2.3. 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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2.3.1.

The street that asserted royal power

2.3.1. 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 multitude of 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, rituals 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  

 Jesus 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.

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

From the 16th century, images emphasize the crowd:

                     Entry of the Duke of Anjou in Antwerp, February 19 février, 1582, end 16th century / zoom

  

                            The Triumphs of  Caesar, 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

        Entry of Marie of Medici to London in 1638 / zoom

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

That evolution coincides

with stronger royal power. 

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The multitude of French parade images show the power of its kings 

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

.

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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Marching down rue Saint-Denis

MARCHING DOWN RUE SAINT-DENIS

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RESIDENTS HANG TAPESTRIES OR SUMPTUOUS CLOTHS 

FROM THE WINDOWS AND TRUMPETS BLARE

            Entry of Charles VII in Rouen, 1449 / zoom

 

   The Crusaders Arrive at Constantinople (detail) by Jean Fouquet, mid-15th century / zoom

Knights joust at halts:

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

Jesters and elegant youths add fun and glamour:

The Entry of Isabeau of Bavaria 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 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.

Entry of Louis XIII in 1610 / zoom 

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

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

The change is part of stronger kingship:

More here.

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Royal funerals take the route in reverse