I’ve been working on an “alternate history” model project, and I need some help from people fluent in French.
The model is of a steampunk-style “land ironclad”, built by the regime of Napoleon III after their humiliating defeat at the hands of the Prussians. Now, during the Second Franco-Prussian War, the French mechanical Juggernaut is striking fear into the formerly invincible Prussian cavalry. coughpaybacktimecough
The model itself is a tracked vehicle, roughly turtle-shaped, clumsily bulky, festooned with walkways, turrets, and smokestacks; I like to think of it as being designed by John Ericsson, creator of USS Monitor, as a consultant to the French Army.
Anyway, it’s time to make a little nameplate for it. I was thinking something like:
French “Tortoise” at Sedan
2nd Franco-Prussian War 1877
…except instead of “tortoise” I’d like an appropriate French term for this thing, something like Tortoise, or Beetle, or “steam cuirasse”. Any suggestions? Extra points for something with that wry Gallic wit.
You realize Napoleon III had to abdicate after France lost the Franco-Prussian war?
P.S: If you’re looking for an equivalent to tortoise, “Tortue” would be ok I guess. “Tarasque” would be a better and more appropriate name ( Tarasque - Wikipedia ) . Or maybe go for the name Da Vinci used for his own tank?
P.S.2: You wrote this “I like to think of it as being designed by John Ericsson, creator of USS Monitor, as a consultant to the French Army.”, THIS is what happened in real history “The ironclad was developed as a result of the vulnerability of wooden warships to explosive or incendiary shells. The first ironclad battleship, La Gloire, was launched by the French Navy in November 1859”. So it was a French concept. Apparently they can tie their own shoelaces.
Well, sure, I knew that; French naval engineering was second to none. But Ericsson was the great pioneer of the revolving turret, and the Land Ironclad has revolving turrets. As I recall, Gloire had its armament mounted in a broadside arrangement. Shall we say, “…designed by John Ericsson in consultation with French naval experts”?
As far as Napoleon III abdicating, yeah, well, um, Napoleon III recovers from his bladder stone, not debilitated by disease ==> more adept at politics, keeps his throne (Rocketeer waves hands persuasively, mumbling rapidly). ;)
“Tarasque” sounds like a great choice; how would you say “Tarasque of iron”?
Tarasque de fer would be the correct translation, problem is it sounds very lackluser compared to simple Tarasque (it’s like saying porcelain Behemoth, or wood Unicorn, the material name adds nothing to the awesomeness of what the name is in the first place. If you really want to include what’s the material used, you have to go for something a little more metaphoric, to match the mythological element. I’ll give it some thought, and post if I find anything.
P.S; check on the Tarasque page, there are two other related entries with same flavor:
Took too much time to edit, was about to add this:
P.S.2: I think you’re giving more credit to Napoleon III that he deserves. He was one of our worst leaders, constantly involved France in wars from which we gained little to nothing, just so he could play Emperor. But, well, it’s your story. And alternate histories seem to have a liking for governments that are easy to understand, hence the number of dictators appearing in them.
P.S.3:No problem on the engineering thing, you seem to know your stuff. Just makes me cringe when Americans are persuaded that any scientific improvement could only have appeared in their country. Clearly that wasnt what you were going for, and so , my apologies, I take it all back.
Heh heh. Never thought of that before, but you’re right. (However, for my purposes I need to postulate a single strong ruler, since the several true historical post-Napoleon rulers of France didn’t build the Gargoyle. )
But I’m getting in over my head on the subject of French history; I really know very little about it, and I’m sure not in a position to discuss it in any depth whatsoever.
The Land Ironclad first came to mind without any nationality attached to it; I assigned it to France, because of my sympathy for France, beaten by the Prussians and with a reason for wanting revenge; and because I realized that the French, having a strong engineering tradition, would be a plausible nation to have built it. You know, the usual, “cool idea, now make up a history for it” pathway.
Perhaps the French name it after the famous lost battle, like Texas naming a ship the Alamo. If it has 4 doors, they could call it “Sedan à Quatre Ports”.
Oddly enough, the actual French word for a sedan appears to be “berline”, but I can’t see them naming their vengeance weapon after the Prussian capital.
Darn, I never clicked on the berline/sedan thing. Funny, it’s so obvious I didnt gather. Rocketeer, well it’s your pick obviously, but gargouille is a river monster it seems. From your description, I had assumed you were looking for an appropriate name for a late nineteenth century massive tank. If it is an accurate description, Tarasque would sound better. It is a fearsome dragon-like creature, with a vast array of weaponry and a turtle-like shell. It aslo has the added bonus of not being that well known outside of France (and inside too for that matter) with a typical Occitan feel.
I thought it would be based on the Char 2C super-heavy tank, which had two gun turrets, four machine guns and a crew of 13. The sight of that thing in the 1920’s must have scared people half to death. http://mailer.fsu.edu/~akirk/tanks/france/Fra-Char2C-70tons.jpg
Classic French propaganda trick, they manned all their tanks with midgets so they would appear bigger.
P.S: That’s how I was seeing the thing btw, and Tarasque really fits this kind of self-reliant highly destructive heavily armored multi-manned machinery.
I thought I ought to show a picture of the model to get people’s creative juices flowing, so I got out the camera. Haven’t finished the figures nor the base yet, but that’s coming…
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