The Winter Quarter of "History of France" is devoted to the centuries between 1300 and 1600: the era of the Renaissance and the Reformation. We will meet the great monarchs of this age, Louis XI, Francis I and Henry IV, and the brilliant members of their courts as well as their lovers, their wives, and their mothers. Two great women dominate much of this period: Joan of Arc, and Catherine de' Medici. Joan is the most famous Frenchwoman who ever lived. Catherine's sad story begins in the Renaissance palace of the Medici and continues in the Chateau Chenonceaux of the Loire. There she and Henry II and Diane de Poitiers lived out the dramatic scenes of one of the most famous romantic triangles in history.
Week 11: "Paris in 1300" Tuesday Jan 4, 2011
Paris in 1300 was the center of the world. No European capital had so dominated western culture since the days of Rome and Athens. The University of Paris was the destination for every scholar in the Latin language world. The court of the King of France was considered the most sophisticated in the world and other royal families sent their children to be educated in the court of His Most Christian Majesty. This extraordinary cultural achievement is our subject in our eleventh week of our History of France.
REQUIRED READING:
Here is an excellent general history of France that will be very useful for our entire year.
Reviews
"Fascinating. . . . Engaging. . . . Filled with 'hot-blooded' kings, royal mistresses tales of cruelty, treachery and even, occasionally, heart-warming loyalty."
–San Francisco Chronicle
"[Horne] is a virtuoso of the character sketch and the illuminating vignette. . . . La Belle France, with its refreshingly subjective style, possesses more treasures than a whole wall full of textbooks."
–The Wall Street Journal
"A breathtaking tour of French history, from its earliest kings through the Mitterrand government. . . . There are few countries with a more fascinating history than France."
–The Seattle Times
"A useful and charming introduction to a nation that has oh-so-definitely helped make the modern world what it is. . . . Horne does a service in helping the reader navigate the complexities of French history."
–Los Angeles TimesPHOTOGRAPHY: Notre Dame
Notre Dame de Paris through the photography of Nat Collins,
Chairman of the Board of the Institute.MATERIAL ON THE WEB:
Kings of France
Week 12: "France in the 14th Century" Tuesday Jan 11, 2011
During the fourteenth century, France goes from the position of the number one most powerful nation in all of Europe to total social and political collapse. At the end of the fourteenth century the French monarchy is in shambles. The king, Charles VI, is insane for long periods of time, the court is a pit of violent intrigue, the Queen is a scandal sleeping with whomever she might desire including, it is believed, the king's brother. The economy is a disaster. The very borders of the nation are crumbling. How did all this happen so quickly? That is our subject for week twelve.
REQUIRED READING:
Here is an excellent general history of France that will be very useful for our entire year.
RECOMMENDED READING:
The best book on fourteenth-century France is:
Week 13: "Joan of Arc" Tuesday Jan 18, 2011
From Wikipedia: "Saint Joan of Arc (French: Jeanne d'Arc; ca. 1412 – 30 May 1431) is a national heroine of France and a Catholic saint. A peasant girl born in eastern France, she led the French army to several important victories during the Hundred Years' War, claiming divine guidance, and was indirectly responsible for the coronation of Charles VII. She was captured by the Burgundians, sold to the English, tried by an ecclesiastical court, and burned at the stake when she was nineteen years old. Twenty-four years later, on the initiative of Charles VII, who could not afford being seen as having been brought to power with the aid of a condemned heretic, Pope Callixtus III reviewed the decision of the ecclesiastical court, found her innocent, and declared her a martyr. She was beatified in 1909 and canonized in 1920. She is, along with St. Denis, St. Martin of Tours, St. Louis IX, and St. Theresa of Lisieux, one of the patron saints of France.
