Question: Is there any actual historical evidence that the Gypsies were persecuted during the time the film was set? In my study of world history I don't recall any major event when there was a mass persecution of Gypsies. Also, could this film have been set at the time when the Inquisition was at its height? This might make a lot more sense.
joshtrivia
1st Oct 2015
The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)
Answer: As said, they have been persecuted for centuries, especially in the Middle Ages. Frollo's anger against them is not far from what actually happened in history (you know, besides the lust).
Answer: It should also be noted there have been several instances of mass gypsy persecution throughout history. Some examples being the Holocaust, the Diet of Augsburg, and The Holy Roman Empire under Joseph I.
1st Oct 2015
The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)
Question: I was wondering why of all the orders of the Roman Catholic Clergy that an Archdeacon is the main caretaker of Notre Dame. Archdeacons are a rare order of Roman Catholic Clergy even during those times. Notre Dame is a cathedral, right? So why doesn't it have its own Bishop/Archbishop/Cardinal? Where was he? I highly doubt that an Archdeacon would exercise that much authority on a Judge like Frollo thereby bypassing that of a higher order such as a Bishop who is supposed to be the central administrator of Notre Dame.
Chosen answer: From Wikipedia: "In the High Middle Ages, [the archdeacon] was the most senior diocesan position below a bishop in the Roman Catholic Church. An archdeacon is often responsible for administration within an archdeaconry...which was the principal subdivision of the diocese." As such, in the Catholic hierarchy, the functional and administrative tasks of running the cathedrals would fall to the deacons, while the bishops would govern the pastoral and liturgical functions.
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Chosen answer: Gypsies have been persecuted for centuries, from enforced slavery to bans on travel and immigration.
Greg Dwyer