Porte Saint-Antoine
Encyclopedia
The porte Saint-Antoine was one of the gates of Paris
. There were two gates named the porte Saint-Antoine, both now demolished, of which the best known was that guarded by the Bastille
, on the site now occupied by the start of rue de la Bastille in the 3rd arrondissement of Paris
.
and Melun
. This road began in Paris with what is now rue du Pourtour-Saint-Gervais, as far as porte Baudoyer, the gate into the 5th century enclosure level with rue des Barres and place Baudoyer. Beyond the city walls, it was known as the (including today's rue François-Miron, and rue des Barres as far as rue de Fourcy), since it served the abbaye Saint-Antoine-des-Champs (on the site of today's hôpital Saint-Antoine, in the 12th arrondissement), founded right at the start of the 13th century.
When Philip II of France
built the wall which bears his name
, a new gate was built 450 metres beyond the former one, level with 101 rue Saint-Antoine, just to the east of rue Saint-Antoine's crossroads with rue de Sévigné, in front of what is now the église Saint-Paul-Saint-Louis. This first gate was sometimes known as the "porte Baudoyer" and was demolished in 1382.
ordered the building of a new wall to replace Philip II's
on the right bank. This new wall had only six gates to allow access into Paris to be controlled - one of these six was the porte Saint-Antoine, built quickly with two towers. Following Étienne Marcel
's revolt (Marcel and 54 of his companions, meanwhile, were killed at the porte Saint-Antoine while trying to get into Paris by night), the king had fled his residence at the palais de la Cité for his hôtels in the Marais. The king thus demanded the construction of a chastel to protect his residence and the porte Saint-Antoine - completed in 1382, this chastel became the Bastille. During Charles VI of France
's reign, the inhabitants of Paris got through the porte Saint-Antoine three times to attack the hôtel Saint-Pol
and during the Armagnac–Burgundian Civil War 1,500 Armagnacs got through it on 1 June 1418 before being repulsed by the Burgundians.
entered Paris through the porte Saint-Antoine beside Francis I of France
- the Bastille fired an 800-shot salute, the houses nearby were decorated with tapesteries and banners and the court, clergy and middle class came out to welcome them. Henry II of France
built a single-arch triumphal arch
at porte Saint-Antoine, with sculptures on it by Jean Goujon
representing two rivers. He also took part in a tournament by the gate, near hôtel des Tournelles
, on 30 June 1559 at which he was mortally wounded. In 1588 Henry I, Duke of Guise
forced the disarmed Swiss Guards to leave via the porte Saint-Antoine and it was also at that gate that the troops of the Catholic League
put up their last resistance to Henry IV of France
.
In 1610 Louis XIII of France
made a ceremonial entry through the gate after his coronation in Reims
. In 1648 one of the most important barricades in the popular revolt against Broussel
's recall by Mazarin was sited at the porte Saint-Antoine. Four years later, on 2 July 1652, thanks to cannon shots fired from the Bastille on the orders of the Grande Mademoiselle, it was through this gate that the Condé was able to escape the royal troops under Henri de la Tour d'Auvergne
who were pursuing him. In 1670 Nicolas-François Blondel added two arcades to the monument, which he dedicated to Louis XIV of France
, in remembrance of Louis's entry through this gate on his marriage in 1660. For the ceremony, Gérard Van Opstal
created three sculptures personifying France, Spain and Hymen
, to be placed in niches executed by Michel Anguier. It was demolished in 1778, no longer any use as a fortification and as a blockage to road traffic.
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. There were two gates named the porte Saint-Antoine, both now demolished, of which the best known was that guarded by the Bastille
Bastille
The Bastille was a fortress in Paris, known formally as the Bastille Saint-Antoine. It played an important role in the internal conflicts of France and for most of its history was used as a state prison by the kings of France. The Bastille was built in response to the English threat to the city of...
, on the site now occupied by the start of rue de la Bastille in the 3rd arrondissement of Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
.
The Faubourg
One of the oldest routes through Paris, dating to the Roman era, was that through the centre of the city heading for MeauxMeaux
Meaux is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region in the metropolitan area of Paris, France. It is located east-northeast from the center of Paris. Meaux is a sub-prefecture of the department and the seat of an arondissement...
and Melun
Melun
Melun is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France. Located in the south-eastern suburbs of Paris, Melun is the capital of the department, as the seat of an arrondissement...
