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Multi-petal Medieval Roses
Rosa Centifolia (Cabbage Roses)
My dear lord watched me put some roses into a vase on the table. “Lovely, aren't they?” I said. He agreed, but then added one of my most hated phrases. “They're not period, though.” That phrase almost always turns out to be untrue, since it's speaking in a generic sweeping way about a thousand years of history and a great portion of the world.
Roses not period? Could he really mean that? But we know that there was a “War of the Roses” and that roses of many types figure in stories from the period all the time. Did he mean that there were no roses?
“No.”
I suggested that he really might have been trying to say was that heralds didn't generally use it drawn accurately as a heraldic charge, prefering the stylized “heraldic” rose.
“No. It's not that.”
He might have been trying to say that a great deal of roses used in modern times are hybrids created after the middle ages, almost certainly the ones you bought at the flower shop were not period roses.
“True, but no.”
“Then what's your problem with these roses?”, I asked.
“They're multi-petal roses. They didn't have those in period!”
Uh-huh. I thought that might not be right, but where was my proof? I had to find out. So just which roses existed when? First I needed some basic background. Where did roses originate?
Gerarde's Herbal, 1597, says that
“...the Turke can by no means endure to see the leaves of Roses fall to the ground, bicause that some of them have dreamed that the first or most ancient Rose did spring of the blood of Venus and others of the Mahometans say, that it sprang of the sweate of Mahomet.”
While poetic, I wanted more scientific answers to my questions about the origins of roses. The first answers I found in "Gardening with Old Roses" by John Scarman.
Where did the first wild roses come from?
“Wild roses only occur in the Northern Hemisphere. Belonging to the Rosaceae family which include such fruites as, Berries (Strawberry, Blackberry, Rasberry), apples, pears, and plums.”
When is the first documentation of a rose of any kind?
“Paleontologists have discovered fossil remains which most closely resemble Rosa nutkana and R. palustris dating back 35 MILLION years.”
Rosa Nutkana
When was the first time man made an image of the rose?
Scarman again: “The earliest known image of a rose come from a coin found in a Tsudi grave in the mountains of Arctic Siberia which dates from 4000 BC.”
Were they known anywhere else in the ancient world?
“Tablets record that roses were grown by the Sumerians who lived in Mesopotamia (between the Tigris and Euphrates) pre 2000 BC. When King Sargon founded the city of Agade he was known to have sent two of each species of fig trees, vines, rose trees...”.
The first use of roses in the sculpture and painting?
“Crete jewelery from the Early Minoan period (c. 2800-2400 BC) includes modelled roses.
“The famous 'Fresco with Blue Bird', unearthed at Knossos (c. 1900-1700 BC,) clearly depicts a multi-petaled rose in one of its few original fragments. The Palace at Knossos, which was destroyed by an earthquake in 1450 BC provided the earlist known painting of a rose.”
The first use of the rose as an agricultural product? Keep in mind that a 5 petaled rose is unlikely to be a source for “rose oil”. The rose appears to have travelled to other parts of the Mediterranean.
“Tablets found in the palace of Nestor at Pylos in Southern Greece mention rose oil. Called the Olive Oil Tablets of Pylos, they firmly place rose-scented oil” (and therefore large-scale rose production) ”in Greece in the thirteenth century BC. Coins from Rhodes, dating from about 500 BC are imprinted with the rose.”
All the roses so far don't prove doubled or multi-petaled roses existed, although the reference to rose oil seems indicative. When were more petals seen? John Scarman points out some classical mentions of multi-petal roses:
“The first double rose recorded in literature appears to be in 'Urania' by Herodotus (470 BC), in which he speaks of a rose with sixty 'leaves' in Macedonia.”
“ Roses were the flower for Aphrodite. Sappho called the rose 'queen of all flowers.' The naturalist-philosopher Theophrastus (370-286 BC) in his systematic classification of all known plants of the time, mentions a hundred-petalled rose; he distinguished it from the single flowered wild dog rose (kynosbaton) as well as from the double ones (rhodon)” and described how to grow them.
What were the first actual rose parts found?
