THE MASS OF FRENCH PARADE IMAGES SHOW THE POWER OF ITS KINGS

 

MOST WEB PICTURES ARE FRENCH, AND DATE FROM ABOUT 1450 WHEN THE KINGDOM EMERGED FROM THE HUNDRED YEARS' WAR* 

*Its gradually expanding economy is the reason for its strength, which the flourishing production of manuscripts also reflects. About 6000 copyists and illustrators were active in Paris toward 1520 (and accused the suddenly-emerged printers of sorcery). 

-- Le Massacre de la Saint-Barthélémy by Philippe Erlanger, 1966, p. 3

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They concern French kings, even far away... 

   Louis VII Enters Constantinople by Jean Fouquet, toward 1455 

   

In the provinces...

   Entry of Charles VII to Toulouse in 1441,  zoom

 Entrée de Louis XIV à Toulouse, le 14 octobre, 1659 / zoom (please scroll down) 

       Fête nautique après l'entrée d'Henry II à Rouen le 1 octobre 1550 / zoom

  

Long ago:

Entry of Isabeau de Bavière by Jean Fouquet / zoom

Jousting in Paris at the entry of  Isabelle of Bavaria on 22 August 1389, detail, " Chroniques de Froissart" / zoom 

As current events:

     Entrée de Francis I de France et du Cardinal Farnese à Paris en 1540 by Taddeo Zuccari, 1559 / zoom

Notice the white horse, symbol of heroism... 

  Sketch / zoom

And the nude horseman, symbol of the gods, so of the nobility.

Zoom

L'arc construit à Chalons en Champagne pour l'entrée de Marie-Antoinette, venue d'Autriche pour épouser le futur Louis XVI (en 1770).

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The attempt to restore traditional monarchy after Napoleon's defeat brings back the entries: 

*The Restoration, 1815-1830

• Stendhal describes the effervescence and intrigues that take hold of a provincial town when the king makes his entry there.  

-- Chapter The King in "The Red and the Black," 1830.

• The Pope's visit

Entrée du pape Pius VII à Paris en 1819, archives Marc Gaillard

• The coronation of Charles X

Entrée de Charles X à Paris par la porte de la Villette après son couronnement by  Louis-François Lejeune, 1825 / zoom with analysis in French.

The processions proclaim

glory and unity around the king. 

*    *    *

Next,

Marching down rue Saint-Denis