![]() ![]() The long list of Touraine prelates Here is an old Latin writing, the "Sancta et Metropolitana Ecclesia Turonensis" by Jean Maan, dated 1667. The author had access to archival documents, many of which were lost during the Revolution or the burning of the Tours library in 1940. It presents fourteen centuries of the life of the bishops of Tours, beginning with several (very large) pages on Gatien. A second part deals with the history of the councils and synods held in the ecclesiastical province. This massive work (from which these two photos are taken, the second showing the list of bishops of Tours according to Gregory) is available at the Denis Antique Bookstore in Tours (in October 2019 + ![]()
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![]() The non-existence of Gatien now garners wide assent among historians, as shown by this note by Henri Galinié in the book ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() Lidoire, the first bishop of Tours. At left, fresco by ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() Sanctus Lidorius under the dome of the present-day Basilica of Saint Martin in Tours, fresco by ![]() |
![]() ![]() An analysis of the construction of Tours Cathedral in the album ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() The ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Martin honored in Tours Cathedral with three large dedicated bays, numbered 204, 4 and 8. 1) The large bay, #204, dated about 1260 (reading from bottom to top) [drawing by Costigliole, "La cathédrale de Tours", Claude Andrault-Schmitt, Geste Editions 2010] + another ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Martin and Maurice. At left, 15th century tapestry "Saint Martin spouting the blood of Saint Maurice at Agaune" housed in the Treasury of the ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
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![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() "historically correct" illustrations. 1) At the ![]()
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() The invention of militaristic images. Already in the thirteenth century, in the stained glass windows of cathedrals, it is as a horseman that Martin tears his cloak (which is not yet always red). The monk-bishop became a "military hero", for example on this ![]() ![]()
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Throughout this page, we look back at the sharing of the mantle, particularly according to the eras : late medieval and classical times ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() The ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Sharing the mantle is the Martinian stamp. As these few examples, reproductions of ![]()
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![]() ![]() ![]() So here is the famous Fulda miniature, the earliest known illustration of Martin's Charity, in which a young soldier dresses a shivering wretch with half his cloak and sees him again in a dream the next night as his God. Dated about 975, it comes from a sacramentary of Fulda Abbey in Germany [Göttingen Library, link). The mantle is not red and there is no horse. Three variations are known, the two shown above and ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Permanence of the double scene. The two scenes from the Fulda miniatures are found in this monumental (7 m long) 1941 painting by Basque painter Isaak Diez De Ibarrondo, a refugee in France after the Spanish War, in the church of St. Martin d'Oydes in Ariège (link). The double title is inscribed on the border "Martin still a catechumen shares his officer's cloak with a poor man" and "That same evening Martin sees Christ who says "You have clothed me with this cloak". The second scene features two rows of angels, as in the Fulda miniatures. This double scene can be found on these three miniatures : ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Scene 2 of the cloak sharing: the dream of Martin. The poor man's given half-cape reappears in a dream covering God/Christ. Two illustrations from the book ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() The birth of Martin pictured on a fresco in the church of San Martino in Siccomario, Italy [ ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Hungary and Martin. On the left is Szombathely, the birthplace of Martin. In the background the church of Saint Martin. In the foreground a statue of Martin blessing his mother [sculpture by Istvan Rumi Rajki 1938, links : 1 2] and on the right the "well of Saint Martin". + ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Martin's childhood in Pavia. Apparently an only child, Martin grew up in the Italian city of Pavia, probably attending a school. On the left, medallion of ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
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![]() Young Martin forced by his father to enlist in the army. ![]() ![]() ![]()
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316: birth in Pannonia (Hungary).
