Source: jothelibrarianPretty medieval manuscript of the day is one final depiction of St Francis receiving the stigmata, this time from a late fifteenth century book of hours from France.
Image source: British Library MS Harley 5328. Image declared as public domain on the British Library website.
Source: frenchhistoryChâteau de Brissac
The Château de Brissac is a noble mansion in the commune of Brissac-Quincé, in the département of Maine-et-Loire, France. It was originally built as a castle by the Counts of Anjou in the 11th century. After the victory over the English by Philip II of France, he gave the property to Guillaume des Roches. (the castle got the name Brissac from one of its owners The Duke of Brissac)
In the 15th century, the structure was rebuilt by Pierre de Brézé, a wealthy chief minister to King Charles VII. During the reign (1515–47) of Francis I, the property was acquired by René de Cossé, who the king named as governor of Anjou and Maine.
During the French Wars of Religion, Château Brissac was made a possession in 1589 by the Protestant, Henry of Navarre. Severely damaged, the fortress was scheduled to be demolished. However, Charles II de Cossé sided with Henri of Navarre who soon was crowned King of France. In gratitude, King Henri gave him the property, the title Duc de Brissac and the money to rebuild the chateau in 1611. Its construction made it the highest château in France, its façade reflecting the influences of that century’s Baroque architecture. Through marriage, the Cossé-Brissac family also acquired the Château Montreuil-Bellay but later sold it.
In August 1620, Louis XIII and his mother, Marie de Medici, met to discuss their differences in the “neutral” territory of Château Brissac. A temporary truce between the two was reached but it did not last long and the Queen Mother was eventually banished.
The descendants of the Duc de Brissac maintained the château until 1792 when the property was ransacked during the Revolution. It lay in waste until a restoration program began in 1844 that was carried on during the 19th century by the Duke’s descendants.
Today, the Château Brissac is still owned by a de Cossé family member.
Source: frenchhistoryEntrée du roi Henri II à Rouen le premier octobre 1550
In 1550, to celebrate the entrance of the King in Rouen, the municipal authorities organised an exotic ceremony, a reconstitution of a Brasilian village. Most people were “disguised” but fifty Natives were actually present, brought to France by a trader from Rouen.
Source: frenchhistoryL’Horloge de la “Tour de l’Horloge” du “Quai de l’Horloge”The first public clock of Paris was intalled during Charles V’s reign. In 1585, Henri III had it restored and transformed, adding delicate decorations. The sculptures were made by Germain Pilon. The Henri III clock is the one that still can be seen nowadays.
Source: bookmaniaThe private bibliothéque of the Château de Groussay, Montfort-l’Amaury, France. The Château was built in 1815 by the duchesse de Charest, a daughter of Louise Elisabeth de Croÿ-Havré, marquise de Tourzel, the governess of the royal enfants de France of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette.
Source: a-l-ancien-regimeClassic french wallpapers with flowers manufactured around 1770 by Réveillon company (found in french database Joconde)
