

French dragons are hard to hunt down, and many appear to be very similar. Perhaps this is the impact of the religious influences on the country that designed the dragons so.

• Basilic
• Drac - folklore (Beaucaire)
• Gargouille - Christian Mythology
• Tarasque - Christian Mythology
• Le Succube's Dragon
• Melusine - Christian Mythology
• Vouivre
• Impact on Art
• Concluding Notes
• Footnotes

No one was brave enough to fight or even talk to the beast, so they sent emissaries to the King of France for help. However, their adventures turned out fruitless, as the King and his knights had better things to do. The village was too small and too far from the capital, and, furthermore, no one of noblility lived there. Besides, there was no treasure their, either.

The villagers began to speak about abandoning their village, as they saw no other way of riding themselves of the monster. It was in this time of desperation that St. Martha happened to be passing by. She was beautiful and many people praised her for her good deeds.

The people took her appearance as a sign from the Heavens and they begged her to help them. In return for her challenging the beast, she only asked them to pray to God for three days, and to ask God to help vanquish the beast. They agreed.

It is also good to note that the Tarasque was a music lover, even though he was fercious. So, St. Martha went to the shores of the place where the Tarasque lived, and she began to sing praises to God.

The Tarasque was enchanted by her voice and her songs. The dragon emerged from the lake and lay down at her feet, completely docile. She then put a belt around his neck and lead him into town. There, the dragon was easily killed and offered little resistance.

The region where the Tarasque lived was then called Tarascon, in memory of the feat.

Symbolism: Tarasque is a common, stereotypical dragon. Perhaps he is a symbol of converting to the Christain faith.

Physical Description: While Tarasque is a sea serpent, it is suggested that this creature also had four limbs: two fore legs and two hind legs. This is because he emereged from the lake and had to walk to the village. Sometimes this dragon is also depicted as having wings, but they would be rather useless to a lake-living dragon.

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History: The Gargouille was a terrible sea serpent who, one day, emerged from the Seine and began to spew water about the country side. This creature also created a great tidal wave. The word Gargouille means "gargler". Whatsoever the waters did not kill, the creature devoured.

The archbishop of Rouen, known as St. Romain, decided he would fix this problem. He found that the Gargouille lived in a cave lair in the banks of the Seine, so he set out to vanqish the area of the pestilence. Much to his surprise, no one wanted to come with st. Romain. The only person who agreed was a prisoner who was condemned to die for murder. Figuring that he had nothing to lose, he readily agreed to go with the archbishop.

The two brave men went to the creature lair. And, sure enough, the Gargouille reared up with feriocity. However, the archbishop made the cross with his two fingers and the creature fell docile. With that, the priest bount the dragon's neck and lead him into town.

The townsfolk condemn the dragon to death by fire. The immense pile of ash was cast into the Seine River, but none have forgotten the damage left by the Gargouille.

Symbolism: Note the likenesses between the Gargouille and the Tarasque.

Physical Description: This monsterous sea serpent has membranous fins instead of limbs. Often depicted spewing water or with water running down around the beast.

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History: Special Note: There are two variations of this story.

The Count of Anjou was lonely, as he was not married and had no one to care for him. Much to the people's surprise, one day he brought home Melusine, a beautiful woman of wonderful mannerism. They married, and they were happy.

Melusine was the most wonderful countess anyone could ask for. She was kind, noble, beautiful, a good mother, and good-willed. However, people began to ask questions about her. No one knew her background nor who she was.

She was also terrible attendant of Church. This made people very nervous. She seldom attended mass and, when she did, she always seemed to disappear before the Eucharist was consecrated. Upon hearing this, the Count ordered his gaurds to make sure she stayed.

So, it happened. One Sunday when Melusine was at Church, she attempted to excuse herself before the Eucharist was prepared. The guards stopped her, and, as the Priest finished the preparation of the Eucharist, she shrieked. She turned into a dragon and took two of her children with her, away.

It is said that her children went on as Royality in Europe. It was also written that when anyone relating to her dies, she hovers over Melusine's Tower, near the Castle of Lusignan.

