Friday, May 20, 2016

DROP THE ANCESTORS, HAIL POWER


THE FRENCH MONARCHY WAS THE MOST POWERFUL IN EUROPE, EVEN BEFORE LOUIS XIV

Under his rule it became still more robust, a change that his entry announced.
(On August 26, 1660) 

By Maurice Leloir in Le Roy Soleil by Gustave Toudoze, 1931
The celebrated  illustrator granted that entry a rare double page in this history for children.  

The cortège took the east-west trade route to enter Paris by the Saint-Antoine gate. It continued along the relatively straight street that had been widened for tournaments...

    Adapted from a map of 1739 / zoom

     The Deadly Joust of Henri II on Rue Saint-Antoine, June 30, 1659 / zoom

The innovations of Louis's grandfather and father demonstrate stronger monarchy and lie along it: That was the basic reason for changing the route.

Rue Saint Antoine

But starting the cortège at Bastille 
also had an immediate political goal. 

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