Phantom Armies of the Night: The Wild Hunt and the Ghostly Processions of the Undead

Description

Once upon a time a phenomenon existed in medieval Europe that continuously fuelled local lore: during the long winter nights a strange and unknown troop could be heard passing outside over the land or through the air. Anyone caught by surprise in the open fields or depths of the woods would see a bizarre procession of demons, giants, hounds, ladies of the night, soldiers, and knights, some covered in blood and others carrying their heads beneath their arms. This was the Wild or Infernal Hunt, the host of the damned, the phantom army of the night--a theme that still inspires poets, writers, and painters to this day. Millennia older than Christianity, this pagan belief was employed by the church to spread their doctrine, with the shapeshifters and giants of the pagan nightly processions becoming sinners led by demons seeking out unwary souls to add to their retinues. Myth or legend, it represents a belief that has deep roots in Europe, particularly Celtic and Scandinavian countries. The first scholar to fully examine this myth in each of its myriad forms, Claude Lecouteux strips away the Christian gloss and shows how the Wild Hunt was an integral part of the pagan worldview and the structure of their societies. Additionally, he looks at how secret societies of medieval Europe reenacted these ghostly processions through cult rituals culminating in masquerades and carnival-like cavalcades often associated with astral doubles, visions of the afterlife, belief in multiple souls, and prophecies of impending death. He reveals how the nearly infinite variations of this myth are a still living, evolving tradition that offers us a window into the world in which our ancestors lived. . Recounts the myriad variations of this legend, from the Cursed Huntsman and King Herla to phantom armies and vast processions of sinners and demons . Explains how this belief was an integral part of the pagan worldview and was thus employed by the church to spread Christian doctrine . Reveals how the secret societies of medieval Europe re-enacted these ghostly processions for soul travel and prophecies of impending death

Claude Lecouteux is a former professor of medieval literature and civilisation at the Sorbonne. He is the author of numerous books on mediaeval and pagan afterlife beliefs, including The Return of the Dead, The Secret History of Vampires and Witches,Werewolves, and Fairies. He lives in Paris

"Claude Lecouteux marshals what must be a virtually complete recounting of stories from throughout Europe involving nocturnal sightings of the Army of the Dead, also known as the Wild Hunt, and traces their thematic origins from pre-Christian times through the filter of the medieval church. His primary sources are exhaustive, ranging from the medieval period to 20th-century accounts by various authors along with church records and folktales. His secondary sources draw extensively on scholarship, particularly from France and Germany. The connection of the figure now known as Harlequin and other figures to rites for the dead is particularly well presented. The Wild Hunt was clearly associated with the spirits of the dead but also with fertility, fecundity, and certain times of the year. Lecouteux explores these and many more aspects of a civilization that both lies behind us and is in faint form still present." * James E. Cathey, professor of German and Scandinavian studies, University of Massachusetts at Amhers * "One of the most frightening and persistent visions recorded throughout Indo-European history, legend, and folklore is the spectral array of the Wild Hunt. Claude Lecouteux's brilliant scholarly detective work results in the definitive study of these ghastly processions that have haunted the night skies of Europe for millennia. Phantom Armies of the Night is teeming with tales that will fascinate, delight, and terrify--often all at once. * Michael Moynihan, author of Lords of Chaos: The Bloody Rise of the Satanic Metal Underground and tra * "This book is an excellent jumping-off point for scholars wishing to untangle the lines between early Christianity as it blended and then separated from European Paganism. Excellent scholarship along with thought provoking legends and a light hand on interpretation makes this an outstanding addition to a historian's library." * Diana Rajchel, FacingNorth.net, October 2011 * "...clearly associated with demons and spirits of the dead and the author describes this folklore with eerie tales that will fascinate you." * Dave H., Book Bargains and Previews, November 2011 * "This excellent book...is the most comprehensive study of the subject so far written and it is very highly recommended." * The Cauldron, February 2012 * "Overall this work is wonderfully rich in detail and gripping material centered around a subject which is uncommon in modern sociological, or spiritual works. This volume is well worth a read for those interested in historical mythological themes." * Frater U.I.F., Behutet Magazine * "This excellent book by a former professor of medieval literature and civilization at the University of Sorbonne in Paris is a continuation of the author's ongoing research into the mythological and folkloric aspects of death and popular beliefs about the survival of the soul and the afterlife." * The Cauldron * "I would recommend this book to anyone who loves European and Religious history and lore, as well as those seeking to understand the differences between Christian and Pagan worldviews. It will make an interesting addition to their library." * Uloboridae, Pagan Book Reviews, February 2013 * "This book is ambitious, thick with information,and impressive...After finishing it, I felt as if it is the kind of book one likes to have on the shelf for reference and consultation, rather than the kind of book one reads from start to finish in the usual way. Unless, of course, you are an academic, who enjoys reading analytical books for fun (as I do). Still even if you are not an academic, I'd recommend it to you anyway." * Brendan Myers, Witches & Pagans, December 2013 * "This is an exciting and absorbing study of a form of folk mythology that has spanned Europe for more than a thousand years. Lecouteux provides both a mass of valuable information and a viable working hypothesis of explanation." * Ronald Hutton, professor of history, University of Bristol, England *