The alternative story came about a few hundred years after the one above, perhaps because no royal family member wished to be known as a relative to a dragon.

Melusine had a horrible, horrible father who mistreated his entire family. She locked him up in some type of Mound of Earth within the North Sea. The Queen of the Faeries looked down upon this, as children were not the ones to punish their parents.

Therefore, the Queen of the Faeries punished her. She cursed Melusine by making her change, from the waist down, into a dragon every Saturday. The only way to rid herself of this impediment was to take a magical bath every Saturday. This spell could only be broken if she could find a husband who was willing to not see his wife on a Saturday.

Melusine did find herself a husband, and he did agree to not see her on Saturday. However, as time when on he wondered what his wife was doing, locked in the tower all day. So, he peaked in and saw her half-dragon, half-human body.

With a shriek, Melusine turned into a dragon and flew out the window. She remained a dragon forever.

Symbolism: The first version appears to be a warning for people who marry others without knowing them well first. The second seems to be a reminder of that, as well as a reminder of the fourth commandment. (Honor thy mother and father.)

Physical Description: Melusine was a beautiful woman. In the first story, she was probably of western-serpentile style. In the second she is often depicted as half-sea serpent.

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History: Le Succube (Succubus) was a French spirit. She looked for male French adventurors so that she may drain them with her kisses. She rode on top of a dragon, who would take her where ever she pleased.

Symbolism: The French tie dragons with what they deemed "all forms of evil" in many ways. This dragon is a definate symbol of promiscuity. (The other dragons above contribute other attributes of evil.)

Physical Description: Many artists depict Le Succubus' dragon to be a huge, elongated wyvern with a long body and short arms.

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History: Many believe Drac to be a powerful soceror-dragon. He can become invisible whenever he so choses, and he lures young children away from unknowning mothers. He ate the children, but it did not stop there. He lured other people there as well for his own purposes.

The most famous of these people was a young woman that was lured there to care for Drac's hatchlings. For seven years, she forgot her mortal life and cared for the dragons. Since mortals were unable to see Drac and his hatchlings (unless the dragons wanted her to), she was the only one that Drac used. However, she managed to get "dragon cream" in her eye while she was rubbing the hatchlings. This cream gave her draconic sight, which allows her to see the dragons whensoever she pleases. When she returned home, she tried to warn the villagers, but none would listen to her. Drac, finding out about her ability, quickly came and ripped out her eyes.

He lived in the River Rhone during the thirteenth century. Killing over three thousand knights and villagers, he was perhaps one of the craftiest of all French dragons. The dragon lived near the small town of Beaucaire, and most of the kills were preformed there. Sometimes, however, the dragon would search for other victims elswhere.

Many attempted to kill Drac. Douzens of campaigns against him were lauched, and whole armies were sent after him. However, all of them failed. (Specific campaigns recorded were: Ocino, Ragnarold, and Umberto of Guineve - found in early Germanic histories as well as French history.)

No one is said to have slayed this dragon, and so many believe that Drac died of old age. However, the legacy still lives today, as there is a town named after him - Draguignan.

Symbolism: Drac is a symbol of "evil winning". No slayer, no reason, and no answer to his power. Perhaps loss of innocents also plays in...as well as a lesson for mothers to watch their children.

Physical Description: Even though Drac is commonly described as a huge winged sea serpent, it is very hard to be sure. After all, Drac was invisible to most humans.