RECOMMENDED READING:
From Publishers Weekly:
One would expect nothing less from Gordon (Spending) than a splendid, spare account of Joan's life--and she delivers in this slender but satisfying account, a new entry in the Penguin Lives series. The facts of Joan of Arc's life are straightforward: she was born in 1412, in Domr?my, France, to a peasant family; she participated in the Hundred Years' War but was in active military service for only a year; and she was burned at the stake at 19. Novelist Gordon, who has always been fascinated by the young heroine, emphasizes Joan the girl. She acknowledges that the 17-year-old could have been a wife and mother, a fully adult member of her community. But Gordon's Joan "has a young girl's heedlessness, sureness, readiness for utter self-surrender." This biography rehearses the well-known highlights in Joan's short life: the voices she heard who charged her with the mission to save France; her participation in the Battle of Orleans and the coronation of King Charles VII; her trial by an ecclesiastical court, where she was charged with witchcraft, heresy and idolatry. The judges, Gordon tells us in a deft and clever interpretation, connected "Joan's cross-dressing to the sin of idolatry. [They] were accusing Joan of making an idol of herself." Gordon recounts Joan's excommunication and execution in spare and arresting detail. The strength of this "biographical meditation" lies in the penultimate chapter, in which Gordon investigates the numerous re-creations of Joan on stage and screen, from Carl Dreyer's 1928 film The Passion of Joan of Arc to Verdi's opera Giovanna d'Arco-a chapter that comes like an unexpected dessert at the end of a rich feast. (Apr.)DVD in class:
"Joan of Arc" 1999
This is an excellent new production starring Leelee Sobieski, Neil Patrick Harris, and Peter O'Toole.Reviews:
Amazon.com essential video A strong cast, impressive production values, and astute direction distinguish this generally successful dramatization of the tumultuous life of the 15th-century French heroine whose military victories were eclipsed by her martyrdom. At the heart of the story is the conflict between the teenager's simple but fierce faith and the more complex political and theological issues that influence her downfall, a theme fleshed out through the portrayals of the young warrior's liege, the Dauphin (later King) Charles, and the Bishop Cauchon. The feature follows Joan D'Arc's odyssey from peasant obscurity to notoriety as the "Maid of Orleans," spiritual fulcrum for the beleaguered French forces struggling to halt English invaders. As played by Leelee Sobieski (Eyes Wide Shut), her evolution from naive farm girl to seasoned soldier is convincing, as is her gradual awakening to the underlying agendas of church and state. Most critically, Sobieski radiates the young girl's fervent spiritual devotion. Framing Sobieski's focal performance are two equally fine turns from Neil Patrick Harris, who erases his legacy as TV's Doogie Howser, M.D. with a neatly shaded, steely Charles, and Peter O'Toole, who balances his signature reserve and present physical frailty to make Cauchon a moral compass for the story. Having opposed Joan as a threat to orthodoxy, the Bishop recognizes her purity too late; O'Toole turns this moment into a dreadful epiphany that resonates through the story's inevitable, fiery denouement. Fine supporting performances from Peter Strauss, Shirley MacLaine, and Maximillian Schell, plus evocative medieval locations in the Czech Republic, further buttress the story. French-Canadian director Christian Duguay handles the large-scale battle sequences with fluid blocking and smart camera work. --Sam Sutherland
Week 14: "Rebuilding France" Tuesday Jan 25, 2011
Joan of Arc began a reconstruction of French national unity. Between 1430 and 1547, five French monarchs, Charles VII, Louis XI, Charles VIII, Louis XII, and Francis I, led this effort that continued without interruption for 117 years. Each monarch added something to the overall effort to rebuild the army, rebuild the government, reclaim the borders, and rebuild the universities and libraries.
RECOMMENDED READING:
Among the five monarchs discussed this week the most brilliant, the most inspired, the most unique was Louis XI. It is rare that a very great man is rewarded with a very great biographer. But in the case of Louis XI, his extraordinary life was celebrated in one of the greatest biographies ever written in English. Kendall's perfect biography is based on massive research in dozens of the archives of various states in Europe. Kendall read all the diplomatic correspondence of the period.
There are many used copies available at Amazon. I encourage the purchase of a used HARDCOVER.
One reader-review from Amazon. (The reader is puzzled as to why this book is out of print. I agree. It is a scandal that a book as brilliant and important could be out of print.)