321 (5 years): childhood in Pavia (Italy) 332 (16 years): enlistment in the army 334 (18 years old): sharing the mantle in Amiens, baptism 356 (40 years old): leaving the army |
360 (44 years): foundation of the monastery of Ligugé
371 (55 years): election to the bishopric of Tours 372 (56 years) : foundation of the monastery of Marmoutier 385 (69 years): journey to Trier, Priscillian affair 397 (81 years old) : death in Candes |
![]() ![]() ![]() At left case coupled with the sharing of the mantle on a ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
(those who actually ruled it, whether Augustus or Caesar, officially recognized or so-called usurpers) | |
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![]() ![]() ![]() On the left, Gaul from 367 to 388 under Gratian and Magnus Maximus, during the episcopate of Martin, and also from 355 to 361 under Julian. In the center stained glass window of the church of St. Martin de ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() On the left, Martin lays down his helmet and arms and leaves the army [église Saint Martin de ![]() ![]()
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![]() ![]() On the left, Martin's major travels [ ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
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![]() ![]() Martin confronts the demons. On the left, stained glass window from the church of Saint Martin de Ligugé where Martin is ordained as an exorcist by Hilaire. On the right painting from the ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() His mother, not his father. After completing his long years of military obligations and briefly knowing Hilaire, bishop of Poitiers, Martin travels for four years, from 356 to 360. He sees his parents again, converts his mother, but not his father. The same scene on the left in an engraving by ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() Martin humiliated by the Arians in Milan. In Milan, sometimes considered a Sabellian (follower of ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() The Temptation of St. Martin, no painting so titled, and yet, looking... On the left, a painting placed in the chapel of ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() Dialogue between Martin and Hilaire. [ ![]() ![]() ![]() + ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() On the left, in 350, Hilaire was elected bishop of Poitiers. In the center, in 359, Hilary fights Arianism at the Council of Sebacea. At right, allegorical meeting of Martin, dressed as a bishop (after 371), with the one who trained him at Ligugé, Hilaire (died 367). [Saint Hilaire de ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Sanctus Hilarius under the dome of the present-day Basilica of Saint Martin in Tours. |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Ligugé Abbey, the library and office in the Middle Ages ["The Lady of Ligugé", volume 3 of the series "The Stone Master", texts by ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() In Ravenna, Martin is the first of the saints. By 402, ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Evolution of the city of Tours 1/7 : Turonorum, Caesarodunum and Turonis. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Did Tours exist before Caesarodunum? The city of Turons located around a hill (dunum means hill in Gallic) has been referred to by several names : Caesarodunum (Caesar's hill) / Turonis (this is what Sulpice Severus and therefore Martin called it) / urbs Turonum / Tours... This ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
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![]() ![]() ![]() On the left, rendering of the round temple and on the right, rendering of the ramparts [ ![]() ![]()
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The ramparts of Tours 1/5: the Gallic enclosure. At that time Egypt was not Egyptian-Roman, Spain was not Spanish-Roman and Gaul was not Gallo-Roman, it was Gallic. It was indeed the Gauls who built the first city walls, those that Martin crossed many times. They did not need the advice of the Romans, even if they relied, in the south, on a monument imported by the Romans, the amphitheater, even if it was designated by the Roman word of castrum (it is probable that it was also named by a Gallic word).
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![]() ![]() Martin crowned by his god, detail of an 11th century fresco in the Charlemagne tower of the Hervé basilica (one guesses a hand holding a crown on his head) [Lelong 1986, photo Collon-Arsicaud). In the 21st century, from the top of his Laloux basilica, Martin watches over the city of Tours and its diocese, of which he was the second bishop in the 4th century. + another ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Objects that Martin may have known. They were found in Tours and are presented in Pierre Audin's book "Tours à l'époque gallo-romaine", editions Alain Sutton 2002. They are, for the most part, in the ![]()
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![]() ![]() ![]() A subterfuge by the Tourangeaux to lure Martin. 1) Martin did not want to be a bishop [ ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Clergymen greeted Martin with deference upon his arrival in Tours [ ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Defensor, the bishop of Angers, and other prelates and notables opposed the election of Martin... [ ![]() (+ two boards : ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Riot at Turonis ! Another look at this election of Martin to the bishopric of Tours by John Loguevel in this page : "As with St. ![]() Gallic-Roman nobles". This is illustrated, above, in the comic strip by ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Martin is ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() Martin obtains the release of the prisoners of the governor / count of Tours Avitianus / Avitian (mistakenly named Aretian) [ ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() Martin prefers to get away from the city. [ ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Martin at Marmoutier [ ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Left plan: Marmoutier is about 2 km from the city of Tours, with direct access [diagram by Charles Lelong 1989, with the addition of the wooden bridge presented in the previous chapter]. In the center the cave known as "Le repos de saint Martin", entrance ["Histoire de la Touraine", Pierre Audin 2016] and interior [ ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() Martin and Sulpice in ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() The same in ![]() ![]() ![]()
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() The same in the Arte TV movie already featured ( ![]() ![]() |
![]() In 396, in front of the cave at Marmoutier, Sulpice Severus presented the first version of his book to Martin, a year before his death at age 81 [painting by ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
