2.5.3. HEROES OF GLAMORIZED WAR

NOBLES' ELDEST SONS INHERIT THE LAND, TITLE AND FORTUNE, SECOND SONS ENTER THE CHURCH. DAUGHTERS REINFORCE THE CLAN BY USEFUL MARRIAGES OR JOIN A CONVENT.

The only honorable occupation for junior sons is war, where heroic deeds they can bring royal favor. 

• They wear armor in their portraits or are shown in a martial way to emphasize their stories:

Portrait of a Knight in Armor, 16th century (proposed for sale); Portrait of a Young General by Van Dyck, 1624 / zoom: Charles III, duke of Bourbon ( commissioned by Louis-Philippe from a copy, 1834) / zoom

Batons indicate command and curtains underscore grandeur.

 For the story of Marie-Louise de Montpensier, please click.

Mort [Death] du Connetable de Bourbon, print, 1527 / zoom

The Duke of Bourbon (portrait above) joins Spain and betrays the king. He is killed scaling a wall in the sack of Rome (in 1527).

        Design of the Funeral Monument to Henri II de Montmorency in Moulins by Michel Anguier, 17th century / zoom

He is beheaded for rebelling against Richelieu (in 1632).

Even in a painting that has nothing to do with fighting, the artist includes an idealized soldier in Roman military garb: please read on.

Saint Peter Preaches, Saint-Merri church in Paris, toward 1600 / zoom

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Nobles' ethic of honor and loyalty are irrelevant to commerce, and they lose their privileges should they engage in it. In any case, with inflation reducing the value of peasant dues, most lack the capital to do so. At a time when inflation reduces the value of peasant dues, "holding one's rank" often means debt. Revenues from misalliances with wealthy brides from the middle class, from contacts at court or kickbacks for using their own for others, through straw men or from slave-based estates in the West Indies... 

But most can only fight.

They back aggressive foreign policies

and 3000 join the American rebels.

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2.5.4.

Allegory, nobles' response to rising capitalists