France
Joyeuse
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The Constable
of France (French connétable de France, from Latin comes
stabulari for “count of the stables”), as the First Officer of the Crown,
was one of the original five Great Officers of the Crown of France (along
with seneschal, chamberlain, butler, and chancellor) and Commander in Chief of the army. He, theoretically, as
Lieutenant-general of the King, outranked all the nobles and was
second-in-command only to the King. He was also responsible for military
justice and served to regulate the Chivalry. His jurisdiction was called the connestablie.
The office was established by King Philip I in 1060 with Alberic becoming the
first Constable. After Philip August did not nominate a Sénéchal of
France any more after 1191, the connétable by and by took over his
offices including the supreme command of the army. Also because of the
development of the standing army the office became more and more
independendent. When it became a threat for the royal power, the office was
abolished in 1627 in accordance with the Edict of January 1627 by Cardinal
Richelieu, upon the death of François de Bonne, duc de Lesgiguières, after
his conversion from Protestantism to Catholicism in 1622. The position was
replaced by the Dean of Marshals (Doyen des maréchaux), in reality the
most senior Marshal of France in a strictly ceremonial role. A few constables
died in battle or were executed for treason, mostly for political intrigue.
Note that there are gaps in the dates as the position was not always filled
following the demise of its occupant. The Connétable, who had the
jurisdiction over the Connétablie
and the Maréchaussée, exercised
from the beginning high justice over the staff of high officers by a supreme
court of military justice. After
the suppression of the office of Connétable in 1627, the jurisdiction of the Connétablie was in
theory exercised by the Marshals of France, former lieutenants of the
Constable. The Connétablie and Maréchaussée sat with the Admiralty and the
Waters and Forests at the “Marble Table” of the Great
Hall of the Palace.
In the Conciergerie hangs a fragment of the Marble Table used at the receptions
the french monarchy gave in the Great Hall of the Palace, formerly on a stock
now disappeared. It was
presided over by a Lieutenant General. A Provost Marshal of the Connétablie
commanded its military executive personnel, consisting of a company of three
lieutenants and fifty-two archers. The Connétablie and Maréchaussée was a
sovereign court from 1655. It was the last court of appeal for the criminals
of the "provost cases": "excesses" committed or undergone
by the gendarmes and soldiers, vagrants and looting, desertions and betrayals
and all cases of military discipline. In civil matters, its jurisdiction
applied to disputes over the pay and malfeasance of commissioners and
treasurers of wars. The marshals sat in person at the Point d'Honneur court,
whose jurisdiction applied to all cases of insults and provocations to duel
involving civil and military gentlemen, French and foreign. The marshal's
court also drew up every year the list of Maréchaussée officers worthy of
receiving the cross of St. Louis. The Connétablie and Maréchaussée was abolished in
1791 with the courts of the old Regime. |
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Persons Subordinate to the Constable of France
·
Colonel-general - a special position in the French army, which commands
all the regiments of the same branch of service (ie. infantry, cavalry,
Dragoons,...) ·
Lieutenant-general - the highest general rank of the
French army
The ORIFLAMME was the standard banner of the abbey of Saint-Denis; the
attorney of this church bore it, because he was the defender, and he
commanded the vassals of the abbey, when they were obliged to march for the
defense of his rights, and to bear their ensign. It is from there that they
are commonly called the ensigns of churches. The Counts of Vexin and Pontoise
had this title in the abbey of Saint-Denis; they were the solicitors and
protectors of it: it was in this capacity that they bore the ORIFLAMME in the
wars that were taking place in defense of their property. In time of peace,
this standard was suspended on the tomb of Saint-Denis, and in time of war,
the abbot put it in the hands of his abbot or his first vassal, who was the
count of Vexin, after having blessed it with some special prayers, which we
still see in the ancient rituals of Saint-Denis.
·
Lieutenant-general of the Realm - Occasionally appointed and served as
a pseudo-viceroy to oversee royal business in a region and served directly
under the King. |
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The badge of office of the Constable was a highly elaborate sword called the
“Royal Sword” surnamed "Joyeuse" or “Sword of
Charlemagne” (Épée de Charlemagne). Its blade
was modern and was contained in a blue scabbard embellished with fleur-de-lis
in column from hilt to point. It was a part of
the royal treasury before its destruction after the revolution. Today it is in
the Musée du Louvre. Technical data Sword: Ile de
France, 10th-11th century (pommel); 9th-10th cent. (cross-guard); hilt:
gothic or modern; blade: modern. Gold, pearls of lapis lazuli or dark glass, steel. Length 100,5 cm; of the pommel: 5,6 cm; of the cross
guard 22,6 cm; of the blade: 82,6 cm.. The sword has often been restored and repaired in
particular in 1804 by Biennais and in 1825 by Bapst. Inscription: under the cross-guard II M / et demi et X estelli[n]s. Scabbard: Ile de
France, end of 13th or beginning of 14th cent.. Gilded silver, copper, precious stones, purple
gold-embroidered velours. Very often restored in particular before 1634, in
1775, 1804, 1825; repair of the mouthpiece and replacement of the sapphire of
the locket before 1634. The present velours is the one of the coronation of
Charles X; the gilding has been
renewed in 1825. The sword was mentioned for the first time in 1271
and was N° 111 of the inventory of 1634.[1] Sword and scabbard
were deposed in the Museum on 5 December 1793. In the next paragraphs it is explained how a
sword became the badge of office of the constable for a short time in the
16th century and how the present Sword called Joyeuse became the the royal
sword after teh abolition of the office in 1627. |
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In the carolingian era a sword is represented in the
hands of the official who is positioned on the side of the emperor, an other official
being armed with a shield and spear. These armed men may have been the
bearers of the imperial arms or guard. They may also have been high ranking
military officials like the ecuyer, seneschal, constable or the supreme
commander and successors of the roman Magister
Equitum and Magister Peditum.
