Twenty Centuries of ParisSmith, Mabell S. C. (Mabell Shippie Clarke)
History
Twenty Centuries of Paris
Smith, Mabell S. C. (Mabell Shippie Clarke)
Paris (France) -- History
Wars and persecutions show large in any period but every day living and
the minor happenings of social and civic growth weave the fabric on
which occasional events stand out like figures on a patterned cloth. The
shuttle of time flashed back and forth through Philip’s reign carrying
the brilliant woof of exploits that resulted in increasing concentration
of power, of wealth and of prestige in the monarch, and threading it
through the dull warp of the increasing poverty of the lower classes and
the lessening vigor of the nobles.
The persecution of the Templars was not the only persecution of the
time. The narrow-mindedness that was increasingly to begrudge freedom of
thought was beginning its death-dealing work. Here and there throughout
France heretics were put to trial every now and then. The king defiled
the day of Pentecost in 1310 by causing to be burned on the Grève a Jew
who had been converted but who had denied his new faith, a priest who
had been convicted of heresy, and a woman who had distributed heretical
tracts.
Perhaps Philip thought by such deeds to win pardon for the financial
exactions with which he tormented his people. He was constantly devising
new taxes. One of the chief duties of the uniformed militia which he
founded--dependent upon and consequently faithful to the crown--was the
collection of his unjust levies. As he lay dying at Fontainebleau he
said to his children gathered at his bedside, “I have put on so many
talliages and laid hands on so much riches that I shall never be
absolved.”
Paris did not increase much in extent or in population during Philip’s
reign. Its beauty lay in the harmony that was building every new
construction like its fellows, ogival (Gothic), with pointed windows and
doors and high-pitched roofs--a style superb in large edifices but
giving a pinched appearance to domestic architecture.
The Louvre served its grim purpose untouched through this period. Its
commander was raised to the rank of captain and was honored by being
forced to stand in no one’s presence but the king’s and to receive
orders only from his royal master.
The little church of Saint Julien still served as the chapel of the
University, and Philip decreed that the Provost of Paris, the king’s
representative in the city, should go there every two years and in the
presence of faculty and students should solemnly swear that he would
protect the rights of both professors and students and that he would
respect them himself. This meant the confirmation of Philip Augustus’s
regulations which made the dwellers in the University section answerable
only to the rector of the University. The schools of the left bank were
increased by the addition of the College of Navarre, founded by the
queen, Jeanne of Navarre, in gratitude for Philip’s victory at
Mons-en-Puelle.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account