From Daniel P. Bronson (AKA Daniel del Cavallo):
“The earliest known bits of actual roses are parts of rose wreaths unearthed from a tomb in lower Egypt and dated near 170 AD. These specimens are thought to be R. x richardii, formerly called R. sancta, the Holy Rose, or St. Johns Rose.”
Rosa Sancta
This would seem to indicate that by 170 BC, there were single, double, and multi-petaled roses. All of these roses would seem to have been in existence BEFORE our period. But what about IN our period? Did the rose fall with Rome?
Daniel P. Bronson notes that,
“...in 794, Charlemagne founded his 'Crown Lands', the agricultural use of which was governed by a regulation called the Capitulare de
villis. Paragraph 70 of this executive order begins; 'It is our wish that you shall have every form of plant in the garden particularly
1) lilies, 2) roses, etc.' ”
The plan of the Carolingian Abbey of St. Gall (according to Phyllis Pray Bober) included in it's gardens
“- roses, the bean fasiolo, gladiolus, rosemary, fenugreek, sage, rue, cumin, mint, costmary, lovage, fennel, sisimbria (garden cress), savory, apples, pears, plums, medlars, bay laurels, chestnuts, figs, quinces, peaches, hazels, almonds, mulberries, and walnuts. Also available were turnips, onions, leeks, lentils, and chickpeas. From it's allied brethren at Bobbio in Lombardy, they received lemons, olives, pomegranates and dates. Poppy, carrots and red chard, fava beans and watermelon are included in the plants enjoyed there.”
The abbey monks would have justified growing them for the medicinal values attributed to extracts from the rose.
Scarman has something to say about this, too.
“The rose survived the upheavals of the post-Roman period and was cultivated throughout the Byzantine Empire and in Persia. During the centuries preceding the first crusade in 1095, there are mentions of rose gardens in Germany, France, and in many of the monasteries throughout Europe. The Moors in Spain filled the Caliph's gardens outside of Cordoba with roses in 711 AD. The Crusaders introduced Europe to varieties that had been cultivated in Asia (Damasks AKA the Castilian Rose) , the English took plants of the Gallicas and Albas.”
rosa mundi
Thomas Fuller wrote in "The History of the Worthies of England" that
"The Dutch brought thither with them, (in the 1300's) not only their profitable craft, but pleasurable curiosities. They were the first who advanced the use and reputation of Flowers in this city (Norwich).....the Rose of Roses (Rosa Mundi) had it's first being in this City."
Art shows us multi-petaled roses in period, too. The below shows rosa alba on the left, and rosa mundi on the right, according to Compton Reeves, in Pleasures and Pastimes of Medieval England pg. 134. (British Library, Harley Ms. 4431, f. 376)
In our next picture, the apothecary rose is the source of Dr. Rabbit's extract. Note the 1445 pair of eyeglasses, too.
Detail from Book of Hours in Latin,
France, Aix-en-Provence, ca. 1445,
by Barthelemy van Eyck
(M.358,f.20v,det.)
(Taken from Bibles and Bestiaries - A Guide to Illuminated Manuscripts by Elizabeth B. Wilson)
Here's another apothecary rose from period...
Detail of Border, from the Coronation of the Virgin.
Book of Hours, in Latin, Belgium or France, ca. 1480,
by Simon Marmion (M.6, f.57v, det.)
(Same Source)
The below detail is from The Wedding of Gerart and Berta, ca. 1450. These roses are also representations of the apothecary rose, or "Red Rose of Lancaster".
William Harrison (who lived 1534 to 1593), wrote in 1577 “Of Gardens and Orchanrds” in Holinshed's Chronicles, that
"Pliny and others speak of a rose that had three score leaves upon one button: but if I tell of one which bare a triple number unto that proportion, I know I shall not be believed, and no great matter though I were not; howbeit such a one was to be seen in Antwerp...” (this was written 1585)
(It was common in those times, to refer to petals as “leaves”, but since they are on “one button” we ARE talking about petals. In Roman times, a multi-petaled rose of 120 petals, in late Elizabethan period in Antwerp, one with 360 petals, but also, note that Englishmen believe in the former but not, commonly, in the latter...heard of by the author)
Gerarde in his 1597 Herbal mentions the White and Red, the Damaske and Lesser Damaske, the Cinnamon Rose, (which he says is due to the smell of the leaves, not the flower), Briars, the “Great Province or Great Hollande” (Centifolia) and the “Rose without prickles”. Then he says,
“All these sorts of Roses we have in our London gardens, except that Rose without prickles, which as yet is a Stranger in Englande. ”
He only knows of the thornless rose from Clusius' writings, but the rest he reports having personally seen.