They certainly were recruited from the inner circle of the emperor, the
so-called Paladines. Such a paladine was a certain Roland who died as the
commander of the rear guard of Charlemagne and who was canonised in the 11th
century in the Chanson de Roland.
The guardian soldiers of Lothair I in the Vivian
Bible (843AD) The emperor himself was not represented in arms but
only in official dress with crown, sceptre and staff. Therefore this
representation of Charles the Fat is quite exceptional.
Carolingian King, probably Charles the Fat (839-888) with crown, sword, lance
with vexillum and shield From: Traité des Vices et
des Vertus. BNF
Charles the Fat on his throne with courtiers alias King
Salomon Bible of San Paolo fuori le Mura, Frontispiece to Proverbs with scenes from
the life of Salomon (Detail) His arms distributed between a sword bearer and the ecuyer (squire, shield bearer).
The constables of
Otto III and of Henry II (beginning 11th cent.) each bearing a sword as a
badge of office
Angels presenting the holy lance and the imperial
sword in scabbard to Emperor Henry II
(1002) Miniature from the Sacramentary
of Henry II. (detail) today in the Bayerischen Staatsbibliothek in München
(Clm 4456, Fol. 11r) After the splitting up of the Carolingian empire the
kings of both parts were not represented between their armed paladines, the
spear and sword apparently being the privileges of the emperor. The french
(West-Frankish) kings themselves were usually represented with their civic
parafernalia: crown, sceptre and fleur de lis.
Seal of majesty
of Louis VII, the Younger, 1137 The king at the age of 17 on a lion’s throne.
In his dexter hand a lily and in his sinister hand a sceptre crested with a
lily. Crown wit a cross. Legend: ludovicus di gra francorvm rex . |
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Albéric |
1060–1065 |
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1 Connétable de France (v.1060) |
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Balbéric |
1065–1069 |
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2 Connétable de France (v.1065) |
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Gauthier |
1069–1071 |
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3 Connétable de France (v.1069) |
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Adelelme |
1071–1075 |
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4 Connétable de France (v.1071) |
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Adam |
1075–1085 |
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5 Connétable de France (v.1075) |
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Thibaut de Montmorency |
1085–1107 |
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Seigneur de Montmorency
6 Connétable de France (v.1085) |
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Gaston de Chaumont |
1107–1108 |
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Seigneur
de Poissy et de Fresne
7 Connétable de France (v.1107) |
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Hugues le Borgne de Chaumont |
1108–1135 |
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8 Connétable de France (v.1108) |
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Mathieu
I de Montmorency |
1138- †1160 |
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Seigneur
de Montmorency, d'Ecouen, de Marly, de Conflans-Sainte-Honorine et d'Attichy
9 Connétable de France (v.1138) |
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Simon de Neauphle-le-Château |
1165– |
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Seigneur de Neauphle-le-Château 10 Connétable de France (v.1165)
A sword playing a role at the coronation ceremonies
of a french king is described in 1179 at the coronation of Louis Philippe as a
co-regent in that year. Then it was given to the king who after a short ceremony, gave it to one of his
high officials, probably his sénéchal, being the commander of the army.
Washing and anointment of Louis Philippe before his coronation from: Ordo ad coronandum
regem [2] The sword on the altar after the investment of the
king with sword and spurs. On the left and the right the Archbishop of Reims,
Guillaume of Blois (1176-1202) presenting the unsheathted sword and on the
right Thibaut of Blois (sénéchal de France 1153-1191) who was given the sword
from the hands of the king. Postmodum
positis super altare corona regia, gladio
in vagina incluso, calcaribus aureis, sceptro deaurato, & virga ad mensuram
unius cubiti vel amplius, habente desuper manum eburnem. ... [After a while the king’s crown is put upon
the altar, the sword in the sheath,
including the spurs of gold, a golden sceptre, and a rod of one cubit or
more, crested with an ivory hand.] [3] |
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Raoul de Clermont |
*1130–†1191 |
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11 Connétable de France 1174 |
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Dreux
III de Mello |
~1138-†1218 |
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Seigneur
de Saint-Prisc (dit de Saint-Bris) 12 Connétable de France
(1194)
Seal of Dreux III, Lord of Mello (1138-1218) 1215 Æ53 mm. Archives de l’Yonne H
1494-1 (1/1) [4] Arms: [Or], Two fesses between three
merlettes [Gules]. Supporters:
Two merlettes L.: X SIGILLUM
D[ROCO]NIS DE [M]ERLOTO |
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Equestrian seal of Louis VIII, 1211 Arms: Strewn with
fleurs de lis. L.: X sigillvm lvdovici filii regis francie. D.: 1211. (In 1211 Louis VIII was count of Artois). |
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Louis VIII, le Lion / Coeur de Lion |
*1187-†1226 Count of Artois King of France 1223 - 1226 |
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LouisIX le Saint |
*1215-†1270 King of France 1226 - 1270 |
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PhilippeIII le
Hardi |
*1245-†1285 King of France 1270-1285 |
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According to instructions for French coronations written down in
between 1215 and 1274 1. The
canons and clerks of Reims cathedral sing Matins and Prime in the usual way. 2. The
king now approaches the cathedral in procession, accompanied by “the
archbishops and bishops, barons and others, who he should wish to admit”. It
is noted that there is likely to be 'a pressing crowd' of 'multitudes' outside the church, and all
but one of the entrances have to be bolted and guarded. 3. The
king sits on a throne that has been prepared before the altar, with bishops
seated on one side of him (his right, the more honourable side) and secular peers
on the other. 4. The
monks of St Remigius now come in procession to the cathedral carrying a
sacred ampulla of holy oil beneath a canopy held by four monks. This ampulla
was supposedly used to anoint King Clovis in 509, though in fact it probably
dated to the mid-12th century.The Archbishop of Reims goes to the cathedral
door and accepts the ampulla from them, with a promise to return it after the
ceremony (!). 5. The
archbishop then puts on his pallium and approaches the altar to conduct Mass. 6. The
archbishop now asks the king to swear an oath to respect the rights of the
Church and bishops. After this, he asks the assembled congregation in the
church if they are willing to accept this king: they reply by shouting
"Fiat! Fiat!" ('Let it be done!") 7. The
king now swears additional oaths: to ensure peace, justice and mercy (the tria precepta), to defend the holy
Catholic faith, to uphold and defend the churches and their ministers, and to
govern and defend the kingdom granted him by God according to the tradition
of justice of his fathers. 8. The
assembled congregation now sings the Te Deum. 9. While
it is being sung, various royal accoutrements are placed on the altar: a
crown, a sheathed sword, golden
spurs, a sceptre, a rod with a hand on the end, and a tunic, surcoat and
boots of blue silk woven with golden lilies. 10. The
king stands and strips to his underwear. The Great Chamberlain of France puts
on his boots, and the Duke of Burgundy fastens the golden spurs to them. The
king is then given the sword.
