Roland the Farter

Roland the Farter (known in contemporary records as Roland le Fartere, Roulandus le Fartere, Rollandus le Pettus or Roland le Petour) was a medieval flatulist who lived in twelfth-century England. He was given Hemingstone manor in Suffolk and 30 acres (12 hectares) of land in return for his services as a jester for King Henry II. Each year, he was obliged to perform "saltum, siffletum, pettum" (a jump, a whistle, [and] a fart that were all done at once) for the king's court at Christmas.^[1][2][3]

Roland is listed in the thirteenth-century English Liber Feodorum (Book of Fees).^[4]

Biography

There are no records of Roland's ancestors or spouse. After Roland's death, the Hemingstone Manor was passed to his son, Hubert de Afleton. Hubert had two children, Jeffery and Agnes.^[5] During the reign of King Richard I (1189–1199), Jeffery inherited the manor from his father. In 1205, the manor was held by Alexander de Brompton and his wife, Agnes, the sister-heir of Jeffrey, granddaughter of Roland.^[6] Though it is true Roland performed in the courts of King Henry II, his association with King Henry II was established in 1159. It is thus unclear whether Roland only performed for King Henry II or for other prior monarchs. Some sources speculate that King Henry I was so delighted with Roland's performance, he rewarded him a house and 99 acres in Suffolk.^[7]

Serjeanty

Roland held his manor and lands under tenure by serjeanty. According to the Liber Feodurum, or Book of Fees, Roland, under his serjeanty, was obligated to perform "a jump, a whistle, [and] a fart" every year on Christmas.

Seriantia que quondam fuit Rollandi le Pettour in Hemingeston in comitatu Suff ’, pro qua debuit facere die natali Domini singulis annis coram domino rege unum saltum et siffletum et unum bumbulum, que alienata fuit per particulas subscriptas.	The serjeanty, which formerly was held by Roland the Farter in Hemingston in the county of Suffolk, for which he was obliged to perform every year on the birthday of our Lord before his master the king, "a jump, a whistle, [and] a fart," was alienated in accordance with these specific requirements.
—Henry Maxwell-Lyte, Liber feodorum, H.M. Stationery Office, 1920–1931, from the Deputy Keeper of the Records

Roland had also received 110 acres in Suffolk, In perspective, a knight's fee was 5 hides or carucates (varied widely). Each hide was between 100 and 110 acres, putting Roland's fee at one hide. Furthermore, a farmer with a house typically held 30 acres, while those on cottages had about 5 acres.^[8] It was thus argued that Roland's fee was indeed a "handsome" and "generous one".^[5]

See also

• Flatulence humor
• Le Pétomane
• Mr. Methane
• Toilet humour

References

1. Crick, Julia C.; van Houts, Elisabeth (21 April 2011). A Social History of England, 900–1200. Cambridge University Press. p. 405. ISBN 9781139500852. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
2. Allen, Valerie (2007). On Farting: Language and Laughter on the Middle Ages: Bodily Wind in the Middle Ages. The New Middle Age Series. Palgrave McMillan. ISBN 978-0230100398.
3. McRobbie, Linda Rodriguez (28 December 2015). "The True Story of Roland the Farter, and How the Internet Killed Professional Flatulence". Atlas Obscura. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
4. Lyte, H. C. Maxwell (1920–1923). Liber feodorum. The book of fees, commonly called Testa de Nevill, reformed from the earliest mss. by the Deputy keeper of the records (in Latin). London: H.M. Stationery Office. p. 386. hdl:2027/mdp.39015011272922.
5. Rowland, Ron (25 January 2022). "Roland the Farter: one jump, one whistle, and one fart". Rowland Genealogy. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
6. Copinger, Walter Arthur (1905–1911). The Manors of Suffolk: Notes on their History and Devolution. London: Unwin.
7. Willoughby, Rupert (1 May 1997). Life in Medieval England. Norwich: Pitkin Unichrome. ASIN B00APDW15O.
8. Poole, Austin Lane (1993). From Doomesday book to Magna Carta 1087–1216. Oxford History of England. Vol. III (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0192852878.

• Bartlett, Robert (2000). England Under the Norman and Angevin Kings, 1075-1225. Oxford University Press. pp. 236. ISBN 0-19-925101-0.
• Beadle, Richard (1994). The Cambridge companion to medieval English theatre. Cambridge companions to literature. Cambridge University Press. p. 187. ISBN 0-521-45916-8.
• The Language of Farting by Evan R. Goldstein, Chronicle of Higher Education. (Retrieved 18 November 2007. Subscription required)

External links

• Damn Interesting  » Professional Farters