THE MULTITUDE 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). 

-- The Massacre of Saint-Barthelemew 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

 Entry of Louis XIV to Toulouse, October 14, 1659 / zoom

       Nautical fete after the entry of Henri II in Rouen, October 1, 1550 / zoom

Long ago

Entry of Isabeau of Bavaria by Jean Fouquet / zoom

Jousts in Paris by Isabelle of Bavaria on August 22 août 1389, detail, "Chronicles of Froissart" / zoom 

As current events

• Notice the white horse, symbol of heroism and the nude horseman, symbol of the gods, so of nobility.

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

  Sketch / zoom

• The arc built at Chalons in Champagne for the entry of Marie-Antoinette, come from Austria to marry the future Louis XVI (in 1770).

Zoom

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The brief return to traditional monarchy* after Napoleon's defeat brings back the entries: 

*The Restoration, 1815-1830

• Stendhal describes the effervescence and intrigues in a provincial town when the king makes his entry there.  

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

• The Pope's visit

Entry of Pope Pius VII to Paris en 1819, Marc Gaillard archives 

• The coronation of Charles X

Entry of Charles X to Paris by the Villette gate after his coronation by Louis-François Lejeune, 1825 / zoom with analysis in French.

The processions proclaim

glory and unity around the king. 

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Next,

Marching down rue Saint-Denis