10 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Monty Python And The Holy Grail

Is there anything more frustrating than the idea of being taunted a second time? Well, according to John Cleese, no, there is not. The French soldiers who continuously aggravate the knights on their quest for the Holy Grail are iconic, and their insults are very fondly remembered.

The concept for these frustrating characters came from real history. John Cleese read about medieval soldiers who's sole position in the army was to taunt and mock the opposing army before the battle to throw them off of their game. This was a concept that he adapted, and pushed to absurd proportions, of course.

There is also truth to the throwing of livestock that is shown in the film, as this was a legitimate technique that castles under siege would use in order to taunt their attackers and let them know that their provisions could last longer than the siege would.

It is fascinating to know the amount of research and thought that went into this silly movie, even if the actual historical accuracy was not a concern.