When Henry IV was assassinated, his son Louis XIII (13–1610) was only nine years old, and so his mother, Marie de Medici (1643–1575), ruled in his stead. The Queen Mother decided to use the kingdom's funds to build herself a Luxembourg Palace On the left bank.
Louis XIII's reign was largely overshadowed by Cardinal Richelieu (13-1585), who was his prime minister and de facto head of state. Because the cardinal wanted to be close to the king, who lived in the Louvre, he built himself a palace nearby – the “Palais Cardinal”. Since he had no heirs, he bequeathed the palace to the King of France before his death, and thus its name was changed to the one we know today: “Palais Royal” (Royal Palace).
When Louis XIII died, his son Louis XIV (13–14) was only five years old. The de facto rulers were his mother, Anne of Austria, and the Italian Cardinal Mazarin, who was her prime minister, and possibly also her lover. Residents Paris, who did not look favorably on the rule of foreigners, rebelled against them. The rebellion, called “La Fronde” after the slingshot with which the rebels threw stones at the palace windows, lasted for about five years (1648-1653).
The rebellion failed, but it left a deep impression on Louis XIV The young man, who from then on held a grudge against Paris, and left it for Versailles as soon as he could. Yet, even before he left, Louis XIV had managed to leave his mark on the City of Lights.
Secrets of Le Marais: A Journey into the Historic and Chic Heart of Paris
Join us on a virtual journey to the most fascinating district in Paris. Together we will discover hidden courtyards, French nobility, and the true stories behind the magnificent facades.
Louis XIV Builds Paris: Urban Planning and Culture
When traveling in Paris, you can see the mark of Louis XIV in many places. First and foremost inLouvre, if he added the eastern colonnade and the square courtyard (Cour Carrée). Of course, it is also necessary to mention the Palais des Invalides The magnificent one he built In the seventh district, to house the disabled of his army.
Louis XIV also contributed to the city in the area of squares, with Place Vendome The famous Place des Victoires. However, his greatest contribution to the city's landscape was undoubtedly the "boulevards". When Louis XIV came to power, Paris was surrounded by a 14th-century wall. After a series of military victories, the king concluded that Paris no longer needed the walls, and ordered them to be demolished and replaced with wide, tree-lined avenues.
The Dutch engineers who were entrusted with the task called the earthen embankment 'Bulwark', and because the French had difficulty pronouncing the word, it was distorted and became 'Boulevard'. Thus, many boulevards, such as the 'Grands Boulevards' and the Boulevards deChamps Elysees, are actually the legacy of Louis XIV (and not Napoleon III, as many think).
The reign of Louis XIV was characterized not only by physical construction, but also by a tremendous cultural flourishing. It is not without reason that the period of his reign is called “The Great Century” (Le Grand Siècle), as at that time geniuses in all fields of art were concentrated in Paris.
Molière (1622-1673) created comedies that were not yet composed even 400 years after his death (his successor theater, the “Comédie Française”, still stands near the Palais Royal). Jean-Baptiste Lully (1632-1687) composed the music for these comedies. Despite his Italian origin, he is considered the father of French opera, which created a counterweight to the Italian style.
Finally, during the reign of Louis XIV, salon culture reached one of its peaks. Molière, Lully, and other great artists, such as Scarron, Madame de Savignier and Nicolas Boileau (1636-1711), used to gather in the literary salons of Madeleine de Scuderie and the Marquise de Rambouillet. These meetings created a cross-fertilization between artists, philosophers and socialites, and many masterpieces, such as the play “Tartuffe” by Molière, were read there for the first time.
During the 80s, the king finally moved toVersailles, and with it the entire royal court. This had a profound effect on Paris: the nobility began to abandon the The Mara, located in the east of the city, and move to the neighborhoods of Faubourg Saint-Germain and Faubourg Saint-Honoré, which were closer to Versailles. As a result, the Marais district began to decline, reaching its peak in the first half of the 20th century, while at the same time, luxury palaces (“hôtel particulier”) were built in the 6th, 7th and 8th arrondissements, some of which can still be seen today.
The end of Louis XIV's reign was grim. Within a few years, he had killed his son, his two grandsons, his eldest grandson's daughter-in-law, and one of his great-grandchildren. The continuity of the dynasty was in real danger.
At the same time, the War of the Spanish Succession (1701-1714) was raging across Europe, and armies France They suffered defeats. An atmosphere of sadness descended on Paris and Versailles, which lasted until the death of Louis XIV on September 14, 1. With his death, one of the longest reigns in history ended (a record that Queen Elizabeth II only broke in 1715).
Paris during the reign of Louis XV and Louis XVI: “The flood is behind us”
After the death of Louis XIV, the throne passed to his grandson, Louis XV (14-15), who was only five years old at the time. The chosen regent was his nephew, Philippe II, Duke of Orléans, who left Versailles and returned to live in his palace, the Palais Royal. During the regency, the Palais Royal became a scene of unbridled balls and orgies (it is hard to believe this when you walk through the peaceful gardens of the palace today).
The debauchery of Philippe d'Orléans led to his death in 1723. In his place, other regents were appointed, who accompanied Louis XV until he reached adulthood. Taking the reins, Louis XV, like his predecessors, began to leave his mark on the French capital. There are many buildings from his time, but three are worth mentioning.