. This road began in Paris with what is now rue du Pourtour-Saint-Gervais, as far as porte Baudoyer, the gate into the 5th century enclosure level with rue des Barres and place Baudoyer. Beyond the city walls, it was known as the (including today's rue François-Miron, and rue des Barres as far as rue de Fourcy), since it served the abbaye Saint-Antoine-des-Champs (on the site of today's hôpital Saint-Antoine, in the 12th arrondissement), founded right at the start of the 13th century.
When Philip II of France
Philip II of France
Philip II Augustus was the King of France from 1180 until his death. A member of the House of Capet, Philip Augustus was born at Gonesse in the Val-d'Oise, the son of Louis VII and his third wife, Adela of Champagne...
built the wall which bears his name
Wall of Philip II Augustus, Paris
The Wall of Philip Augustus is the oldest city wall of Paris whose plan is accurately known. Partially integrated into buildings, more traces of it remain than of the later fortifications which were destroyed and replaced by the Grands Boulevards....
, a new gate was built 450 metres beyond the former one, level with 101 rue Saint-Antoine, just to the east of rue Saint-Antoine's crossroads with rue de Sévigné, in front of what is now the église Saint-Paul-Saint-Louis. This first gate was sometimes known as the "porte Baudoyer" and was demolished in 1382.
1356-1499
In 1356 Charles V of FranceCharles V of France
Charles V , called the Wise, was King of France from 1364 to his death in 1380 and a member of the House of Valois...
ordered the building of a new wall to replace Philip II's
Wall of Charles V, Paris
The wall of Charles V, built from 1356 to 1383 is one of the city walls of Paris. It was built on the right bank of the river Seine, outside the wall of Philippe Auguste and replaced it. In the 1640s, the western part of the wall of Charles V was demolished and replaced by the larger Louis XIII...
on the right bank. This new wall had only six gates to allow access into Paris to be controlled - one of these six was the porte Saint-Antoine, built quickly with two towers. Following Étienne Marcel
Étienne Marcel
Etienne Marcel was provost of the merchants of Paris under King John II, called John the Good .Etienne Marcel was born into the wealthy Parisian bourgeoisie, being the son of the clothier Simon Marcel and his wife Isabelle Barbou...
's revolt (Marcel and 54 of his companions, meanwhile, were killed at the porte Saint-Antoine while trying to get into Paris by night), the king had fled his residence at the palais de la Cité for his hôtels in the Marais. The king thus demanded the construction of a chastel to protect his residence and the porte Saint-Antoine - completed in 1382, this chastel became the Bastille. During Charles VI of France
Charles VI of France
Charles VI , called the Beloved and the Mad , was the King of France from 1380 to 1422, as a member of the House of Valois. His bouts with madness, which seem to have begun in 1392, led to quarrels among the French royal family, which were exploited by the neighbouring powers of England and Burgundy...
's reign, the inhabitants of Paris got through the porte Saint-Antoine three times to attack the hôtel Saint-Pol
Hôtel Saint-Pol
The hôtel Saint-Pol was a royal residence begun in 1361 by Charles V of France on the ruins of a building constructed by Louis IX. It was used by Charles V and Charles VI.- Description :...
and during the Armagnac–Burgundian Civil War 1,500 Armagnacs got through it on 1 June 1418 before being repulsed by the Burgundians.
1500-1778
On 1 June 1540 Charles V, Holy Roman EmperorCharles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V was ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 and, as Charles I, of the Spanish Empire from 1516 until his voluntary retirement and abdication in favor of his younger brother Ferdinand I and his son Philip II in 1556.As...
entered Paris through the porte Saint-Antoine beside Francis I of France
Francis I of France
Francis I was King of France from 1515 until his death. During his reign, huge cultural changes took place in France and he has been called France's original Renaissance monarch...