In LOUIS XI THE UNIVERSAL SPIDER, biographer-historian Paul Murray Kendall says the Burgundian chronicler Molinet called Louis "the universal spider" and the sobriquet unfortunately stuck. He says Louis was further demonized by 19th Century historians and writers who failed to do their homework. Louis XI was not so much spider as he was diplomat and peace-maker in an age when men looked suspiciously on such behaviour, and combat was viewed as the honorable and noble approach to settling disputes. Louis used his head and the end result was to bring the feudal era in France to a close and help usher in the modern world. Louis reckoned the ceaseless bickering and fighting of the nobles was destructive to the health of the countryside and the people of France. The common people of the towns and villages agreed with Louis as did the merchants and tradesmen. Louis is not remembered for winning any great battles. The major reason Louis was so successful in defeating his enemies was owing to his understanding of finance. He understood that those who fight must finance their wars and without funds, their access to armaments and mercenaries evaporates. The clever king also understood that when the countryside is destroyed an army that crawls on its belly cannot fight. Charles VII was the father of Louis XI, that same Dauphin whom Joan the Maid of Orleans managed to have crowned. The ungrateful Charles VII did nothing to save Joan once she had been captured by the English and the Duke of Burgundy, but the six-year old boy who became Louis XI never forgot the saint and he held a lifelong devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary after his encounter with her. When Louis was most pressed he prayed to the Virgin, and his monument to her at Clery still exists. The Duke of Burgundy during Charles VII's reign was Phillip the Good, and when Louis XI ran afoul of his father, he sought shelter with Duke Phillip who sheltered him. Thus Louis spent a good part of his young manhood in the company of his dour cousin Charles the Bold who became the Duke of Burgundy on his father's death. Charles also became Louis' life-long enemy and it was Charles' man who slandered Louis by referring to him as "the universal spider." Louis had one aspiration--to unite France in peace, and promote commerce and the general welfare of the people. Charles the Bold fancied himself another Julius Caesar--a warrior-king. Charles set about expanding his Duchy until Burgundy reached from the county of Burgundy near the Jura mountains to Flanders and Holland on the North Sea. Louis was no warrior-king. While other lords ran around in ermine and velvet and jousted at tournaments, Louis donned the hunter's clothes and spent most days in the rural areas chasing animals with his hunting dogs and commingling with the common folk. When he wasn't hunting animals Louis collected them for his vast menagerie. On most occasions Louis tried to make peace not war. He used his head, outwitted his enemies including the English king Edward IV, and at the end of his life left his heir Charles VIII a united France. Kendall obviously admired Louis and remarks that he was one of the most formidable human beings who ever lived. I have been reading the series Alison Weir has been writing on the English nobility, and enjoyed reading LOUIS XI not only because I want to know more about the history of France, but because in reading about Louis XI, I was able to understand why certain exchanges, conflicts, etc. regarding Edward IV were important. If you found Alison Weir's book on the WAR OF THE ROSES intriguing, you will appreciate this book. Kendall's writing is comparable to Weir's and he has based his writing on his original research--though he is quite dependent on Commynes as are most of Louis' biographers. I bought this book from Alibris, and I recommend you find a copy if you're interested in this period of history. I am puzzled as to why this book is out of print.
Photography
The royal chateaux of the Loire valley.
Week 15: "King Francis I (1494-1547)" Tuesday Feb 1, 2011
From Wikipedia:
Francis I, the only son of Charles d'Angoulême, and of Louise of Savoy, was born at the château de Cognac, Cognac (c. 400 km southwest of Paris), in the modern French department of Charente, in the province of Saintonge which was part of the former Duché d'Aquitaine. His father was the first cousin of King Louis XII. In 1498, the four-year-old Francis, already Count of Angoulême, was created Duke of Valois. He was the heir presumptive of Louis XII who did not succeed in siring sons with any of his three wives. In 1506, and by instigation of Louis XII, young Francis was betrothed to Claude de France, the daughter of Louis XII and Anne of Brittany, and heiress of Duché of Brittany. The marriage took place on 18 May 1514. Because of the Salic Law that excluded women from succeeding to the throne of France, the throne passed to Francis I at the death of Louis XII, as he was a male-line great-great-grandson of Charles V of France and the descendant of the eldest surviving male line of the Capetian Dynasty. Claude de France became queen consort.SLIDES:
The Italian Renaissance comes to France.