(Note that this is, in essence, a knighthood ceremony). The king next
ceremonially places the sword back on the altar; it is then given to the Seneschal of France to
be carried in front of the king for the rest of the day. 11. The
archbishop prepares the chrism using oil (probably scented olive oil) mixed
with a tiny amount on a pinhead of the sacred oil from the holy ampulla. 12. The
king kneels, and while the congregation sing a hymn the archbishop dabs the
holy oil on the top of his head, his chest, the small of his back, and his
shoulders and elbows. 13. The
king now gets dressed in the blue clothes with gold lilies, assisted by the
Chamberlain of France. The archbishop gives him the sceptre and rod to hold
and places a ring on his finger. 14. The
chief secular and ecclesiastic peers of the realm are now summoned by name
(six of each - representing the twelve paladins of Charlemagne). The
archbishop takes the crown from the altar and places it on the king's head.
The twelve peers then reach out their own hands and touch the crown, as a
symbol that they are its supports. 15. Still
surrounded by the peers and the archbishop, the king is led to a high throne
which has been covered in silk cloth. He is seated there, crowned, where the
whole congregation can see him. 16. If
the king is married, then his queen is now anointed and crowned as well. 17. She
kneels before the altar and the archbishop applies sacred oil (but not from
the ampulla; just normal oil) to her head and chest. 18. The
cathedral cantor leads a Bible reading, then gives the New Testament to the
king and queen for them to kiss the book. 19. The
archbishop then conducts Mass (again). The king and queen approach the altar
first and give bread and wine to the archbishop, before returning to their
thrones; then at the appropriate point in the Mass they approach the altar
again to take communion. 20. The
archbishop then takes back the crowns from the heads of the king and queen. 21. The Seneschal of France, bearing the
unsheathed royal sword, then leads the king and queen and assembled
nobles out of the cathedral and back to the palace in procession. A sword
identified with Charlemagne's Joyeuse was carried in front of the
Coronation processions for French kings, [for the first time in 1270 (Philip
III), and for the
last time in 1824 (Charles
X).] The sword
was kept in the Saint
Denis Basilica since
at least 1505, and it was moved to the Louvre in 1793. This Joyeuse as
preserved today is a composite of various parts added over the centuries of
use as coronation sword. But at the core, it consists of a medieval blade
of Oakeshott
typeXII, mostly
dated to about the 10th century. Martin Conway argued the blade might date to the
early 9th century, opening the possibility that it was indeed the sword of
Charlemagne, while Guy Laking dated it to the early 13th
century. Some authors have even argued that the medieval blade may have been
replaced by a modern replica in 1804 when the sword was prepared for the
coronation of Napoleon
Bonaparte. The
Louvre's official website dates the pommel to the 10th to 11th centuries,
the crossguard to the 12th and the scabbard to the 13th century.[3] at the
occasion or the coronation of Philippe III le Hardi in 1271 it is writtten
by Guillaume de Nangis: Postmodum
jam antea preparatis et positis super altare corona regis, gladio in vagina
incluso, calcaribis aureis, sceptro deaurato et virga ad mensuram unus cubiti
vel amplius habente desuper manusm eburneam... Which is in ancient french: “Entre ce l’en doit auoir appareillé &
mis sus l’autel la couronne du roy, & l’espé & mise dedans son feurre, ses esperons d’or, son
ceptre d’or, & sa verge à la mesure d’vn coude ou de plus, quit ara au
dessus vne main d’yvoire. [5] Without calling the sword “of Charlemagne” or
“Joyeuse” anyhow. |
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Mathieu II le Grand de
Montmorency |
†1230 |
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Seigneur de Montmorency, d'Ecouen, de
Marly, de Conflans-Sainte-Honorine et d'Attichy 13 Connétable de France (1218)
After 1214 Matthew the Great: CP 10: Li sires de Monmoranchi porte les
armes d’or a une crois de gheules et a seize egles d’asur es quatre
cartiers. Arms: A cross between sixteen eagles. Crest: A peacocks’ head L.: X MATEI DE MONTEMORENCIACO CONSTABULARII DOMINI
REGIS FRANCIE. (Vred. 10 - 1) The same arms on the counterseal 2. Mattheus W.: Idem (Vred. p. 9 - 2) Jan: C 151: Joan de Montmorency, d’or
poudré de eglets d’azur un crois de gulez. Cl 111, Cd 122 Wijnbergen:
7: Goud, een rood kruis tussen 16 blauwe adelaartjes (Mathieu III, sgr de Montmorency †1270).
