II.3.3.b. THE STREET THAT ASSERTED ROYAL POWER

MENU: 2.3.3.b. The street of royal power 

KINGS MARCHED DOWN RUE SAINT-DENIS FOR "JOYOUS ENTRIES," AND  COURTIERS MARCHED UP IT TO ENTOMB THEM

The monarchy's most opulent street retains traces of grandeur.

 

    Entry of Louis XI to Paris by Francis Tattegrain, 1889-90 / zoom

       For more images and a text (in French), please click.

 In brief

• Processions to unite kings and subjects

• France's exceptional number of royal entry images... 

• Parading down rue Saint-Denis

• Royal funeral processions take the route in reverse

• The vanished gate

• Beyond the gate, the royal gibet

• Public executions, demonstrations of power

• Executioners, indispensable pariahs

• Now street that is pleasant and pedestrian

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Processions to unite kings and subjects

PROCESSIONS TO UNITE KINGS AND SUBJECTS

PROCESSIONS OF THE BIBLE AND ANTIQUITY INSPIRED THE ENTRIES OF CHRISTIAN KINGS

     Christ Enters Jerusalem, toward 1480 / zoom

The Triumph of Josephat, toward 1470 / zoom

They celebrated major events associated with the crown: weddings, coronations, victories or visits...

The Entry of Louis XII in Genoa by Jean Marot, early 16th century / zoom

From the 16th century, images emphasize the crowd:

            The Joyous Entry of the Duke of Anjou to Antwerp, February 19, 1582, end 16th century / zoom

  

                   The Triumphs of César, 1, the Picture Bearers by Andrea Mantegna, toward 1595 / zoom  

         The Entry of Prince Charles to Madrid in 1623, anonymous, Alcazar de Madrid / zoom

     The Triumphal Entry of Henri IV to Paris, allegory by Peter-Paul Rubens, 1627-1630 / zoom

   The Entry of Marie de Medici to London in 1638 / zoom

   Entry of the Archiduchesse Marie-Elisabeth to Brussels, October 9, 1725 by Andreas Martin / zoom

That evolution coincides

with stronger royal power. 

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France's exceptional number of royal entry images...

FRANCE'S EXCEPTIONAL NUMBER OF ROYAL ENTRY IMAGES...

REVEAL THE IMPORTANCE OF ITS MONARCHY  

Most of the illustrations one finds on the web are French: The first date from the mid-15th century, when kingship emerged stronger after the Hundred Years' War. 

• Louis VII enters Constantinople

   Arrival of the Crusaders in Constantinople by Jean Fouquet, toward 1455 / zoom

 

• Entries in provincial towns*

*Stendhal's chapter The King in "The Red and the Black" (1830) describes the excitement and intrigues when the king visits a provincial town in the 1820's.

   Entry of Charles VII in Toulouse in 1441 / zoom

   Entry of Louis XIV in Toulouse, October 14, 1659 / zoom (please scroll down )

Nautical show after the Entry of Henry II to Rouen on October 1, 1550 / zoom

• Entries in Paris

             Entry of Isabeau of Bavaria by Jean Fouquet, mid-15th century / zoom

Jousts in Paris at the Entry of Isabelle of Bavaria on August 22, 1389, detail, Froissart's Chronicles / zoom (please scroll down)

Entry of Francis I of France and of Cardinal Farnese into Paris in 1540 by Taddeo Zuccari, 1559 / zoom

Notice the white horse, symbol of heroism...

Sketch of the work above / zoom

...and the nude warrior, symbol of the gods, so of nobility.

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The attempt to restore traditional monarchy and nobles' power* brought the entries' return:

*The Restoration, 1815-1830

• The Pope's visit 

Entry of the Pope Pius VII to Paris in 1819, Marc Gaillard archives (unpublished)

• Charles X's coronation 

Entry of Charles X to Paris by the la Villette Gate after his Coronation by Louis-François Lejeune, 1825 / zoom with an analysis in French 

The royal entries lead to remembering the obvious,

that parades unite around a message. 

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Parading down rue Saint-Denis

PARADING DOWN RUE SAINT-DENIS

.

RESIDENTS HANG TAPESTRIES OR SUMPTUOUS CLOTHS 

FROM THE WINDOWS 

            Entry of Charles VII in Rouen, 1449 / zoom

Knights joust at halts:

Entry of Isabeau of Bavaria in Paris,1389, "Froissart's Chronicles" / zoom

Jesters and elegant youths add fun and glamour:

Entry of Isabeau of Bavaria in 1385 (cut) by Jean Fouquet / zoom

# # #

Growing royal power brings change:

• 1557: Mythology is introduced, reinforcing nobles and kings

• 1594: Soldiers replace the baldaquin

   Henry IV arrives at Notre-Dame on March 22, 1594 /  zoom

• 1610: Louis XIII begins his entry at the Bastille fortress, on the other side of town

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

. 

• 1661: Louis XIV's entry concludes not at Notre-Dame Cathedral but at the Louvre palace, after it wheels in front of the statue of the Bourbon dynasty's founder (Henri IV, 1585-1610).

          The Royal Entry of  Louis XIV and Maria-Theresa of Spain in 1660, no more information / zoom

The change is part of stronger kingship:

Please click and continue down.

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Royal funeral processions take the route in reverse

ROYAL FUNERAL PROCESSIONS TAKE THE ROUTE IN REVERSE

THE KINGS' MAUSOLEUM AT THE SAINT-DENIS BASILICA EVOKES THE START OF CHRISTIANITY IN FRANCE

     Adapted from a map of 1565 / zoom

Zoom

From the exhibit The King is Dead (Louis XIV, in 1715) at Versailles 

             The Funerary Cortège of Charles VI in 1522 (cut) / zoom

Burial of Philippe le Bel, 1314 / zoom

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The vanished gate

THE VANISHED GATE

PARTICIPANTS MET AT THE BASILICA, MARCHED DOWN THE TRADE / PILGRIMAGE ROUTE AND ENTERED TOWN AT THE RAMPART GATE

      Paris in 1530 / zoom

Entry of Jean II le Bon, September 27, 1350 by Jean Fouquet, toward 1475, zoom

Entry of Queen Isabeau of Bavaria, August 22, 1389 / zoom

Entry of Charles VII in 1436 / zoom  (as for the next images;  please scroll down)

Entry for the Marriage of Isabeau of Bavaria in 1385 / zoom

   Charles IV Greets Isabelle of France in 1325 / zoom

     Another version of the entry pictured above, Froissart's Chronicle, zoom

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All that marks the gate's location...

...is a sign...

...that one needs sharp eyes to see:

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Beyond the gate, the royal gibet