What is "marmion"

Marmion is an epic poem by Walter Scott about the Battle of Flodden (1513). It was published in 1808.

Scott started writing Marmion, his second major work, in November 1806. When Archibald Constable, the publisher, learnt of this, he offered a thousand guineas for the copyright unseen. William Miller and John Murray each agreed to take a 25% share in the project. Murray observed: "We both view it as honourable, profitable, and glorious to be concerned in the publication of a new poem by Walter Scott." Scott later said that he thoroughly enjoyed writing the work. He told his son-in-law, Lockhart, "Oh, man, I had many a grand gallop among these braes when I was thinking of Marmion."

In 1807 Scott practised manoeuvres with the Light Horse Volunteers (formed to defend an invasion from France) in order to polish his description of Flodden. Marmion was finished on January 22 and published on 22 February 1808 in a quarto first edition of two thousand copies. This edition, priced one and a half guineas, sold out in a month. It was followed by twelve octavo editions between 1808 and 1825.

Marmion may refer to:

• Baron Marmion, English Barons
• Bill Marmion, Australian politician
• Columba Marmion (1858–1923), Irish abbot
• John Marmion (disambiguation), multiple people
• Sir Manser Marmion (1404–c.1457), English MP & Sheriff of Lincolnshire
• Sir Philip Marmion (d.1291), Champion of Edward I
• Robert Marmion (disambiguation), multiple people
• Shackerley Marmion (1603–1639), English dramatist
• Simon Marmion (1425-1489), French painter
• William Marmion (disambiguation), multiple people

• Fontenay-le-Marmion a commune in France
• Marmion, Western Australia, a suburb of Perth
• Marmion Lake in Canada
• Marmion Tower, in West Tanfield, North Yorkshire

• Marmion (poem), an epic poem by Walter Scott about the Battle of Flodden
• Marmion Academy, a Catholic high school in Illinois

Marmion is a surname found in France, Great Britain and Ireland, of Norman-French origin. English writers have mistaken the origin of the name as stemming from the French 'Marmiton' or 'Marmite' in the sense of a kitchen utensil or worker. Whereas actually it derives from the ancient and medieval meaning of 'marmite' as a representative of another person, filling in a role for another – and in this case relates directly as an occupational name concerning the noble office of 'champion' of the Duke of Normandy held by the family from at least the 11th century. The function was to stand-up to any challenges against the legitimacy of the Duke, and the office continues to this day in the title 'Champion of England' still held via a distaff descent of a Marmion heiress to the Dymoke family. References are cited below.

Marmion is a historic home located near Comorn, King George County, Virginia. The original section was built about 1670 by William Fitzhugh (1651-1701), progenitor of the Fitzhugh family in Virginia. It took its present form after 1790 or 1800. The house is a frame, two-story house with a clipped gable roof and two interior end chimneys with exposed chimney shafts. Also on the property are the contributing smokehouse, dairy, kitchen, and office.

It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970.