The influence of the king and building a monument
Introduction:
In 16th century France, the French Wars of Religion1 happened during the reign of Henry
IV, and during that period a lot of men would go to war for their honor. Since it was a
monarchial society, it was important to earn the King’s trust if a person wanted to gain power
and position in society. The Duke of Longueville was a good example of a successful warrior
who fought alongside Henry IV and successfully gained a title. His son built this monument after
his death, in order to leave a legacy and commemorate his father. In this essay, we will look at
this statue, and how it represents the importance of status in 16th century France. By looking at
the monument itself, we will discuss the importance of building a relationship with the King and
what kind of political implication it suggests for the person’s future career in the royal court.
1
1
Description:
This monument is a very detailed object, as it consists of different parts that represent
different things, and it is very well preserved. It is very large compared to other objects in the
same room, which makes it more significant and suggests its importance. Perhaps it is a
monument for a very important royalty or nobility, because it would have cost a lot to
commission such a big and expensive piece.
The monument is mainly made of stone and marble, with parts of it painted gold. The
delicate details suggest that it was made by a very skillful, attentive artist who was likely a very
prominent artist of that period.
The four painted parts of the monument depict horses and soldiers in the process of a war –
perhaps it was the most famous victory for the deceased. The four statues maybe be goddesses or
spiritual figures from that period. They are dressed in drapes, with very curvy bodies, which was
the beauty standard then.
The obelisk is very tall, and it is impossible for the human eye to see every detail clearly,
suggesting it was intentionally unreadable. The patterns may only be for decorative purposes,
including religious symbols like angels, or patterns that reflected the arts during that period.
Many patterns used in the monument are related to religion, like the wings and angels. Also
there are cultural patterns, like the horn, perhaps an instrument of that time, and the hourglass.
There is also a ring of plants, which is usually presented for the decease, which suggests that the
object was intended to be a monument.
2
Deduction:
Because of its size, there may be a body buried inside. It may also act as a grave in that
case. I imagine it being a monument for people to pay their respect, for the deceased to leave a
mark in history, or to commemorate the war that was depicted.
I find the monument to be slightly intimidating, mainly because of its size and intriguing
details. I wonder what other people thought of this piece when it was first built – maybe they did
not even like the person being commemorated. Or maybe he was a beloved person, therefore it
was built. Now that it is placed in the museum, it just becomes a piece that stands out from its
crowd. It is merely a description of history, with no political or religious value to its present day
audience.
After observing the object, I have confirmed that the object is a monument built for the
Duke of Longueville, a close friend of King Henry IV of France. It was used to bury his heart. It
was commissioned by his son after his death, where he was also buried alongside the heart of his
father.
Speculation:
This monument was created within a monarchy system, making all royalty and upper class
family more important than the others. The closer people were to the king, the more benefits they
could get. Their form of respect was paid by making a mark for the deceased, and they went
great lengths to do so. It also suggests that they were rich, since they could pay for art
commissions for such an extravagant piece. The angel patterns suggest the culture was religious
and believed in heaven. To go there, they may need to build up a record of good deeds or
3
bravery, ergo the wars. The monument may also depict how men were always fighting during
that period, since it brings them glory.
The Duke of Longueville must have done something significant for the king, like winning
wars, since he was not technically royalty, but still had a monument built for him after his death.
Since it is such a detailed monument, he might have planned it before he died. Or maybe his
family was rich, so they could afford it after his death. I also conjecture that the war depicted in
the image was the changing point to his success later in life. Without a status in society, I highly
doubt they could actually put a monument like this anywhere in public.
Final interpretation:
A strong relationship with Henry IV was an important key to succeeding in the royal court
as it would secure a position in the monarchial society and validate a person in society – all
reasons that would justify a significant monument upon death to commemorate a person’s
achievements. When looking at the monument, we have a glimpse into the history of the
religious wars during the reign of Henry IV, which gave the Duke of Longueville a chance to
gain the King’s trust and the title of Grand Chamberlain of France.2
Henry IV engaged in the French Wars of Religion, mostly between the Protestant and
Catholic churches, during his lifetime. Though he was baptized as a Catholic, he was raised a
Protestant. He had changed his sides a few times during his lifetime, but the war that was
depicted in the monument was the battle of Arques, where he was fighting for the Protestant
church. The Duke of Longueville engaged in the battle of Arques, along with the battle of Senlis
2
A person in charge of the king’s chamber and who acts as a personal assistant
4
(1589). During the battle of Arques, the Duke acted as one of the three commanders who led the
8,000 soldiers to fight against the Catholic army. The Duke was a key to the victory, as he
consulted the King to move from Dieppe to Arques for a more tactical battle.
