III.1. 2. THE MILESTONES AND THEIR MEANINGS

 MENU: 3.1.2. The milestones' meanings

LOUIS XIV'S ROYAL ENTRY POWER PASSES IN FRONT OF HIS GRANDFATHER'S AND FATHER'S INNOVATIONS TO STRESS GROWING POWER

Henri IV (1585-1610), founder of the Bourbon dynasty and of the most powerful monarchy in Europe, creates a capital from which radiates the grandeur of kings. 

Henry IV enters Paris on March 24, 1594 by Francois Gérard / zoom

He builds:

• The first straight street (rue de Birague).

• The first royal place (place des Vosges). 

• The first site designed to attract crowds (the pont Neuf bridge).

• The first secular statue, of himself on horseback, which dominates that bridge. 

 

His son, Louis XIII (1610-1643), ends Protestant independence and exerts control over the provinces. He builds a church whose architecture and decor proclaim that obeying the king is necessary for salvation (first stone, 1626).

The surrender of La Rochelle, anonyme, 17th century / zoom

 

Louis XIV (1643-1715), France's most famous king, will create...

 The Doge of Genoa Makes Reparation to Louis XIV on May 15 1685, by Claude-Guy Hallé, 1715 / zoom

• The Louvre's eastern facade and courtyards (shown already, here and here).

• The monumental arches at the Saint-Martin and Saint-Denis gates.

• The space that begins at the Louvre and morphs with the horizon.

• The complex that culminates with the dome of the Invalides, meant to be his mausoleum (more later). 

In brief

• Paris's first straight street and point of focus

• The place that is ancestor of all

• The successive statues of place des Vosges   

• A church that changes the way to salvation

• A royal statue for a bridge  

• The king among his people

• The space that links the Louvre and the horizon

• An arch that trumpets continental hegemony

• Urban effects of tearing down the rampart  

   

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Paris's first straight street and point of focus