So roses were mentioned often enough, but exactly what varieties can I grow to be sure I've got a “period rose”? And so to our next section,
Medieval Rose Varieties
Here are the separate varieties of rose known to the Middle Ages.
The Wild Roses
Pictures above from Gerard's Herbal, 1597. Here, finally, are your Heraldic Roses!!!
Here are the actual flowers, for comparison.
Eglantine Rose 
Dog Rose 
Pimpernel Roses
GALLICAS
David Austin says:
“Gallica Roses are among the oldest roses in cultivation. Native to Europe, Gallicas are excellent choices for those who want easy-care, cold-hardy roses which prosper with a minimum of fuss and bother. They bloom in spring with a spectacular show and are vigorous, disease resistant plants. More, for those who are interested in hosting plants in their garden that have played a significant role in history, one has to look no further than the Gallica.”
“Gallicas have been around for centuries, certainly since the Roman and Greek civilizations were at their peaks. If you seek a rose that was grown by a monk in his cloister or for a king's herald, plant a Gallica. Rosa officinalis, Apothecary's Rose, was grown for medicinal and perfumery use, lore attributing introduction of this rose to Provins, France by way of the Crusades. “
-this may be found at www.timelessroses.com > Old Roses > Gallica Roses
Daniel P. Bronson:
“ It is believed to have been brought to Provins, France from Damascus after the Seventh
Crusade by Thibault IV le Chansonnier, King of Navarre, Count of Champagne and Brie [YUM!] in 1250 where it became the basis of a huge rose oil industry lasting from the 13th to the 18th centuries. It is believed to be depicted in the Portinari altarpiece in Ghent Cathedral, which dates from around 1430.”
“This is one of the oldest classes of rose. R.gallica is a small almost thornless rose species, found wild in Itally, Switzerland, Austria and France. Were also known to the Ancient Greeks and Persians. Gallicas are distinguished by handsome, dark green foliage, and dense twiggy growth. The have a diversity of flower color from purple to red.”
-from: "Gardening with Old Roses" by John Scarman
“L'Imperatrice Josephine (AKA R.xfranco-furtana) this rose was one of the Empress Josephine's favourites. Though it was subsequently named after her, it is in fact an ancient hybrid with R. majalis (R.cinnamomea) and was recorded by Clusius in 1583. The flowers are large and pink with a ruffled arrangement of petals. The buds are turban-shaped. It has grey-green foliage . “
-from: "Gardening with Old Roses" by John Scarman
The “Red Rose of Lancaster”
“At some stage in its history the R.gallica produced a sport (or true breeding mutation) with large, striking, semi-double crimson-pink flowers. This rose found its way into a Saracen's garden and was discovered there during the Crusades. Eleanor of Aquitaine adoped it as her personal emblem, and on her marriage to Henry II of England it became the "Red Rose of Lancaster".
-from: "Gardening with Old Roses" by John Scarman
“Red Rose” from the 1597 edition of Gerard's Herbal
Apothecary's Rose
“R. gallica var. officinalis (Apothecary's Rose) was so named because of its "healing" qualities. (AKA the Red Rose of Lancaster), the flowers are bright crimson-red with yellow stamens. Good dark green foliage. Prior to the 12th C.”
