1346–c. 1406)“Come with me, ladies!” the king yelled to Geneviève, Arabelle, and Jecelyn as t hey crouched behind the hitc hing posts.The bright fruit careened across the courtyard, whistling by as the men and ladies of the court hurled them at one another, splat-ting with juicy collisions and a bursting of citrus. Out of ammunition, the three women took refuge behind the thick beams, trying to hide the red ribbons on their arms that would give away their location to the blue contingent. The battle of oranges—one festivity in the days’ long homecoming celebration—had ensued. The custom, begun in the twelfth century in Ivrea in the north of Italy, had become a favorite pastime of the king from his earliest days, calling for the contest whether it was carnival or not.Returning to Fontainebleau proved the greatest elixir prescribed for the king, and he rebounded, taking part in every celebration, both day and night.Rushing past the women, François seized an abandoned shield and crossed in front of them.
