[Gutenberg 45336] • Paris and Its Story

THE History of Paris, says Michelet, is the history of the French monarchy. The aim of the writer in the following pages has been to narrate the story of the capital city of France on the lines thus indicated, dwelling, however, in the earlier chapters rather more on its legendary aspect than perhaps an austere historical conscience would approve. But it is precisely a familiarity with these romantic stories, which at least are true in impression if not in fact, that the sojourner in Paris will find most useful, translated as they are in sculpture and in painting on the decoration of her architecture both modern and ancient, and implicit in the nomenclature of her ways. Within the limits of time and space allotted for the work no more than an imperfect outline of a vast subject has been possible. The writer has essayed to compose a story of, not a guide to, Paris. Those who desire the latter may be referred to the excellent manuals of Murray, Bædeker and of Grant Allen—the last named being an admirable companion for the artistically-minded traveller. In controversial matter, such, for instance, as the position of the ancient Grand Pont, the writer has adopted the opinions of the most recent authorities.

The story of Paris presents a marked contrast with that of an Italian city-state whose rise, culmination and fall may be roundly traced. Paris is yet in the stage of lusty growth. Time after time, like a young giantess, she has burst her cincture of walls, cast off her outworn garments and renewed her armour and vesture. Hers are no grass-grown squares and deserted streets; no ruined splendours telling of pride abased and glory departed; no sad memories of waning cities once the mistresses of sea and land; none of the tears evoked by a great historic tragedy; none of the solemn pathos of decay and death. Paris has more than once tasted the bitterness of humiliation; Norseman, and Briton, Russian and German have bruised her fair body; the dire distress of civic strife has exhausted her strength, but she has always emerged from her trials with marvellous recuperation, more flourishing than before.

CONTENTS

Gallo-Roman Paris

The Barbarian Invasions — St. Genevieve — The Conversion of Clovis — The Merovingian Dynasty

The Carlovingians — The Great Siege of Paris by the Normans — The Germs of Feudalism

The Rise of the Capetian Kings and the Growth of Paris

Paris under Philip Augustus and St. Louis

Art and Learning at Paris

The Parlement — The States-General — Conflict with Boniface VIII. — The Destruction of the Knights-Templars

Etienne Marcel — The English Invasions — The Maillotins — Murder of the Duke of Orleans — Armagnacs and Burgundians

Jeanne d’Arc — Paris under the English — End of the English Occupation

Louis XI. at Paris — The Introduction of Printing

Francis I. — The Renaissance at Paris

Rise of the Guises — Huguenot and Catholic — The Massacre of St. Bartholomew

Henry III. — The League — Siege of Paris by Henry IV. — His Conversion, Reign, and Assassination

Paris under Richelieu and Mazarin

The Grand Monarque — Versailles and Paris

Paris under the Regency and Louis XV. — The Brooding Storm

Louis XVI. — The Great Revolution — Fall of the Monarchy

Execution of the King — Paris under the First Republic — The Terror — Napoleon — Revolutionary and Modern Paris

Historical Paris — The Cité — The University Quarter — The Ville — The Louvre — The Place de la Concorde — The Boulevards

The Comédie Française — The Opera — Some Famous Cafés — Conclusion

LIST OF C