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Amaury
VI de Montfort |
†1241 |
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Comte de Montfort-l'Amaury 14 Connétable de France (1231)
Simon of Montfort or his son Amaury VI Chartres Cathedral, stained
glass in the choir
Seal of Amaury VI of
Montfort Arms: Gules, a lion
Argent |
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Humbert
V de Beaujeu |
†v.1250 |
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Seigneur de Montpendier 15 Connétable de France (1240)
Ymbert de biaugeu: Lion de sable billeté.
(Wijnbergen 35) [6] |
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Gilles II de Trasignies |
† v.1275 |
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Seigneur de Trasignies 16 Connétable de France (1248)
Seal of
Gilles de Trazegnies [7] Arms: Bendy of 10 pieces Supporter: Lion rampant |
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Humbert de Beaujeu |
†1285 |
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Seigneur de Montpensier, d'Aigueperse,
de la Roche-d'Agoux, d'Hermene et de Roanne 17 Connétable de France (1277)
Beayu Armorial Bellenville, fol 2r. 16 Arms: Or, a lion Sable and a
label of five, Gules. |
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Raoul II de Clermont |
(†1302 |
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Seigneur
de Nesles et de Briois 18 Connétable de France (1277)
Arms:.Gules, strewn with trefoils, two bars
adossés Or. (Wijnbergen, n° 1229)
Seal |
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Gaucher de Châtillon |
v.1249-1329 |
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Comte de Porcéan, Seigneur de Châtillon-sur-Marne
et de Crécy 19 Connétable de France (1302)
Bellenville,
2r 8 Arms: Gules,
three pales vair and a chief Or, a merlet in the dexter Sable. Crest: A dragon
Seal of Gaucher
de Châtillon |
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Raoul I de Brienne |
†1344 |
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Comte
d'Eu et de Guines 20 Connétable de France (1329)
modern rendering Arms:
Azure billety, a lion Or
Seal of Raoul I de Brienne
[8] |
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Raoul II de Brienne |
†1350 |
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fils du précédent Comte d'Eu et de Guines 21 Connétable de France (1344) |
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The count of Guines |
The count of Eu |
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Armorial
Bellenville 1. Arms: Vair Azure and Or 2. Arms: ¼:
1&4;Or, a bordure engrailed; 2&3: Azure billety a lion Or The commentary of
Léon Jequier is: Raoul de Brienne, comte d’Eu, porte Brienne sur son sceau et
l’écu a la bordure engrelé sur le contre-sceau (1323-1359).[9] |
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Charles de Castille d'Espagne |
†1354 |
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Comte d'Angoulême, Seigneur de Lunel,
de Benaon-en-Aunis, de Fontenay-l'Abatut 22 Connétable de France
(1350-1354)
Charles d’Espagne, Connétable de
France 1350- 1353. Arms: 1. France ; 2&3 Castilla; 4. Leon. (Gelre n° 1481) |
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Jacques Ier de Bourbon |
1319-1362 |
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Comte de La Marche et de Ponthieu 26 Connétable de France (1354)
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Gauthier VI de Brienne |
*1304-†1356 |
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Comte de Brienne, Duc d'Athènes,
Seigneur de Liches et Conversano 27 Connétable de France (1356)
Coat of arms of Gautier VI de Brienne Via dei Calzaioli, Florence Arms: Azure, a lion double-queued Or.
The Expulsion of the Duke of Athens by Andrea
Orcagna (1308-’68), detached fresco, in Palazzo
Vecchio (detail) His shield and broken spear and sword, and
his balance for measuring taxes on the
ground Arms: Bendy sinister Argent (Or?) [and in nombril point an escutcheon Azure,
a lion Or?]. In the 18th century his coat of arms was ascribed by Ritter Vitezovic to
Greece:
Græcia Arms: Bendy of 9 piece
Azure end Or Crown: A royal crown [10] |
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Robert Moreau de
Fiennes |
v.1308-1372 |
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Seigneur de Tingry, de Belles et de Ruminghen 28 Connétable de France
(1356-1370)
Armorial
Bellenville, 2r. 21 1356-1359
Robert dit Moreau de Fiennes, Connétable de France. A.: d’arg. au lion de sa.
arm. lamp. de gu.. C.:
une tête de cerf de sa. accorné d’or. L.: Die H. v Vielgen. Gelre
n° 414.
Seal of Robert Moreau de
Fiennes Arms: Argetn,
a lion Sable Crest: A
stags’ head Sable attired Or. L.: X
SIGILLVM ROBERTI DOMINI DE FIENIS |
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Charles V, the Wise |
*1337-†1380 Dauphin of
Vienne 1349-1380 King of France
1364-1380 |
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A sword is
represented at the coronation ceremonies of Charles V in 1365:
The royal sword and scabbard on the table of
credence. From: BL Cotton MS Tiberius B VIII/2 f. 46v, The
Archbishop of Reims administering the oath to the King. During the ceremony the sword was given to the king
who put it on the altar for blessing. When it had been returned to him he transmitted it to the seneschal (then the duke of Anjou) who kept it upright in the
vicinity of the king during the rest of the ceremony.