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History: Derived from the Latin word "vipera", Vouivra means viper. She was quite beautiful, and was described to have scales that looked like diamonds, wearing a crown with pearls, and having a red carbuncle on her forhead. Through this carbuncle, she saw the world, as this gem was said to be her eye.⁶

Shooting stars were thought to be her, flying through the night. This, again, due to the carbuncle, for it made her appear as if she was surrounded by fire because it glowed so brightly. (Some argue that this was the excuse for comets that people saw.)⁷She was also said to guard a grand treasure within a rocky cavern.⁸

She was also invunerble to attack. Once a year, however, she could be killed. On this night, which was said to be either Easter or Christmas, she would fly out to a water source to bathe and drink during the mass.⁹ When she did this, she had to remove her jewel, thus leaving her blinded. This was the only time people could attempt to kill her or plunder her gold. However, she would only remain outside ungaurded for the duration of the mass; hence, mass-goers could never steal her treasure nor kill her.¹⁰ Many people said, however, that if you threw a crust of bread inside of the cavern while she was bathing, anything that the bread or its crumbs touched would belong to you; thus, people would do this in order to gain wealth.¹¹

However, some thieves were not so wise in their attempts to steal her treasure. Some stayed to long to gather the treasure, and when she returned that would remained locked in her cavern all year without food nor water. Others took too much gold; thus, they couldn't move and were captured by her upon her return.¹²

Variation's in Vouivre's story occur around her life later on. Some sources say that she was killed by a cunning warrior who lured her into a bathing area filled with spikes.¹³ Others claim that she was killed by being lured into an oven to be roasted.¹⁴

Symbolism: She is a symbol of "draconic" beauty, perhaps.

Physical Description: She was decribed as a cyclopes-dragon. She is perhaps the onle one of her kind, and very little decription has been given of her.

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History: The town of Vienne was plagued by the basilisk-like Basilic, which ate both humans and cattle. It also could petrify anyone with a simple stare. The town was ravaged and could not survive, until Fretard arrived.

As a knight of medieval renown, Fretard arrived to Vienne when he heard of their plight. He banished the creature down to the bottom of a well called Colaine. However, the creature was not slain, and it can resurface.

Every ten years, the creature is said to rise to the surface of this well in hopes of damaging the city again. The only way to stop the best is for it to be seen before it can stare at the onlooker; this will send it back down to its home. If this is not done, the town would again fall to its terror.

Symbolism: The Basilic is obviously a symbol of famine and plight, which was somewhat conquered by a hero.

Physical Description: It is described as a huge, terrifying dragon.

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Dragons also appeared in Churches for an extended period of time.

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Pride (vanity) is said to be the sin from which all other sins arise. In the tale of the Tarasque the King would not send his army to save the small town. So, instead, St. Martha went and saved the town.

Lust (promiscuity) can be seen in Le Succube's Dragon Steed. Men were warned of her ability to drain them with just a kiss.

Envy can be found in the tale of The Lady of the Land - Daughter of Ypocras. She was changed into a dragon by the Diana the goddess.

Gluttony, or taking more than one needs, is shown in Drac's Tale. He lured people to do his bidding, and it almost ended in his demise.

Anger is found in Drac's tale. When he found that the girl told others that she could see dragons, Drac, enraged, tore out her eyes.

Greed can be found in the story of the Tarasque and the Gargouille. The Gargouille was especially greedy, killing all those around him needlessly.

Sloth is avioding spiritual work or works of mercy. Melusine is perhaps a sign of this in the first tale. (The one listed on this page first.) As her main fault was never remaining for mass.

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1. The Tarasque
2. Giants, Monsters & Dragons by Carol Rose
3. Giants, Monsters & Dragons by Carol Rose
4. Illiana the Golden Dragon (defunct)
5. The Drac: French Tales of Dragons and Demons by Felice Holman and Nanine Valen
6. Illiana the Golden Dragon (defunct)
7. Illiana the Golden Dragon (defunct)
8. The Drac: French Tales of Dragons and Demons by Felice Holman and Nanine Valen
9. The Drac: French Tales of Dragons and Demons by Felice Holman and Nanine Valen
10. The Drac: French Tales of Dragons and Demons by Felice Holman and Nanine Valen
11. The Drac: French Tales of Dragons and Demons by Felice Holman and Nanine Valen
12. The Drac: French Tales of Dragons and Demons by Felice Holman and Nanine Valen
13. The Drac: French Tales of Dragons and Demons by Felice Holman and Nanine Valen
14. The Drac: French Tales of Dragons and Demons by Felice Holman and Nanine Valen

For more information, see the Bibliography.