- the Bastille fired an 800-shot salute, the houses nearby were decorated with tapesteries and banners and the court, clergy and middle class came out to welcome them. Henry II of France
Henry II of France
Henry II was King of France from 31 March 1547 until his death in 1559.-Early years:Henry was born in the royal Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye, near Paris, the son of Francis I and Claude, Duchess of Brittany .His father was captured at the Battle of Pavia in 1525 by his sworn enemy,...
built a single-arch triumphal arch
Triumphal arch
A triumphal arch is a monumental structure in the shape of an archway with one or more arched passageways, often designed to span a road. In its simplest form a triumphal arch consists of two massive piers connected by an arch, crowned with a flat entablature or attic on which a statue might be...
at porte Saint-Antoine, with sculptures on it by Jean Goujon
Jean Goujon
Jean Goujon was a French Renaissance sculptor and architect.-Biography:His early life is little known; he was likely born in Normandy and may have traveled in Italy...
representing two rivers. He also took part in a tournament by the gate, near hôtel des Tournelles
Hôtel des Tournelles
The hôtel des Tournelles was a now-demolished collection of buildings in Paris built from the 14th century onwards, to the north of the site of what is now place des Vosges. It is named after its many 'tournelles' or little towers....
, on 30 June 1559 at which he was mortally wounded. In 1588 Henry I, Duke of Guise
Henry I, Duke of Guise
Henry I, Prince of Joinville, Duke of Guise, Count of Eu , sometimes called Le Balafré, "the scarred", was the eldest son of Francis, Duke of Guise, and Anna d'Este...
forced the disarmed Swiss Guards to leave via the porte Saint-Antoine and it was also at that gate that the troops of the Catholic League
Catholic League (French)
The Catholic League of France, sometimes referred to by contemporary Roman Catholics as the Holy League, a major player in the French Wars of Religion, was formed by Duke Henry of Guise in 1576...
put up their last resistance to Henry IV of France
Henry IV of France
Henry IV , Henri-Quatre, was King of France from 1589 to 1610 and King of Navarre from 1572 to 1610. He was the first monarch of the Bourbon branch of the Capetian dynasty in France....
.
In 1610 Louis XIII of France
Louis XIII of France
Louis XIII was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and of Navarre from 1610 to 1643.Louis was only eight years old when he succeeded his father. His mother, Marie de Medici, acted as regent during Louis' minority...
made a ceremonial entry through the gate after his coronation in Reims
Reims
Reims , a city in the Champagne-Ardenne region of France, lies east-northeast of Paris. Founded by the Gauls, it became a major city during the period of the Roman Empire....
. In 1648 one of the most important barricades in the popular revolt against Broussel
Pierre Broussel
Pierre Broussel was a councillor in the Parlement of Paris under Louis XIII and Louis XIV, and was eventually its president. He was a popular politician, in part due to his opposition to tax plans proposed by Cardinal Mazarin and his support for other legal reforms...
's recall by Mazarin was sited at the porte Saint-Antoine. Four years later, on 2 July 1652, thanks to cannon shots fired from the Bastille on the orders of the Grande Mademoiselle, it was through this gate that the Condé was able to escape the royal troops under Henri de la Tour d'Auvergne
Henri de la Tour d'Auvergne, Vicomte de Turenne
Henri de la Tour d'Auvergne, Vicomte de Turenne,often called simply Turenne was the most illustrious member of the La Tour d'Auvergne family. He achieved military fame and became a Marshal of France...
who were pursuing him. In 1670 Nicolas-François Blondel added two arcades to the monument, which he dedicated to Louis XIV of France
Louis XIV of France
Louis XIV , known as Louis the Great or the Sun King , was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and Navarre. His reign, from 1643 to his death in 1715, began at the age of four and lasted seventy-two years, three months, and eighteen days...
, in remembrance of Louis's entry through this gate on his marriage in 1660. For the ceremony, Gérard Van Opstal
Gérard Van Opstal
Gérard Van Opstal was a sculptor from the Spanish Netherlands. A brilliant representative of the Brussels School of sculpture, he moved to Paris and became one of the founders of France's Académie royale de peinture et de sculpture. The Louvre holds very delicate ivory sculptures by him of putti...
created three sculptures personifying France, Spain and Hymen
Hymen
The hymen is a membrane that surrounds or partially covers the external vaginal opening. It forms part of the vulva, or external genitalia. The size of the hymenal opening increases with age. Although an often practiced method, it is not possible to confirm with certainty that a girl or woman is a...
, to be placed in niches executed by Michel Anguier. It was demolished in 1778, no longer any use as a fortification and as a blockage to road traffic.
Sources
- http://www.cosmovisions.com/monuParisPorteSaintAntoine.htm