Leonardo da Vinci in France. King Francis I and Leonardo.
RECOMMENDED READING:
This biography of Francis I is a masterpiece of the art of biography. Knecht published the first edition in 1982 and now has returned to his project and written a totally updated new edition.
Reviews:
"Fortunately, R.J. Knecht's fascination with Fancis I is such that he has clearly devoted many hours of his 'retirement' to expanding, reshaping and updating the highly regarded study of the King which he published in 1982...The net result is a book which is not only more comprehensive than the earlier work but which is also exceptionally readable. A magnificent index will enable those searching for information on places, people and events to acquaint themselves with almost any aspect of the reign. At the same time, the main themes, aided by a prose which is never strained or cumbersome, emerge with clarity."
-David Parker, Times Literary Supplement"The present work is much more than a new edition of the earlier book....It should be in every research library and carefully studied by every student of the period....There is no comparable work in English....Knecht is a careful and judicious historian who deals with every aspect of Francis's reign from the standpoint of Paris and the court."
-J. Russell Major, American Historical Review"A serious reader will appreciate the realization of Knecht's second edition. The scholarly work would be a worthy informative choice in depth and breadth of the period for specialists in Sixteenth Century, French and European History, in Monarchies, and in the Renaissance Period. The book is a beautiful edition in glossed paper and pleasing print. It should be in the Sixteenth Century collection of any reputable library and highly cited and recommended to its enlightened patrons."
-European Studies Journal"A serious reader will appreciate the realization of Knecht's second edition. The scholarly work would be a worthy informative choice in depth and breadth of the period for specialists in sixteenth-century French of European history, in monarchies, and in the Renaissance Period. The book is a beautiful edition in glossed paper and pleasing print. It should be in the sixteenth-century collection of any reputable library and highly cited and recommended to its enlightened patrons."
-Michael D. Buzash, European Studies Journal"To portray a balanced and meaningful picture of this giant of the sixteenth century is a challenge which Robert Knecht has grasped and brought to fruition."
-Keith Cameron, International Journal of the Classical Tradition
Week 16: "John Calvin (1509-1564)" Tuesday Feb 8, 2011
Many people who know that John Calvin was the second most important man among the Reformers (second only to Luther) often do not know that he was French. His education took place in Paris. His early life is that of a Renaissance Frenchman. In this our week 16 we will discuss this extraordinarily influential French scholar. We will read one of his most widely read books on how to live the Christian life.
REQUIRED READING:
Golden Booklet of the True Christian Life has inspired readers around the world for more than four centuries. Now in paper, this classic devotional will guide you on how to apply biblical principles to everyday life. Originally part of John Calvin's Institutes, the devotional covers themes such as obedience, self-denial, the significance of the cross, and how believers should live their lives today. Rather than focusing on contemplative other-worldliness, the Golden Booklet of the True Christian Life stresses the importance of a devotedly active Christian life. In style and spirit, it is much like Augustine's Confessions, Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, or Thomas à Kempis's Imitation of Christ. Its intense practicality, however, sets it apart, making it easily accessible for anyone seeking to carry out Christian values in everyday life. The translator, Henry J. Van Andel, competently preserved the colorful language and direct style of which John Calvin was a recognized master.
Week 17: "Henry II and Catherine de' Medici" Tuesday Feb 15, 2011
Wikipedia:
Henry was born in the Royal Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye, near Paris, the son of Francis I and Claude de France (daughter of Louis XII of France and Anne, Duchess of Brittany). His father was captured at the Battle of Pavia in 1525 by his sworn enemy,
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, and held prisoner in Spain. To obtain his release it was eventually agreed that Henry and his older brother be sent to Spain in his place. They remained in captivity for three years. Henry married Catherine de' Medici (13 April 1519 – 5 January 1589) on 28 October 1533, when they were both fourteen years old. The following year, he became romantically involved with a 35 year-old widow, Diane de Poitiers. They had always been very close: she had publicly embraced him on the day he set off to Spain, and during a jousting tournament, he insisted his lance carry her ribbon instead of his wife's. Diane became Henry's most trusted confidante and, for the next twenty-five years, wielded considerable influence behind the scenes, even signing royal documents. Extremely confident, mature and intelligent, she left Catherine powerless to intervene. She did, however, insist that Henry sleep with Catherine in order to produce heirs to the throne. When his elder brother, Francis, died in 1536 after a game of tennis, Henry became heir to the throne. He succeeded his father on his 28th birthday and was crowned King of France on July 25, 1547 at Reims.RECOMMENDED READING:
The best book on Henri and Catherine is Leonie Frieda's excellent biography of Catherine.
