Wall of Charles V, Paris
Encyclopedia
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 wall, with the demolished material reused in the new wall. This new enclosure was totally destroyed in the 1670s and replaced by the Grands Boulevards.
. But after some decades, these fields had been replaced by homes and crops had been pushed outside the city walls. Several suburbs were growing rapidly, particularly in the west. The growing population could no longer be contained in the city. Furthermore, with the Hundred Years War, it became necessary to build a new enclosure to protect the capital of France.
, provost of the merchants
, began to build an earth rampart from 1356 to 1358, a few hundred yards beyond the wall of Philippe Auguste. Only the right side was affected by this expansion. King Charles V
, from 1358, ordered the fortification of it and the addition of a large and deep ditch that would be filled by water from the river Seine.
The new fortification extended westward beyond the Louvre
, which lost its function as a fortress. Charles V transformed the Louvre into a residence, but without changing its dimensions. He established a library there with 973 books.
On the east, the new home of the King, the Hotel Saint-Pol
, was poorly protected. Charles V decided to build the Chastel Saint-Antoine, that Parisians called the Bastide Saint-Antoine, then la Bastille
(Bastide or Bastille is an old French word for castle). In 1370, the provost Hugues Aubriot
laid the cornerstone of the building which was completed in 1382.
The city then spread over 440 hectares (1,087.3 acre) with more than 150,000 inhabitants.
The wall, as well as its extension built by Louis XIII
on the west side, was destroyed in 1670, on orders of Louis XIV
after his victories in Holland and Germany.
and the Pont Royal
, the wall went to north to the Rue Saint-Honoré
at the level of the Palais-Royal then to north-east along the Place des Victoires and the Rue d'Aboukir (opened on the location of the ditch) up to the Porte Saint-Denis
. It then followed the Grands Boulevards of today (Boulevard Bonne-Nouvelle, Boulevard Saint-Martin, Boulevard du Temple
, Boulevard des Filles du Calvaire, Boulevard Beaumarchais) and then returned to the Seine on the east.
The wall on the left bank of the river, built by Philippe-Auguste was not transformed, leaving the new faubourg Saint-Germain
outside the walls.
City walls of Paris
Over time, several city walls of Paris were built :* a gauloise enclosure * a Gallo-Roman wall* two medieval walls including the main one : the wall of Philippe Auguste* the wall of Charles V, extending on the right bank...
. It was built on the right bank of the river Seine
Seine
The Seine is a -long river and an important commercial waterway within the Paris Basin in the north of France. It rises at Saint-Seine near Dijon in northeastern France in the Langres plateau, flowing through Paris and into the English Channel at Le Havre . It is navigable by ocean-going vessels...
, 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 wall, with the demolished material reused in the new wall. This new enclosure was totally destroyed in the 1670s and replaced by the Grands Boulevards.
The wall of Philippe Auguste
The wall of Philippe Auguste, created at the beginning of 13th century enclosed 253 hectares with houses, but also fields planted with vegetables and vines allowing people to resist a possible military siegeSiege
A siege is a military blockade of a city or fortress with the intent of conquering by attrition or assault. The term derives from sedere, Latin for "to sit". Generally speaking, siege warfare is a form of constant, low intensity conflict characterized by one party holding a strong, static...
. But after some decades, these fields had been replaced by homes and crops had been pushed outside the city walls. Several suburbs were growing rapidly, particularly in the west. The growing population could no longer be contained in the city. Furthermore, with the Hundred Years War, it became necessary to build a new enclosure to protect the capital of France.
A rampart of fortified earth
Étienne MarcelÉtienne 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...
, provost of the merchants
Provost (civil)
A provost is the ceremonial head of many Scottish local authorities, and under the name prévôt was a governmental position of varying importance in Ancien Regime France.-History:...
, began to build an earth rampart from 1356 to 1358, a few hundred yards beyond the wall of Philippe Auguste. Only the right side was affected by this expansion. King Charles V
Charles 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...
, from 1358, ordered the fortification of it and the addition of a large and deep ditch that would be filled by water from the river Seine.
The new fortification extended westward beyond the Louvre
Palais du Louvre
The Louvre Palace , on the Right Bank of the Seine in Paris, is a former royal palace situated between the Tuileries Gardens and the church of Saint-Germain l'Auxerrois...
, which lost its function as a fortress. Charles V transformed the Louvre into a residence, but without changing its dimensions. He established a library there with 973 books.
