James Wood Photography

Legend has it that the walled city of Carcassonne (on the Aude river in the South of France) was once cunningly defended from invasion with some clever deception.

Apparently the emperor Charlemagne had decided he wanted control of the medieval city, which was then under King Ballak’s rule. On Ballak’s death, he was succeeded by his wife, Dame Carcas.

After being under siege for five years, the city was finally beginning to be defeated by famine. Dame Carcas made fake soldiers from straw and placed them along the ramparts, where she then ran back and forth, firing a crossbow at the aggressors. She then gave the order that the city’s remaining wheat be stuffed into their last remaining pig (bad luck for the pig) and that the whole lot should be fired at the besiegers.

When Charlemagne saw that the town was firing food at him (a wheat-fed pig, no less!), he naturally assumed that they must have plenty left, even after five years of isolation. He realised then that there was no hope of taking the town and hastily withdrew, defeated.

The legend of Dame Carcas was born.

To announce their victory, Dame Carcas had the church bells run at max power. The name “Carcassonne” is said to come from the French phrase “Carcas Sonne” — Carcas is ringing.