-from: "Gardening with Old Roses" by John Scarman
Rosa Mundi
“R. gallica Versicolor. This rose (AKA Rosa Mundi) was supposedly named after Fair Rosamund, mistress of Henry II. Unfortunately, Rosemund lived many years before Rosa Mundi, a sport of R. gallica var officnalis, was discovered. It is far more striking than Camaieux, with pale blush-pink flowers with purplish stripes overlaid. R. gallica Versicolor (Rosa Mundi), one of the oldest garden cutivars to survive today, was described in 1583 by Clusius. “
-from: "Gardening with Old Roses" by John Scarman
(See also the 1662 Thomas Fuller reference above, vaguely implying 1300's existence. )
ALBAS
Picture from 1597 Edition of Gerard's Herbal
Daniel P. Bronson says:
“In period context, it is generally agreed that mention of the White Rose refers to varieties of R. alba, as this would have been the only available consistently white garden variety.”
(I think the picture above with the variety listed in latin pretty much nails that down...)
Alba Maxima
“Alba Maxima. (AKA: White Rose of York) is a fuller-flowered sport from Alba Semi-Plena. It was extensively grown as a climber in the late Middle Ages when it was known as the Great Double White. Europe, 15thC or earlier.”
-from: "Gardening with Old Roses" by John Scarman
Great Maiden's Blush
“Great Maiden's Blush. A well formed and elegant shrub, producing semi-double flowers. In low light levels the flowers open a wonderful deep pink before fading. Introduceed in Europe in 15th Century.”
-from: "Gardening with Old Roses" by John Scarman
DAMASKS
Pictures from Gerard's Herbal, 1597
Autumn Damask and Summer Damask
(R. damascena bifera and Rosa damascena )
Autumn Damask Summer Damask
When you cross the gallica with the musk rose, you get Autumn Damask.
"Autumn Damask, also known as: 'Quatre Saisons', 'Four Seasons Rose', 'Rose of Castile'
Introduced: Ancient
Class: Damask
Parentage: 'R. gallica' x 'R. moschata'
Flowers: Loosely double; light to medium pink
Size: 4 to 6 feet
Fragrance: Excellent”
"R. x damascena bifera (Autumn Damask, Quatre Saisons) The Damasks are amoung the most perfumed of the Old roses. Most of the reference to roses in Ancient Rome & Greece refer to Damasks, although there is controversy as to whether or not R.x centifolia was also in existence at that time."
-from: "Gardening with Old Roses" by John Scarman
Daniel P. Bronson says:
“their introduction to Europe (probably from Syria) appears to have taken place in the late 13th century at the hands of one Robert de Brie from whose chateau in Champagne they were gradually dispersed throughout Europe.”
and also,
“the Autumn Damask, arose as a cross between R. gallica, and R. moschata - the musk rose - which can flower a second time in Autumn, and can grow up to 30 feet tall!”
www.timelessroses.com when speaking of the Summer Damask, says,
“ Damasks were introduced to Europe around 1250, and are vigorous, strong plants which feature rich pink (with some whites thrown in) flowers which bloom once per season. Don't let lack of remontancy stop you from including a Damask or two as they are lovely and historic roses, attractive in bloom and out.”
“Damasks originated from a natural hybrid (a cross in the wild) between a Gallica and Rosa phoenicea, a species rose. The parents, Gallica and Rosa phoenicea, differ greatly in habit, and thus, Damasks as a class exhibit great diversity from one variety to the next.”
(Note: the above is a description of Rosa Damascena)
Daniel P. Bronson says:
“The Summer Damask appears to be a natural hybrid between R. gallica, and R. phoenicia - a native of the eastern Mediterranean.”
CENTIFOLIAS (Cabbage Roses)
To answer the “controversy” about centifolias, I submit the following picture from Gerard's 1597 Herball. That's a centifolia, all right. So why is there any controversy?
“The orgins of this class are uncertain, and may go back to well before the date of 1600," (see Holinshead reference and picture from Gerard, above) "which is given for the first raising. The flowers are double and richly scented. These are roses that thrive in hot conditions. In milder, wetter conditions the blooms are prone to damage/disease.”
from: "Gardening with Old Roses" by John Scarman
Daniel P. Bronson clears up the controversy:
“The only other group relevant to the SCA are the Centifolias, or Cabbage Roses. These arose as a cross between an Autumn Damask and an Alba around the end of the 16th century as mentioned by Gerard.....They form large floppy bushes with extremely double pink to white flowers and are typically very heavily scented. All period varieties arose as mutations of the original cross since that original was sterile. “
Here's the real source of the contoversy. Since a fertile mutant wasn't discovered until the 1800's, technically the species of Cabbage Roses didn't exist. Crossed sterile hybrids WERE produced. We therefore have pictures and mention of them in period. The flowers are perfectly normal for that era.