The seneschal with the sword during the coronation
ceremonies, 1365 From: BL Cotton MS Tiberius B VIII/2. f. 56r: The
Archbishop of Reims blessing of the King’s gloves. Five years later a sword was presented. not to the seneshal but to the
connétable by name of Bertrand du Guesclin. However the sword presented was
still naked, the royal scabbard only being added later. |
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Bertrand du Guesclin |
1320-1380 |
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Seigneur de Roche-Derrien, Vicomte de
Pontorson, Comte de Soria, Duc de Molina 29 Connétable de France (1370)
Armorial
Bellenville, 2r.12 1380 Bertrand du Guesclin, Connétable.
W.: d’arg. à l’aigle éployée de sa. mem. becq. de gu., au bâton de même. C.: la tête d’aigle dans un
vol banneret d’arg.; tortil d’arg. et de gu. L.: Her Bertran Claykim. Gelre n° 335.
Charles V presents the sword of command to Bertrand
Duguesclin 2 October1370 Brit. Lib. Yates Thompson 35
(betw. 1380-1392 ) Apparently this is not the royal sword as this had a
quite different pommel and grip. |
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Olivier IV de Clisson |
1336-1407 |
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Seigneur de Clisson, Comte de Porhoët,
Seigneur de Belleville, de Montagu, de la Garnache, de Blain, d'Yerrick et de
Beauvoir 30 Connétable de France (1380)
Armorial Bellenville, 2r.11 1407 Olivier V. de Clisson, Connétable
de France. W.: de gu. au lion d’arg. L.: Clisson. Gelre n° 339, 795. |
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Philippe d'Artois |
1358-1397 |
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Comte d'Eu 31 Connétable de France (1392)
Armorial
Gilles le Bouvier [11]
Photo: Roel Renmans ca. 1397 - 'Philippe d'Artois, comte d'Eu,
connétable de France (†1397) Collégiale
Notre-Dame-et-Saint-Laurent, Eu, dép. Seine-Maritime, France Arms: Azure
strewn with fleurs de lis Or, and a label of three Gules on each label three
castles per pale Or. |
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Louis de Sancerre |
*1341-†1402 |
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Seigneur de Bomiers 32 Connétable de France (1397)
Armorial de Gilles Le Bouvier Arms: ¼: 1&4: Azure six crosses patée fitchée 3,2,1O and a crescent
Argent:; 2&3: Gules, a cross moline Or (Villehardouin). And an escutcheon
in nombril point ¼: 1&4 Or, a bend Argent and a dolphin Azure over all;
2&3: Azure, a bend Argent coticed of two cotices potent
counterpotent
Photo H.d.V. 2014 Tomb of Louis de Sancerre, connétable. On the shield the arms of Champagne, a label
of three. Abbey church of St. Denis,
Paris
Photo H.d.V. 2014 Shield on the tomb of Louis,
Count of Sancerre, Connétable Abbey church of St. Denis,
Paris Arms: Azure, a bend Argent coticed of two cotices potent counterpotent Or
(Champagne) and a label of three Gules. Crest: A king’s head bearded, crowned crested with a feather Argent. Silver
crown L.: Die marscalc v. Sansorle. (Gelre 338.) |
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Charles Ier d'Albret |
*1368-†1415 |
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Sire d'Albret, Comte de Dreux et
Vicomte de Tartas 33 Connétable de France (1st time 1402)
The arms of Albret Armorial de
Gilles Le Bouvier
Seal L.: DELEBRET ......... CONNETABLE DE FRANCE |
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Valéran III de Luxembourg |
†1413 |
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Comte
de Saint-Pôl et de Ligny, Châtelain de Lille, Seigneur de Fiennes et de
Bohain, Grand Bouteiller de France 34 Connétable de France (1411)
Modern rendering Arms: Argent a lion Gules crowned Or |
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Charles Ier d'Albret |
†1415 |
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Sire d'Albret, Comte de Dreux et
Vicomte de Tartas 33 Connétable de France (2nd time 1413 - rétabli en charge)
Armorial
de Gilles Le Bouvier, Van Bohemundus III (1163-1201) is een zegel bekend waarop hij staat afgebeeld met een schild met vanuit de umbo naar buiten toe lopende stralen. Een wapen voor de de vorst van Antiochië en de graaf van Tripoli verschijnt in de literatuur pas in het werk van Joinville (1309). Hij schrijft in zijn „Leven van de Heilige Lodewijk” over het bezoek van de zestienjarige Bohemundus VI in 1252 aan Lodewijk IX in Jaffa: „Direct nadat hij de koning had verlaten ging de prins naar Antiochië waar hij met vreugde werd begroet. Met toestemming van de koning kwartileerde hij zijn wapen, dat rood was, met het wapen van Frankrijk, omdat de koning hem tot ridder had geslagen.” |
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Bernard VII d'Armagnac |
†1418 |
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Comte
d'Armagnac et de Fezensac 35 Connétable de France (1415)
Armorial
de Gilles Le Bouvier, |
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Charles le Hardi de Lorraine |
v.1365-1431 |
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Duc de Lorraine 36 Connétable de France (1418)
Seal of Charles II, te Bold
of Lorraine, 1390 Arms: Or, a bend
Gules chaged with three alerions Argent Crest: An eagee
sejant Arengent Supporters: Two lions |
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Arthur III de Bretagne |
1393-†1458 |
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Comte
de Richemont, de Dreux, d'Etampes et de Montfort, Seigneur de Parthenay, puis
Duc de Bretagne 37 Connétable de France (1425) Richemont
accepted the constables’ sword given to him by the king in Chinon 7 March
1425. (In disgrace 1428 - 1436)
Arthur
III de Bretagne sitting with unsheathed sword and shield From: Armorial
de Gilles le Bouvier [12]
The three Orders on the Tree of the battles of
Honorat Bovet (detail) In the middle of the miniature King Charles VII between the dauphin
Louis and of the constable Arthur de Richemont. Paris, BnF, Bibliothèque de l'Arsenal, ms. 2695 fo 6vo, 15th
cent... The
Constable in full armour, the sword of his office upright. |
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Jeanne d’Arc |
1428-†1431 |
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|
Leader of the french army
Posthumous portrait of Joan of Arc 2nd half 15th
cent. Centre Historique des
Archives Nationales, Paris, AE II 2490
