Lyons-la-Forêt (Eure). Château

“Forbidden Fish”: Did King Henry I Die of Lamprey Poisoning?

“…It is unlikely that the newly built fortress would have contained such luxuries. Recent excavations of the site have yielded no evidence of a fishpond [ 3 ]. Further complicating the issue is that, while “medieval preparations for lamprey were varied… all required killing it at the last moment and using its blood for the sauce” [ 6 ].…”

“…In the modern day, it accounts for up to 27.6% of all foodborne disease fatalities [ 24 ]. The stone fortress of Lyons-la-Forêt [ 3 ] was likely cold and damp in November 1135, providing optimal conditions for Listeria growth [ 19 ]. The 67- or 68-year-old Henry also fits the demographic for Listeria infections, which are most commonly reported in those older than 64 [ 19 ].…”

“…He appears to have been feeling well at this time, for he ordered his huntsmen to prepare for another hunt the next day [ 2 ]. Once within the small castle -- only recently constructed [ 3 ] to secure England’s restless Norman possessions and dangerous southern border with France [ 1 ] -- the king sat down for dinner. According to the chronicler Henry of Huntingdon, the king dined on a large dish of lampreys, against the advice of his physicians [ 1 ].…”