Review:
From Publishers Weekly: In 1533, 14-year-old Catherine de Medici arrived in France to marry the future king Henri II; over the next 16 years, she endured the dominance of Henri's mistress, Diane de Poitiers, and the disdain of courtiers for her family's merchant background. The sudden death of Henri launched Catherine into three decades as regent and chief adviser to three sons who ruled in succession. Frieda navigates the twists and turns of the French royal court and family with particular attention to the formation of Catherine's political skills. From her lonely childhood as a tool in the diplomacy of her powerful uncles to her carefully cultivated relationship with her father-in-law and maneuvering through shifting family alliances, the queen learned self-possession, deception and strategy. While Catherine has been maligned for her role in France's wars of religion and in particular the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre, Frieda argues that Catherine attempted to reach compromise in the religious strife of her adopted country. While trying to flesh out Catherine, Frieda occasionally paints others with a too-broad brush. At times, her descriptions of Catherine's actions as emotionally or politically motivated seem arbitrary. But Frieda's portrait of Catherine is multifaceted, and her presentation of the complicated narrative of five tumultuous reigns is compelling.
Week 18: "King Charles IX" Tuesday Feb 22, 2011
Wikipedia: Charles IX (27 June 1550 – 30 May 1574) was King of France, ruling from 1560 until his death. His reign was dominated by the Wars of Religion. He is best known as king at the time of the "St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre." He was born Charles Maximilian, third son of King Henry II of France and Catherine de' Medici in the royal chateau of Saint-Germain-en-Laye. He was immediately made Duke of Orléans upon his birth, succeeding his older brother Louis, his father's second son who had died in infancy the year before. He[wh visited England and on 14 May was made a Knight of the Order of the Garter at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, along with Francis Russell, 2nd Earl of Bedford and Sir Henry Sidney.] His father died in 1559, followed in December 1560 by his elder brother, King Francis II (1544–1560). The ten-year-old Charles was immediately proclaimed King and, on 15 May 1561, consecrated as King of France in the Cathedral at Reims. The government was dominated by his mother, Catherine de' Medici, who at first acted as regent for her young son. Antoine of Bourbon, himself in line to the French throne and husband to Queen Joan III of Navarre, was appointed Lieutenant-General of France.
RECOMMENDED READING:
The best book on Henri and Catherine is Leonie Frieda's excellent biography of Catherine.
