FROM "JOYOUS" TO "ROYAL" ENTRY

MEDIEVAL "JOYOUS ENTRIES" WERE PARADES THAT UNITED KINGS AND SUBJECTS AROUND RULERS' CORONATIONS, WEDDINGS, VICTORIES OR VISITS 

-- Parisian entries described: Annales, 1986 (in French)

They were happy moments. Notice the fool:  

     The Entry of  Queen Isabeau of Bavaria  to Paris on August 22 1389,  "Froissart's Chronicles" / zoom  

Trumpets. Banners. Tapestries or sumptuous cloths hang from windows. Quarrels about precedence. Free-flowing wine. 

Halts for performances meant fun. Their taking place at the same sites meant permanence:

 Zoom (please scroll down)

Histoires de Paris  (please scroll down.)

Entry of Isabel of Bavaria, 1389 

# # #

Changes came with monarchy's growing strength:

• In the 16th century, mythology affirmed kings' superiority:

The Entry of  Henri II, King of France, in Rouen, October 1 1550, 1557, zoom

Notice the white horse.

• In the 17th, the name became royal entries. The parades began at Bastille and there were no halts or performances —  the king was the show.

• Moving the meeting-place farther into the countryside reflects the growing number of participants, and so the growth of town and economy, background of stronger royal power (discussed in History from Fresh Perspectives, as here).

• In 1610, participants of Louis XIII's entry meet in the space in front of the door next to the Bastille.

The Entry of Louis XIII in 1610 / zoom (please scroll down)

Louis XIII, age eight, wears adult dress as all children did.

• In 1628 the entry that celebrates the defeat of the Protestants comes together outside town (the smaller hill is above modern Belleville). Another engraving shows the meeting-place at place des Vosges, the first royal square, a few steps from the fortress. Either way, the space is larger.

  Zoom

Notice the Roman dress.

• In 1660 Louis XIV's entry unites so many people that it comes together far to the east, where place de la Nation is now (please scroll down).

# # #

To grasp the significance of changing the starting-point,

understand the meaning of the original route.

*    *    *

Next,
The path that linked kings with their ancestors