[13]
Coat of arms of Jeanne d´Arc Arms: Azure, a
sword upright piercing a crown, between two fleurs de lys Or. |
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John Talbot 1st earl of
Shrewsbury |
1445- |
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Henry VI of England presenting the Constable ´s sword to
John Talbot, connétable de France, 1445 Henry VI of England, who claimed the throne of France, appointed John
Talbot, 1st Earl of Shrewsbury a Constable of France in 1445. |
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2 October 1369: Charles V presents his sword of the
Constable to Bertrand Duguesclin Scene from Grandes Chroniques de France Illustration by Jean
Fouquet, about 1455-1460 © Bibliothèque nationale de
France On this picture which was painted after the end of the 100-years war (1337-1453)
the sword and scabbard is of the model as at the coronation of Charles V in
1365 and therefore can be called the sword of Charles (V, the Wise/le Sage). In 1455-’60 there was no connétable
at all and therefore the picture can be qualified as propaganda. |
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Louis de Luxembourg |
*1418-†1475 |
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Comte
de Saint-Pôl, de Ligny et de Consersan, Châtelain de Lille, Seigneur
d'Enghien, d'Oisy, de Ham, de Bohain, de Beauvoir, de Condé-en-Brie et de
Bourbourg 38 Connétable de France (1465)
Arms of Louis de Luxembourg Comte de St. Pol
King Louis XI (1461-’83) Surrounded by his pairs. On the right Louis of
Luxemburg bearing the sword- and-scabbard of a constable of France By Etienne Colaud (†1541) At the battle of Montlhéry, Louis commanded the van of Charles the
Bold's army, yet later was made constable of France by Louis XI. The Treaty of
Conflans ended the war, while Saint-Pol received the hand of the King's
sister-in-law, Maria of Savoy. After this, he was persistently disloyal to the King, conspiring with
Charles, Count of Charolais, and with Edward IV of England, his nephew by
marriage. The final treason came in 1474 when Saint-Pol approached Charles
the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, who had already entered into a compact with
Edward IV of England to dismember France in a renewal of the Hundred Years'
War. The scheme envisaged the murder of Louis and the sub-division of France
between Saint-Pol, the Dukes of Burgundy, Brittany, Bourbon and Nemours, the
Count of Maine and King Edward. Saint-Pol then proceeded to draw other
magnates into the conspiracy. |
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Interim |
1475-1483 |
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Sword of the constable and its scabbard. France,
about 1480. Paris, musée de l'Armée [14] Date: 1475-1500 Author: Unknown Materials: Iron, brass, wood, textile and leather Technics: Engraving and gilding Crated in: France Measures: Width 24 cm Î Length 112 cm Weight: 1400 g Inv, n°: Musée de
l’Armée, Paris J 26 History: From the collection of the princes of Condé in Chantilly
castle
The pommel, cross guard and rain-guard strewn with golden
fleurs de lis, the blade decorated with a roundel strewn with fleurs de lis. Compare the cross-guard with the cross-guard of the
sword of Arthur III de Bretagne supra The decoration of
the blade however shows the emblem of Charles V before 1376, the year that
the number of fleurs de lis was reduced to three. Therefore, the blade may be
the blade of the sword of Charles V used at his coronation and transmitted to
the seneschal and used at the
subsequent royal coronations until Louis XII. |
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Jean II le Bon de Bourbon |
1426-1488 |
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Duc
de Bourbonnais (dit de Bourbon) et Pair de France, Duc d'Auvergne et Pair de
France, Comte de Clermont-en-Beauvaisis et Pair de France, Comte de Forez et Pair
de France, Baron de Roannais et Pair de France, Comte de l'Ile-Jourdain et de
Villars, Baron de Beaujeu et Pair de France, Seigneur de Roussillon et Prince
de Dombes 39 Connétable de France (1483-†1488)
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Louis XII |
*1462-†1515 King of France
1498-1515 King of Sicily-Naples 1501-1504 |
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Was the
commander in chief or supreme commander after the death of John II of
Bourbon.
Louis XII (r. 1498-1515) of France Kneeling in Prayer
(detail) By
Jean Bourdichon (1457-1521). France, 1498/9. Blue scabbard strewn with fleurs de lis. The
pommel of the arms of France. Here the sword preserved in the Musée de
l’Armée may be represented. |
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1506-1509 Livro do Armeiro-Mor
(Livre du Grand Armurier) Bertran 5v At the beginning of the sixteenth century
(during the reign of Louis XII) it
apparaently was taken for granted that the badge of office of a (french)
constable was a sword with a blue scabbard
strewn with fleurs de lis. On this picture of the legendary Bertand
DuGueslin a coat of arms of an unknown knight is wrongly ascribed to him of a
lion below a chief of France. |
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Charles III de Bourbon |
1490-1527 |
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Comte
de Montpensier et Dauphin d'Auvergne, Duc de Bourbonnais (dit de Bourbon) et
d'Auvergne et Pair de France, Duc de Châtellerault
et Pair de France, Comte de Clermont-en-Beauvaisis et Pair de France, Comte
de la Marche et Pair de France, Comte de Forez et Pair de France, Baron de
Beaujolais (dit de Beaujeu) et Pair de France, Comte de Gien, Vicomte de
Carlat et de Murat, de Mercoeur, d'Annonay, de la Roche-en-Régnier et de
Bourbon-Lancy, Prince de Dombes 40 Connétable de France (1515)
Le connétable de Charles III de Bourbon (1490-1527) portant son épée flamboyante lors des festivités de l’entrée royale de Lyon en 1515 |
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Anne de Montmorency |
1492-1567 |
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Duc
de Montmorency et de Damville, puis Duc de Montmorency et Pair de France, Comte
de Beaumont-sur-Oise et de Dammartin, Vicomte de Melun...Premier Baron de
France. Grand Maître de France, Maréchal de
France. 41 Connétable de France (1538)