The Musk Roses
The Single Musk Rose and the Double Cinnamon Rose
Rosa Moschata and Rosa Cinnamomea
Gerarde only shows the previous picture of a double cinnamon rose in his 1597 Herbal, but mentions both single and double cinnamon roses.
Gerarde mentions five varieties of musk rose. Notice especially the yellow rose. I've been told “It's not period” by some that saw yellow roses in a Caidan award, and were certain it was a modern variant.
Rosa Foetida
The muslim import in the 1500's of Rosa Foetida (not known for it's wonderful smell) gave yellow colors to our roses. They often gave the wonderful Austrian Copper when crossed.
At http://www.huntington.org/BotanicalDiv/Timeline.html I found this tid-bit from 1583.
“Clusius is said to have taken the yellow-flowered Rosa foetida to Holland from Vienna, where it became known as the Austrian Briar (the orange-red cultivar ‘Bicolor’ is still known as Austrian Copper.)”
Rosa Foetida Bicolor
(Austrian Copper)
Conclusion
Roses have been with us a long, long, time. While it is true that USUALLY heralds don't use the natural multi-petaled rose, preferring the easier to draw dog rose, multi-petalled roses have been cultivated since ancient times, and the Fall of Rome did nothing to slow their production. They've been used for medicine, food, and beauty throughout the Middle Ages, and the variety was considerable. With a little care, most of these varieties can still be found easily enough, and will reward diligence and fertilizer with the same benefits our Medieval ancestors enjoyed.
Gardening with Old Roses by John Scarman, Published by: Harper Collins 1996 & 1999, ISBN: 0 00 414085-0
The history of the worthies of England.Thomas Fuller. 1st ed. London: Printed by J. G. W. L. and W. G., 1662.
Art, Culture, and Cuisine - Ancient and Medieval Gastronomy , by Phyllis Pray Bober, 1999, pgs 210-215
Holinshead's Chronicles -the part used was published in 1577 by William Harrison (lived 1534 to 1593) Our version is from an 1876 condensation by Dr. Furnivall, which was reprinted by Mr. Lothrop Withington, and which we found posted on the Modern History Sourcebook online.
Gerarde's Herbal
Title: The herball or Generall historie of plantes. Gathered by Iohn Gerarde of London Master in Chirurgerie
Author: Gerard, John, 1545-1612.
Rogers, William, b. ca. 1545,
Imprint: Imprinted at London : by [Edm. Bollifant for [Bonham Norton and] Iohn Norton,
Date: 1597
Bib Name/Number: STC (2nd ed.) / 11750
Reproduction of the original in the Henry E. Huntington Library and Art
Gallery.
UMI Collection / reel number: Early English Books, 1475-1640 / 295:07
Bibles and Bestiaries - A Guide to Illuminated Manuscripts by Elizabeth B. Wilson
The Pierpont Morgan Library - Farrar, Straus and Giroux, New York, 1994
http://www.huntington.org/BotanicalDiv/Timeline.html
This Copyright Note is from Daniel P. Bronson's article on roses, about use of info from his article. I am indebted to him for a great deal of information. I include the full text of the notice, and encourage you to seek out and read his article as well.
“I (the author) while retaining copyright, hereby grant permission for the abovementioned work to be reproduced in whatever form necessary, provided the recipient of the copy is not charged either money or barter for reciept of said copy, not even to cover xerograpic costs, etc..., AND provided credit is given to the author, AND provided this statement appears at the end of any copies made, so there. This statement of
copyright (c) 1996, Daniel P. Bronson (Daniel del Cavallo.)”
from: http://www.florilegium.org/files/PLANTS/roses-art.text