Henry IV’s army was greatly outnumbered, causing him to reconstruct his strategies. He
moved from his original campsite in the port of Dieppe to the city of Arques, and reconstructed
the entire army. By building a better foundation, the Duke increased the chances of victory by a
stretch. On September 15, 1589, the Catholic army, which was led by the Duke of Mayenne,
attacked the city of Arques. Though Henry IV’s army was much smaller at first, Queen Elizabeth
sent reinforcements on the September 23, 1589,3 which helped Henry IV successfully defeat the
Catholic army. Without the Duke of Longueville’s advise, this victory may have never happened,
and Henry IV would not have taken back Normandy and continued to invade Paris.
After the victory, the Duke was granted the title of Grand Chamberlain of France, which
included the duty of overseeing the King’s chamber and signing royal documents. The position
held much political importance, as it gave the Duke full access to the King’s private quarters.
The chamber keys that he owned were the symbol of his success, as it opened the doors to the
King’s personal life, allowing him to have more intimate contact with the King. Because of his
newfound position, he was able to update his coat of arms and added two golden keys to the
back, while he was also entitled to carry a French banner. The coat of arms was a sign of status,
the achievements that one aimed for in the royal court. Moreover, during the Lit de Justice,4 he
was able to sit right by the King. The closeness of the position showed that the Duke had earned
3
4
Queen Elizabeth was of Protestant faith, and therefore showed support during this war
Equivalent to a modern day parliament
5
the King’s trust. Even though his role resembles what we consider a secretary or personal
assistant in modern days, it was still a powerful status. He became included in the monarchial
political system, and none of it would have happened if he did not win the Battle of Arques.
Therefore, that battle was the most important achievement of his life, and ultimately became part
of the monument.
The battle of Arques was indeed a great conquest, it became a great example of men
serving Henry IV in order to gain political power. Why else would it be important to place this
description into a monument, if the deceased did not fight for glory and honor? According to the
Oxford dictionaries, a monument is “a building, column, statue, etc. built to remind people of a
famous person or event.” This monument is living proof that men would fight to build a better
relationship with the King, as it gave them power and built up their own reputation. Even after
they died, they could remind people of their status by depicting it through a monument on their
tomb.
After researching the history of the Duke of Longueville, I discovered that the tomb was
built by his son, Henri II d’Orleans. Contrary to my speculations, the Duke did not prearrange
the monument before his death. However, it still proved that a good relationship with the King
was a key to building this monument, as the depiction of the war remained the major part of the
monument. The battle of Arques was the biggest achievement to the Duke and his son, so much
that they wanted people to remember its importance forever.
The four women statues act as a decoration, but there is actually meaning behind each one.
They represent prudence, justice, temperance and fortitude. Not only were those positive
characteristics, they also idolized the Duke of Longueville as an immortal figure for people to
6
commemorate. These statues complement the depiction of battle on the tomb and create a
positive image for the Duke. Without the depiction of the war, the four statues may not work as
effectively as they did.
My speculation on religion was also correct, since the Duke fought in a religious war. Both
Catholics and Protestants believe in the idea of heaven. Also, not only was the family aristocratic
and rich, the Duke also worked closely with the King. The son’s gesture of commissioning this
monument showed that building a piece was a way to pay respect in 16th century France. More
importantly, the good relationship with the King was indeed the key that led the Duke to success,
and enabled his family to build this exact monument.
In conclusion, winning the war was the key element that led to the Duke’s success and
ultimately, to this monument being built – without a good relationship with the King, the Duke
of Longueville may not have achieved as much as he did to be entitled for such an impressive
monument. Therefore, the monument stands as living proof of the Duke’s achievements, but also
the considerable status he gained in society thanks to his positive relationship with the King.
END OF SAMPLE
Copyright notice: All information contained in this document is copyrighted. No part of
this document or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied, modified or adapted,
without the prior written consent of the author.
7