DVD IN CLASS
Part One of "Queen Margot" ("La Reine Margot") starring Isabelle Adjani and Daniel Auteil
Amazon.com:
Based on a novel by Alexandre Dumas, Queen Margot concerns the events behind infamous Massacre of St. Bartholomew in 16th-century France. Isabelle Adjani plays Margot, betrothed for political reasons to one man (Daniel Auteuil) by her mother (Virna Lisi), while she is, in fact, in love with another (Vincent Pérez). Despite the bond that grows between the reluctant couple, plots are hatching all over the castle against the royals. Adventurous, exciting, erotic, and given strong artistic credibility through its outstanding cast, the film is enthralling and visually sumptuous. Directed by Patrice Chereau, less known outside of France than is the film's producer, Claude Berri (director of Jean de Florette and Manon of the Spring). --Tom Keogh
Week 19: "King Henry III" Tuesday Mar 1, 2011
Wikipedia: Henry III (19 September 1551 – 2 August 1589, born Alexandre Édouard de France) was King of France from 1574 to 1589. Henry was born at the Royal Château de Fontainebleau, Seine-et-Marne, fourth son of King Henry II and Catherine de' Medici, grandson of Francis I of France and Claude of France, and brother of Francis II of France and Charles IX of France. He was made Duke of Angoulême and Duke of Orléans in 1560, and Duke of Anjou in 1566. In 1564, his name became Henri. He was his mother's favourite; she called him chers yeux ("Precious Eyes") and lavished fondness and affection upon him for most of his life. His elder brother, Charles, grew to detest him, resenting Henry's greater health and activity. In his youth, he was considered the best of the sons of Catherine de' Medici and Henry II. Unlike his father and elder brothers, he had little interest in the traditional Valois pastimes of hunting and physical exercise. Although he was both fond of fencing and skilled in it, he preferred to indulge his tastes for the arts and reading. These predilections were attributed to his Italian mother. At one point in his youth he showed a tendency towards Protestantism as a means of rebelling. At the age of nine, calling himself un petit Huguenot, he refused to attend Mass, sang Protestant psalms to his sister Margaret (exhorting her all the while to change her religion and cast her Book of Hours into the fire), and even bit the nose off a statue of Saint Paul. His mother firmly cautioned her children against such behaviour, and he would never again show any Protestant tendencies—instead becoming nominally Roman Catholic.
REQUIRED READING:
Required reading within this collection of essays will be announced later.
RECOMMENDED READING:
The best book on Henri and Catherine is Leonie Frieda's excellent biography of Catherine.
DVD IN CLASS
Part Two of "Queen Margot" ("La Reine Margot") starring Isabelle Adjani and Daniel Auteil
Amazon.com:
Based on a novel by Alexandre Dumas, Queen Margot concerns the events behind infamous Massacre of St. Bartholomew in 16th-century France. Isabelle Adjani plays Margot, betrothed for political reasons to one man (Daniel Auteuil) by her mother (Virna Lisi), while she is, in fact, in love with another (Vincent Pérez). Despite the bond that grows between the reluctant couple, plots are hatching all over the castle against the royals. Adventurous, exciting, erotic, and given strong artistic credibility through its outstanding cast, the film is enthralling and visually sumptuous. Directed by Patrice Chereau, less known outside of France than is the film's producer, Claude Berri (director of Jean de Florette and Manon of the Spring). --Tom Keogh
Week 20: "Michel de Montaigne" Tuesday Mar 8, 2011
Wikipedia:
Michel Eyquem de Montaigne was one of the most influential writers of the French Renaissance. Montaigne is known for popularizing the essay as a literary genre. He became famous for his effortless ability to merge serious intellectual speculation with casual anecdotes and autobiography — and his massive volume Essais (translated literally as "Attempts") contains, to this day, some of the most widely influential essays ever written. Montaigne had a direct influence on writers the world over, including Blaise Pascal, René Descartes, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Stefan Zweig, Friedrich Nietzsche, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Isaac Asimov, Eric Hoffer, and perhaps William Shakespeare. In his own time, Montaigne was admired more as a statesman than as an author. The tendency in his essays to digress into anecdotes and personal ruminations was seen as detrimental to proper style rather than as an innovation, and his declaration that, 'I am myself the matter of my book', was viewed by his contemporaries as self-indulgent. In time, however, Montaigne would be recognized as embodying, perhaps better than any other author of his time, the spirit of freely entertaining doubt which began to emerge at that time. He is most famously known for his skeptical remark, 'Que sais-je?' ('What do I know?'). Remarkably modern even to readers today, Montaigne's attempt to examine the world through the lens of the only thing he can depend on implicitly — his own judgment — makes him more accessible to modern readers than any other author of the Renaissance. Much of modern literary non-fiction has found inspiration in Montaigne and writers of all kinds continue to read him for his masterful balance of intellectual knowledge and personal story-telling.REQUIRED READING
Required reading within this collection of essays will be announced later.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Bordeaux. The photography of Nathan Bergeron, and a visit to the chateau of Montaigne
Spring Vacation - March 14 to March 25, 2011
Vacation.
No class the week of March 16 and March 23.
First class of Spring Quarter is March 29, 2011.
