II.3. A TRADE ROUTE FOR PILGRIMS AND KINGS (rue Saint-Denis)

MENU: 2.3.  TRDE RTE FR PILGRMS & KINGS

"WE ARE NOT MAKERS OF HISTORY. WE ARE MADE BY IT"

-- Martin Luther King

Rue Saint-Denis was a minor trade route until relics of France's most important Christian martyr were deposited in a church near its route (toward 250). Later the kings made the Saint-Denis Basilica their mausoleum.

The religious and political importance of what had been a humble path became immense. 

                             Plan of Paris, toward 1640, zoom

The very long rue way is made up of segments. All hark back to the past. 

The red arrow shows our walk, the yellow one shows a site.

In brief

• The street that asserted royal power

• Medieval spirits linger

• Transforming rebel neighborhoods

• A hinterland for criminals, nobles and the garment district 

• Louis's arc looms over the route

• Toward the horizon

• Immigrants energize tradition

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II.3.1.

The street that asserted royal power

II.3.1. THE STREET THAT ASSERTED ROYAL POWER

 

MENU: 2.3.1. The street of royal power 

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

The city's most opulent street under the monarchy 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.

Aspects of monarchy

• Parades that unite kings and subjects

• The many French parade images show the power of its kings 

• Marching down rue Saint-Denis

• Royal funerals take the route in reverse

• The vanished gate

• Beyond the gate, the royal gibbet

• Public executions, demonstrations of power

• Executioners, necessary pariahs

• Now a street that is pleasant and pedestrian

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Parades unite kings and subjects

PARADES THAT UNITE KINGS AND SUBJECTS

PROCESSIONS OF THE BIBLE INSPIRED THOSE OF CHRISTIAN KINGS  

 Jésus entre à Jerusalem, toward 1480 / zoom

Le Triomphe de Josephat, toward 1470 / zoom

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

     L'Entrée de Louis XII à Gênes by Jean Marot, early 16th century / zoom

From the 16th century, images emphasize the crowd:

            L'Entrée du duc d'Anjou à Anvers le 19 février, 1582, fin XVI siècle / zoom

  

                   Les Triomphes de César, 1, les porteurs d'mages (the Picture Bearers) by Andrea Mantegna, toward 1595 / zoom  

         L'Entrée du prince Charles à Madrid en 1623, anonymous, Alcazar de Madrid / zoom

     L'Entrée triomphale de Henri IV à Paris, allegory by Peter-Paul Rubens, 1627-1630 / zoom

   L'Entrée de Marie de Médicis à Londres en 1638 / zoom

 L'Entrée de l'Archiduchesse Marie-Elisabeth à Brussels, le 9 octobre 1725 by Andreas Martin / zoom

That evolution coincides

with stronger royal power. 

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The many French parade images

 show the power of its kings 

THE MANY 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

.

They concern French kings, even far away... 

   Louis VII entre à Constantinople by Jean Fouquet, toward 1455 

   

In the provinces...

   L'Entrée de Charles VII à Toulouse en 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:

L'Entrée d'Isabeau de Bavière by Jean Fouquet / zoom

Joutes (Jousts) à Paris à l'entrée d'Isabelle de Bavière le 22 août 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 nobility.

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).

# # #

The attempt to restore 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

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

• The coronation of Charles X

L'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. 

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Marching down rue Saint-Denis

MARCHING DOWN RUE SAINT-DENIS

.

RESIDENTS HANG TAPESTRIES OR SUMPTUOUS CLOTHS 

FROM THE WINDOWS AND TRUMPETS BLARE

            Entrée de Charles VII à Rouen, 1449 / zoom

 

   Les Croisées arrivent à Constantinople (detail) by Jean Fouquet, mid-15th century / zoom

Knights joust at halts:

L'Entrée d'Isabeau de Bavière à Paris,1389, "Froissart's Chronicles" / zoom

Jesters and elegant youths add fun and glamour:

L'Entrée d'Isabeau de Bavière in 1385 (cropped) by Jean Fouquet / zoom

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Growing royal power brings change:

• 1557: Mythology is introduced, reinforcing nobles and kings.

• 1594: Soldiers replace the baldaquin.

   Henry IV arrive à Notre-Dame le 22 mars, 1594 /  zoom

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

L'Entrée de Louis XIII en 1610 / zoom (please scroll down)

. 

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

          L'Entrée royale de  Louis XIV et Maria-Theresa d'Espagne en 1660, no more information / zoom

The change is part of stronger kingship:

Please click and scroll down.

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Royal funerals take the route in reverse

ROYAL FUNERALS 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 Le Roi est mort (The King is dead); Louis XIV, in 1715 at Versailles

            Le Cortège funéraire de Charles VI en 1522 (cropped) / zoom

          Burial of Philippe le Bel, 1314 / zoom

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The vanished gate