It's Spooky Season y'all! While I don't typically love a real scare, I do try to get into the spirit of the season. On Halloweens past, we have shared the Catacombs of Paris and then moved above ground to explore the Père Lachaise Cemetery. Today, let's gas up the Time Travel Machine to take a P'Niche peek at the history of the Red Ghost of Jardin des Tuileries...
The Red Ghost is said to roam the alleys of the Jardin des Tuileries under the veil of darkness, its presence haunting those who dare to wander alone.
Witnesses speak of a ghostly figure, draped in crimson, gliding in and out of the shadows, leaving a trail of unease. Some claim to have felt an icy gust of wind and heard faint whispers echoing through the trees – whispers that speak of a tragic past untold, continuing to be a source of fascination and fear, defying explanation.
Buckle into the P'Niche Time Travel Machine, as we are heading back to the court of King Henry II and Queen Catherine de Medici. Beep, beep - on y va!
Many say that the apparition of the the Red Ghost was, in fact, Jean l'Écorcheur (John the Flayer), a German born butcher/boner, who had his slaughter house (gulp!) near the Tuileries, and was under the employee of the royal court in the 1600s.
Now, Catherine, in a move becoming a low grade horror movie, decided to have her husband killed - and secretly engaged Jean l'Écorcheur to take care of the deed.
Lesson learned, don't mess with a Medici!
Well, after Henry II was no more, the Queen got to thinking and enjoying her newfound power and absolute authority.
There was just one little problem. Our guy Jean knew a little bit too much about Catherine and her wicked plans and deeds.
Uh oh!
Well, Catherine would not be stopped. She carried through with her plans to expand her domain, with the erection of the Palais des Tuileries. This construction saw Jean displaced from his home and ultimately murdered (by her planning?), but not before he vowed to haunt the place where the Tuileries Palace stood. Yikes!
Now as Catherine came to pass (predicted by Cosimo Ruggieri (remember him from the Medici Column?) the Red Ghost continued his nighttime haunting of the Tuileries.
In fact, his legend lasts longer than the actual Palais des Tuileries that saw him moved, as it was burnt to cinder and ash in May of 1871 during the Paris Commune.
Coincidence? P'Niche thinks not!
Speeding forward a bit in time, we learn that King Henry IV (allegedly) encountered our Red Ghost in the pre dawn hours of his last day, when Monsieur Red informed him of his impending (and violent) death.
In fact, Henry was assassinated that very evening by François Ravaillac.
Many wonder if this was also a Medici hit job (and not just another Catholic zealot) as his widow, Marie de Medici was then installed as official regent to their son, Louis XIII, until 1617.
Seems a little too convenient, amiright?!
Zooming just a bit ahead to the reign of the aforementioned Louis XIII, it seems his Queen Anne d'Austriche also had a midnight run-in with the Red Ghost. He told her of coming problems and just days later, began the Fronde, a series of civil wars in the Kingdom of France.
It seems the Red Ghost really had it in for the royals. P'Niche however, loves them, so if you do so too, we hope you subscribe to join us back here for more regal history...
It seems even Queen Marie Antoinette encountered him - this time inside! He politely greeted her and forewarned of the ominous executions ahead and even noted that they would begin the very next day.
To add some depth to the story, there is even a written account..."Marie Antoinette and her women were sitting in the Salle des Gardes, when they suddenly became aware of the presence of a small man clothed from crown to heel in scarlet."
Lo and behold, the very next day, a mob stormed the palace, and with many deaths, the monarchy was officially ended. GULP!
Even Napoléon Bonaparte had an encounter or two (or three!) with the Red Ghost. In fact, he may have made a "deal with a demon" of sorts...
First meeting the Red Ghost during his Egyptian campaign, this arrangement with the Red Ghost was set to ensure Napoléon held military victories and land expansions for a decade.
Fast forward a decade, and indeed Napoléon and his thousands of troops had achieved mostly success, praise, and adulation.
When that glorious decade was over, the Red Ghost reappeared to Napoléon. His time was up. But clever Napoléon was really loving his time in the limelight and requested five more years. The Red Ghost said "oui" provided that Napoléon never invade Russia.
Napoléon being Napoléon, he decided that of course he would invade Russia. But perhaps he was outwitted as the Red Ghost had previously told Napoléon that "I know you better than you know yourself." Did he know what would come to pass? Was this just a big set up by the Red Ghost?
It must be, as the Russian invasion was a spectacular failure, which most historians believe was the start of the ultimate decline of Napoléon and his power. Quel Bummer!
As we park the P'Niche Time Travel machine today, and while encounters with the Red Ghost have become less frequent (or perhaps less spoken about publicly), the mystery lives on.
Whether you are a skeptic or a believer, you will certainly find yourself wondering about the mystique that surrounds this iconic Parisian landmark. Perhaps the red of the Tuileries roses may hide deeper shades of crimson - and messages yet to be told...
These days, in pop culture, the Red Ghost is most often thought to be associated with Assassin's Creed world of gaming.
In fact, perhaps the Red Ghost is trying to make amends or spread nice news of sorts?
During the catastrophic fire of Notre Dame de Paris cathedral, on April 15, 2019, Ubisoft (the creative team behind the Assassin's Creed video game), who had previously laser mapped out the cathedral for their graphics, offered the precise plans back to the City of Paris in effort to as closely replicate the reconstruction to original form as possible. They even offered €500,000 to offset the exorbitant costs of the restoration and reconstruction project.
Merci Ubisoft! Merci Red Ghost?!
What do you say, P'Nicher - do you feel you have encountered a little red ghost in the Jardin des Tuileries or do you want to venture a late evening walk to check it out for yourself? Let us know in the comments below et â bientôt!
What a well written a great story Chrissy! I have never heard of the Red Ghost!