On the east, the new home of the King, the Hotel 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 :...
, was poorly protected. Charles V decided to build the Chastel Saint-Antoine, that Parisians called the Bastide Saint-Antoine, then la 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...
(Bastide or Bastille is an old French word for castle). In 1370, the provost Hugues Aubriot
Hugues Aubriot
Hugues Aubriot was a French administrator and heretic. Aubriot was Provost of Paris under Charles V. He built the Bastille in 1370-1383. He was a capable administrator who built the first sewers in Paris, and strengthened the City's fortifications...
laid the cornerstone of the building which was completed in 1382.
The city then spread over 440 hectares (1,087.3 acre) with more than 150,000 inhabitants.
The wall, as well as its extension built by Louis XIII
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...
on the west side, was destroyed in 1670, on orders of Louis XIV
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...
after his victories in Holland and Germany.
The route
Leaving the Seine between the Pont du CarrouselPont du Carrousel
The Pont du Carrousel is a bridge in Paris, which spans the River Seine between the Quai des Tuileries and the Quai Voltaire.-History:Begun in 1831 in the prolongation of the rue des Saints-Pères on the Left Bank, the original bridge was known under that name until its inauguration, in 1834, when...
and the Pont Royal
Pont Royal
The Pont Royal is a bridge crossing the river Seine in Paris. It is the third oldest bridge in Paris, after the Pont Neuf and the Pont Marie.-Location:...
, the wall went to north to the Rue Saint-Honoré
Rue Saint-Honoré
The rue Saint-Honoré is an ancient street in the 1st arrondissement of Paris, France.It is named after the collegial Saint-Honoré church situated in ancient times within the cloisters of Saint-Honoré....
at the level of the Palais-Royal then to north-east along the Place des Victoires and the Rue d'Aboukir (opened on the location of the ditch) up to the Porte Saint-Denis
Porte Saint-Denis
The Porte Saint-Denis is a Parisian monument located in the 10th arrondissement, at the site of one of the gates of the Wall of Charles V, one of the now-destroyed fortifications of Paris...
. It then followed the Grands Boulevards of today (Boulevard Bonne-Nouvelle, Boulevard Saint-Martin, Boulevard du Temple
Boulevard du Temple
The Boulevard du Temple is a thoroughfare in Paris that separates the 3rd arrondissement from the 11th. It runs from the Place de la République to the Place Pasdeloup, and its name refers to the nearby Knights Templars' Temple where they established their Paris priory.-History:The Boulevard du...
, Boulevard des Filles du Calvaire, Boulevard Beaumarchais) and then returned to the Seine on the east.
The wall on the left bank of the river, built by Philippe-Auguste was not transformed, leaving the new faubourg Saint-Germain
Faubourg Saint-Germain
The Faubourg Saint Germain is an historic district of Paris. The Faubourg has long been known as the favorite home of the French high nobility and hosts many aristocratic Hôtels particuliers...
outside the walls.
The gates
The wall on the right bank included only six gates :- Porte Saint-Honoré (on the Rue Saint-HonoréRue Saint-HonoréThe rue Saint-Honoré is an ancient street in the 1st arrondissement of Paris, France.It is named after the collegial Saint-Honoré church situated in ancient times within the cloisters of Saint-Honoré....
, about 500 meters outside the wall of Philippe Auguste) - Porte Montmartre (on Rue Montmartre, at the junction with the rue d'Aboukir)
- Porte Saint-DenisPorte Saint-DenisThe Porte Saint-Denis is a Parisian monument located in the 10th arrondissement, at the site of one of the gates of the Wall of Charles V, one of the now-destroyed fortifications of Paris...
(in its current location) - Porte Saint-MartinPorte Saint-MartinThe Porte Saint-Martin is a Parisian monument located at the site of one of the gates of the now-destroyed fortifications of Paris. It is located at the crossing of Rue Saint-Martin, Rue du Faubourg Saint-Martin and the grands boulevards Boulevard Saint-Martin and Boulevard Saint-Denis.- History...
(in its current location) - Porte du Temple (in the location of the current Place de la République)
- Porte Saint-AntoinePorte Saint-AntoineThe 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.- The Faubourg...
(the location of the current Place de la BastillePlace de la BastilleThe Place de la Bastille is a square in Paris, where the Bastille prison stood until the 'Storming of the Bastille' and its subsequent physical destruction between 14 July 1789 and 14 July 1790 during the French Revolution; no vestige of it remains....
)