It's not the man who takes the Sea, it's the Sea that takes the man, tin tin tin !

Name: Louis-René Le Cam

Representative of: Granville, City of Normandy

Gender: Male

Age (human and historical) : Louis-René, born in 1066, looks 24.

Brief personality: Louis-René is sometimes called Le Cam ("The Lame"), because of the limp he got after his leg got injured while fighting the French when he was under the English's command ; but over time his limp disappear, and he only kept the nickname. If Louis-René was gently made fun of by his friends and superiors (mostly because he was ginger) - or directly insulted by Saint Malo - people avoided doing him offense, as he was born noble. Though he never really cared for his nobility ; work, trading, fishing, and sailing became his life very soon, and he stopped fighting as a soldier. In spite of that last thing, he still knows some things of his old learning, mostly because of the brawls he had on board.
He isn't what we could call a dreamer, as reality is very important to him : his friends, the sea, the boose, the sound of waves crashing and the smell of fresh fish, have a reality he appreciates greatly, and he only feels alive thanks to all that, and thanks to his commercial, artisitic and touristic activities. He isn't an artist, but does appreciate arts ; performing arts as well as music and painting (though he has a bit of rustic tastes concerning the last ones, and if it's not traditional seamen music, and if it's too elaborate and precious a painting, he won't like it).
In love, Louis-René is gentle and loving. He gives much, and as the sailor taken by the sea, he can fall deep in love without ever stopping loving that person.

Brief physical description: Louis-René is a tall ginger young man, and has some freckles on his face. His hair are curly and messy because of the wind he's always exposed to. He has deep blue eyes. He dresses with a navy blue and white striped jersey. He also smokes the pipe so he often has one either in his hand or his mouth. He wears a sailor hat and he has a navy blue old trench coat.


Brief history: Granville owns its name to its first occupants after the Vikings : the Grants. Guillaume le Conquérant rewarded Grant for his loyalty during the conquest of Great Britain by giving him lands. In 1230, lacking male descendants, the Grant family joins the Seigneur d'Argouges' - who never actually lived in Granville. During the XIVth century, the English conquers Normandy, with the sole exception of the Mont Saint Michel which they try to take from Genêts' port. When Genêts doesn't seem secure anymore, the Englishman Sir Thomas Scalles discovers the Roque de Lihon - Granville's first name - and buys it to Jean d'Argouges to build a fortified enclosure.
In 1442, the defenders of the Mont Saint Michel chase away the English. Charles VII, understanding the strategic point of Granville, decides to make a fortified city of it and gives it arms.
In 1492, the Jews chased away from Spain, arrive in Granville. It is partly thanks to their goldsmithery commerce and their business on lending money that Granville's armament develops itself. From 1450, Granville's ships fish in Newfoundland.
Throughout the centuries, Granville becomes an important fishing port. Under Louis XIV, ships are allowed to arm themselves and race. Granville has between 70 and 80 of them, and gives 15 amirals to France, and among them Georges-René Pléville Le Pelley, "The Corsair with the wooden leg".
Granville is with Saint Malo the most important French port. But the city starts to have, with its seaside resort, a touristic importance. From 1850, the "bathing seasons" attracts a lot of tourists in Granvillle. The construction of the line Paris-Granville contributed a lot.
Its commercial port export every year almost 155 000 tons of gravel and scrap iron. 168 000 passengers takes Granville's ships and boats to go the Chausey's archipel, and to the anglo-norman islands (especially Jersey).
Great events happen every year : the Carnaval, known for its spontaneity and caustic sprit, the "All the sea on a plate", which gives honnor to sea-fruits, the street art festival "Les Sorties de Bain", the Night of the Welders...

Religious affiliation: Catholicism

Any special powers or abilities: None



*The topic's title is a translation of a very well-known song by Renaud "Dès que le vent soufflera".