The first building is the Church of Sainte-Genevieve, built in response to a vow made by the king when he was ill and feared dying. This impressive church, built by the architect Soufflot on top of the Sainte-Genevieve hill, later became thePantheon", the burial place of the greats of the French nation.
The second building is the Hôtel d'Évreux, purchased by the famous mistress of Louis XV, theMarquise de Pompadour, and became a magnificent palace fit to host the king. The purpose of this palace also changed, and since the 19th century it has served as the official residence of the presidents of France, and is known as the Élysée Palace.
And speaking of the Marquise de Pompadour, she is also indirectly responsible for the third architectural creation: the Place Louis XV. The square was built by her brother, the Marquis de Marigny, who was appointed in charge of the royal buildings. During French Revolution The square was renamed “Place de la Revolution,” and it was where the guillotine that beheaded many famous people was placed, including those of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. After the revolution, the square was renamed again in an attempt to erase the memory of the difficult events, and it received its current name: “Place de la Concorde” (Place de la Concorde).
In 1774, Louis XV died, and his grandson, Louis XVI (15-16), ascended to power. Unlike his grandfather, Louis XVI left no heir. Notable monuments in Paris, with the possible exception of the Bagatelle Palace, which was actually built by the king's brother. However, during his time, construction in the neoclassical style continued, especially in the western neighborhoods ofSixth District And bSeventh District.
One of the reasons why Louis XVI did little building was the precarious economic situation of France, which was worsened by its involvement in the American Revolutionary War. Louis XVI tried to improve the situation by appointing enlightened finance ministers who proposed comprehensive reforms, but these were met with strong opposition from the nobility, and the king, who was a weak-willed man, was unable to stand up to it.
The economic situation continued to deteriorate, until in 1789 the king had no choice but to convene the Assembly of the Estates to try to raise funds. The assembly was attended by representatives of the three estates in France: the nobility, the clergy, and the Third Estate, which included all the rest of the kingdom’s inhabitants. The representatives of the Third Estate demanded that their vote be given greater weight, as they were the vast majority of the population, but their demand was rejected. In response, the representatives of the Third Estate gathered in a nearby ballroom and declared themselves the “National Assembly.” The French Revolution was underway.
Chapters from "Once Upon a Time" relevant to the period
The first chapter relevant to the period deals with Louis XIV and his reign:
The second chapter deals with the “Age of Enlightenment” and well describes the salon culture of the 18th century in Paris:
Recommended films about the period
The reign of Louis XIII is remembered by the general public especially for “The Three Musketeers” by Alexandre Dumas. The book has been adapted into many films, most of them disappointing. However, the Russian version is considered particularly successful:
Another well-known character from the era of Louis XIII is Cyrano de Bergerac, who was masterfully portrayed by Gerard Depardieu in the 13 film:
For speakers French Or Russian, I highly recommend the mini-series “Richelieu.” Although it was created in the 70s, it remains a great work thanks to the excellent acting and music by Vladimir Kusma.
There are quite a few good films about Louis XIV. Two particularly recommended are “The Dancing King” (Le Roi Danse), which deals with his relationship with the composer Lully:
The second recommended film is “Vatel,” starring Gerard Depardieu, which deals with the life and tragic death of the Prince de Conde’s legendary chef.
And of course, you can't talk about Louis XIV without mentioning the successful series "Versailles":
Regarding the era of Louis XV, there is no film that better describes the aristocratic atmosphere of that period than “Dangerous Liaisons,” starring Glenn Close and John Malkovich.
And if you were looking for some action, try “Brotherhood of the Wolves,” a historical thriller and horror film:
Finally, if you speak French fluently, don't miss the television series "Nicolas Le Floch," which deals with the investigations of a police inspector in Paris under Louis XV.
Regarding the period of Louis XVI (before the Revolution), I would recommend two films. The first is the French film “Ridicule,” which depicts court life at Versailles, where wit was the key to success, and a misplaced word could end a career.
The second film is Sofia Coppola’s “Marie Antoinette.” Despite being an American film with a modern soundtrack, it manages to well depict the atmosphere of the period from the young queen’s perspective.
Articles on the site dealing with the period
This is my favorite time of year, hence the large number of articles on the site 🙂
The sad childhood of Louis XIII
Medici Fountain in the Luxembourg Gardens
How did the woman who took Louis XIV's virginity win the palace?
Chantilly Castle and the French chef who invented whipped cream and died a tragic death
The story of the foreign wig in France
The Fatal Marquise and the Poison Scandal
The story of the headless woman
Tuileries Gardens – the first fashion runway in Paris
The Tragedies of the Hôtel de Lausanne
The prince who loved women with long noses
The married life of the Duchess of Orléans
The doctor who almost killed the entire French royal family
Vaux-le-Vicomte Palace – the inspiration for the Palace of Versailles
A day in the life of Louis XIV at the Palace of Versailles
Place Fürstenberg: The Romantic Square in Paris
Emilie de Châtelet – a first-rate scientist who is remembered as Voltaire's lover
The story of Madame de Pompadour
Marie Antoinette – Fashion Icon
A tour of Versailles following Marie Antoinette
The story of the Paris booksellers
Elisabeth Villegas Le Berne – the painter who fought for the image of Marie Antoinette
The Fragrant Queen in French History
Want to read more about the history of Paris?
You are welcome to go toNext chapter in the Paris history series And learn about other periods in the history of the City of Lights.