1538 Anne de Montmorency with constable’s sword The blade engraved with fleurs de lis.
Sword of Anne de Montmorency
Sword and scabbard of the Connétable 1549 and motto of Anne de
Montmorency: ΑΠΛΑΝΟΣ (without deviating) From: Les heures du
Connétable Anne de Montmorency In the time
of Anne de Montmorency a badge of office occurs for the first time. It is an
armed hand swinging an unsheathed sword,
repeated two times on both side of his coat of arms |
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Arms of Anne de Montmorency From: Les heures du
Connétable Anne de Montmorency |
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Arms of Constable Anne de Montmorency Relief with the coat of Arms
of Constable Anne de Montmorency after 1551 stone relief 162 Î 152 cm Acc. No. : 1945-25-146 Credit Line : Purchased with
Museum funds from the George Grey Barnard Collection, 1945 Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Museum of Art.[15] The idea of the arm with the unsheathed sword was developed in Croatia and later in
Hungary, mainly as a crest. It was the badge of office of the warriors at the
border fighting against the Ottomans (after Bayezid the Thunderbolt (1389-1402)). The
oldest occurence is on the coat of arms of Hrvoja Vukčić (~1350 – 1416) ban of Croatia, Grand Duke of Bosnia and Duke of Split.
Arms of Hrvoja Vukcic from Missale Glagoliticum
Hervoiæ Ducis Spalatensis, ~1410 Somewhat later the arm with the sword became the
arms of the hungarian part of Bosna.
Hungarian shield of the arms of Bosnia (16th cent.) Musée National du Moyen Age
Inv. CL 2386 The arm issuing from a cloud. |
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Henri Ier de Montmorency |
1534-1614 |
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Seigneur
de Damville, puis Duc de Montmorency et Pair de France, Comte de Dammartin et
d'Alais, Baron de Châteaubriant, Seigneur de Chantilly et d'Ecouen. 42 Maréchal de France et
Connétable de France (1593)
His
scabbard decorated with fleurs de lis
His arms on the pommel of his sword.
Arms of Montmorency in Montmorency |
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Charles d'Albert |
*1578-†1621 |
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Seigneur, puis Duc de Luynes et Pair de
France, Marquis d'Albert Grand Fauconnier de France.
43 Connétable de France (1621) Arms: ¼: 1 &4: Or, a lion rampant Gules, crowned
and unguled Azure; 2&3: Azure two lions rampant respecting Argent; And in
nombril point Per fess, the chief Argent the Oriflamme Gules, the base Gules
a a chancelors’mace per pale Or.
Connétable et chancelier de France (1621)
|
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Louis
XIII |
1610-1643 |
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François de Bonne |
1543-1626 |
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Seigneur de Lesdiguières et du Glaizilpuis Duc de Lesdiguières et
Pair de France Maréchal de France 44 Connétable de France (1622)
Arms of François de Bonne Duc de Lesdiguières Pair et
Connestable de France After Daniel Dumonstier,
1638 [16] Arms: Gules, a lion
rampant Or and a chief Azure, three roses Argent buttoned Or Crown: A crown of a pair
de France Orders: The collar of Of
saint Michel and Saint Esprit Badge of Office: Two hand issuing
from clouds on both sides, keeping swords upright:
1750 ca A
variant probably mistaken Arms: Azure, a lion Or, and a chief Gules, three
roses Argent buttoned Or. (!!) Crown and badges of office: As before L.: François
Bonne de Lesdiquieres Connetable, Cette Charge fut supprimée Par Lettres de
Louis XIII en Janvier 1627. |
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The office of constable was
abolished in January 1627. |
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The “Sword of Charlemagne” as we know now must have been manufactured
in the 17th century sometime before it was mentioned in the inventory of the
Treasure of St. Denis of 1634 (N° 111).[17] It was then that a pommel of the model of the sword of the seneschal
or connétable of Emperor Otto III in 1002, was added and, perhaps the present
cross guard was mounted at the same time. The “Sword of Charlemagne” is therefore likely a creation of Cardinal Richelieu (in office 1624-†1642). It is not known where this pommel and cross guard came from. |
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Louis XIV |
1643-1715 |
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source BNF Gallica Representation of the Sword of Charlemagne, by Louis Boudan 1670-1715 Specifications lieu de
conservation: Paris BNF (Département des Estampes et de la
photographie) cote ou
no d'inventaire: RESERVE OA-9-FOL folio 14 no
d'inventaire d'henri bouchot: 36 numéro de l'item (1711) incluant l'image 1319 titre de
l'item: (1711) incluant l'image Un
portefeuille fo, parchemin marbré, dos doré, de modes dessinées tant sur
velin que sur papier, pris sur les tombeaux et anciens monumens, commençant à
Clovis et finissant par Michel Papelart et sa femme titre et
légende: Espee et porte espee tirès sur celle qui est au thresor de l'abbaie
de sainct Denis en France qui servoit au roy Charlemagne mort en 814. titre
dans l'inventaire détaillé: Son epée [Charlemagne] auteur: Boudan, Louis (16..-17..) date de
production: 1670–1715. In 1701 the sword as we know now
is on the side of King Louis XIV.
Sword of Louis
XIV (1638-1715) 1701 King
of France from 1643, aged 63, in great royal dress Workshop
of Hyacinthe Rigaud (1659-1743). Oil on canvas,
276 Î 194 cm. Château
de Versailles MV 2041 |
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In the Treasury of St. Denis there were at least
four medieval swords, summed up in the inventory of 1534-1634: the sword of
archbishop Turpin (First archbishop of France, 8th cent), the sword of St
Louis or St Leonard, the sword of Charles VII or of Jeanne d’Arc and the most
famous “Joyeuse” the legendary sword of Charlemagne destined for the Museum
in 1793. |
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Sword of Charlemagne by Félibien, 1706 |
Sword of Saint Louis by by Félibien, 1706 |
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The explication by Félibien reads: R. Épée de Charlemagne dont
la garde, la poignée & le pommeau sont d’or, aussibien que les éperons le
haut du foureau de l’épée est d’or & enrichi de pierres. M. Épée que le même Saint (le Roy S. Louis) rapporta de son premier
voyage de la terre sainte.[18] |
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Louis XV |
1715-1774 |
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Sword of Louis
XV, on his portrait at an older age By
Louis Michel van Loo (†1771). Oil on canvas, 227 × 184 cm. Palace of Versailles The pommel of an unknown
royal cypher or misunderstood by the artist. |
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Louis XVI |
*1754-†1792 1774-1792 |
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Sword on the portrait of
Louis XVI in official dress, 1789 By
Antoine François Callet Oil
on canvas, 278 ´ 196 cm. Palace of Versailles On 5 December 1793 the Royal sword was given to the Musée du Louvre |
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First Empire and Restauration |
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Sword
of Napoleon Bonaparte On his official portrait by
J.-A.-D. Ingres (1780-1867) |
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Louis Napoleon Bonaparte |
*1778-†1846 |
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Connétable, 1807 Allegedly, the
Bourbon family, through the Comte d'Artois, offered Napoleon Bonaparte, as
First Consul, the title of Constable of France if he would restore the Bourbons
as kings of France. In 1808, Napoleon also appointed the Grand Dignitaries of
the French Empire (grand Dignitaires de l'Empire Français). In doing
this he appointed as Constable his younger brother Louis Bonaparte, King of
Holland, and as Vice-Constable, Marshal of the Empire Louis Alexandre
Berthier, the French Army Chief of staff and Prince of Neuchatel. Both titles were strictly
honorific.
Coat of arms
of Louis Napoleon Coll. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam Decreet N° 25 dd. 20 mei 1807
LODEWIJK NAPOLEON, door de Gratie Gods en de Constitutie
des Koningrijks, Koning van Holland. Nous avons decrété et decretons Art. 1. La Confection des armes Royales
est ainsi qu'il suit. Les armes Royales, en
conformité de l'article 9 du traité de Paris de 24 Mai 1806, et de la Loi du
7 Aout dernier, sont les anciennes armes de l'Etat, ecartelées de l'aigle
Impérial de France. l'Ecu sera surmonté du casque, couronné de la couronne Royale et
entourré du collier de l'Ordre Royal de la Hollande, portant sur la Ruban
bleu céleste la Légende Eendracht maakt magt, avec un faisceau de
flêches placé verticalement entre chaque syllabe de la dite Légende, en tout
au nombre de trois, ainsi que de celui de la Legion d'honneur. De chaque côté de l'ecu sera
placé une Epée, la pointe haute, soutenue par un dextrochère armé de
gantelet, & mouvant d'un nuage. La sceptre Royal et le Baton de Justice
seront placées en sautoir dernière l'écu et le tout enveloppé du manteau
Royal. Louis |
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Louis Alexandre Berthier |
1753-1815 maréchal et grand veneur 1804 prince de Neuchâtel 1806 vice-connétable de l'Empire en
1807 prince de Wagram 1809 |
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Vice-connétable
1807
Foto H.d.V. Arms of Louis Alexandre
Berthier Marechal et Vice-Connétable de France, Duc
de Neuchâtel. Arms: Or, an
arm in armour Azure keeping a sword upright, bearing a shield Sable inscribed W surrounded by the motto COMMILITONI
VICTOR CÆSAR Or, and a chief Azure strewn with bees also Or. |
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Louis XVIII |
*1755-†1824 1814-1815 |
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Funerary crowns and Sword of Charlemagne of Louis
XVIII |
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Charles X |
*1757-†1836 1824-1830 |
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The sword and scabbard of 1825 Musée du Louvre
Sword and Sceptre at the coronation of Charles X,
1825 By François Gérard. Musée des Beaux Arts de Chartres The sword
“of Charlemagne.” held by Bon Adrien Jeannot de Moncey (*1754-†1842),
Maréchal de France (1816). The sword
was not used by Louis Philippe and Napoleon III. Les
Armoiries des Connestables, Grands Maistres, Chanceliers, Admiraux,
Mareschaux de France & Prevosts de Paris, depuis leur premier
establissement jusques au tres-chrestien Roy de France & de Navarre Louis
XIII. Avec leurs noms, surnoms, tiltres, faicts & vies. Féron, Jean Le (1504-1570?);
Morel, Claude (1574-1626) Edité
par Chez Charles fils de Claude Morel, Imprimeur ordinaire du Roy.,
Paris, 1628 https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b8626760n/f34.double |
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© Hubert de Vries
Heraldry of the World