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![]() ![]() Testimonials. Here are two examples proving the existence of Martin, outside of the writings of Sulpice Severus and religious writings. 1) It was found in Vienne (on the Rhone) the epitaph of a woman named Foedula buried in the early 5th century which recalls that she had been baptized by "his greatness Martin" [cited by Charles Lelong in 2000, details in the ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Martin healing Pauline ["Martinellus" 1110, ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() On the left, Sulpice Severus sends (to Paulinus of Nole?) a messenger bearing his book on Martin [ ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() At Trier, Valentinian I receives Martin without rising, a soldier warns him that his seat is on fire... On the left, painting by ![]() ![]() |
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![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() An original at the emperor's table. Martin was not afraid to trangress the customs, whether Gallic or Roman, of the lower people or the aristocracy. here at his first meeting with the emperor Maximus [ ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() In 385, Ithacus / Ithacius, bishop of ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() The second meeting of Martin and Maxime [ ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Two illustrations from the ![]() by ![]() ![]() ![]() then comforted by a ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() To the left Priscillian in chains (link). Then, Martin tries to prevent the beheading of Priscillian [painting from the ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() Ambroise on the same page as Martin. On the left, stained glass window from the church of Saint Augustine in Paris uniting the two saints (Martin on the left). In the center, Ambrose having the revelation of Martin's death, priory of Saint Martin des Champs in Paris, painting by Félix Villé. Right, stained glass window from Bourges Cathedral, 1214, where Ambrose sprinkles holy water on Martin's body [ ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
![]() ![]() ![]() Two excerpts from a very old mosaic in the ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Sanctus Ambrosius under the dome of the present-day Basilica of Saint Martin in Tours. |
![]() ![]() ![]() Tours and Touraine are at the crossroads of so-called Roman roads but in fact Gallic : "The general opinion that the Romans were the originators of the entire network of ancient roads in Gaul is not accurate" ( ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() The destruction of the temple of Amboise around 375 (beginning of Martin's episcopate) [ ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() To the left, "Saint Martin Preaching in the Woods of Touraine" by André Beauchant (1873-1958) ( ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() To the left, after a violent storm calmed by Martin, a fountain springs up to wash his wounds [Saint Martin's Church of ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Exterior and interior of St. Laurent de Veigné Chapel, right chevet and holy spring. + three photos : ![]() ![]() ![]()
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![]() ![]() With a background of Roman statue destruction, Martin evangelizes both the city dweller of Tours and the rural man of Touraine [ ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() On the left, Martin, like an officer, gives instructions to his followers at Marmoutier [ ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() The death of Martin at ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
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![]() ![]() ![]() To the left, Martin's body being evacuated through a window [ ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Photos of the Collegiate Church of Candes (link left photo) + page on Candes + ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() Where Martin would have died... | |
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![]() ![]() ![]() Left and right, woodcuts. A pagan idol is decapitated [17th century, link], a sacred tree is cut down (link). In the center, stained glass window made in 2003 by Norbert Pagé (1938-2012) in the church of Saint-Martin in ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() This beautiful stained glass window (Lobin workshop, 1904) from the church of ![]() ![]() ![]()
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![]() Vitré (Ile et Vilaine) (link). | ![]() Condat sur Trincou (Dordogne), 2nd century (link) | ![]() Origin unknown (link) | |
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![]() ![]() ![]() Destruction of a Temple of Jupiter [ ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() On the left, Saint Martin orders pagans to cut down a sacred tree [sacramentary of the Basilica of Saint Martin, circa 1180, ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() The Resurrection of the Catechumen. On the left the scene in a 13th century stained glass window in the Cathedral of Saint Gatien in Tours (bay #4) (the close-up is superb) + its ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() From 370, the miracles of Martin had a great repercussion in Poitiers and beyond, as far as Tours... + ![]() ![]() ![]()
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![]() ![]() Martin and the Birds. The range of Martin's miracles is broad and goes far beyond healings. Here is an example, left in the church of Saint Martin des Champs in Paris, a drawing by Felix Villé (link). "Peasants, who derived their livelihood mainly from fishing in a lake, saw a large number of birds flocking to the lake, catching fish without stopping and piling them up in their crop. Fearing the loss of their resources, these farmers called upon Saint Martin. When he came to the lake, he explained to the crowd that these birds were the image of the devil. They set their trap for the unwary, capture them and devour their victims, without being able to satiate themselves. Only prayer and absolute trust in God can overcome them. At the end of his exhortation, St. Martin, making the sign of the cross, commanded the birds to leave the place and never return, which they did immediately." Were there fishing martins ? On the right the same scene by Luc-Olivier Merson ["Saint Martin" ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() The Healing of the Sick is a great classic of the lives of the saints and Martin knows how to do it. At left, panel from the workshop of the Master of Janosret 1483 [ ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() At left, "Saint Martin and the Leper of Paris" by ![]() ![]()
![]() ![]() [ ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Saint Martin among the ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
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![]() ![]() ![]() At left, Martin buys slaves to free them [church in ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() Scene 1: Charity of Tours. On the left, box from ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
![]() ![]() ![]() Scene 2: the miracle of the globe of fire above Martin's head. At left, painting "The Mass of St. Martin" by ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
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![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() 1) polychrome terracotta (height 38 cm), ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Low, mid-height or high... On the left statue in ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
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![]() One of many stained glass windows on this page. Dated 1912 or shortly thereafter, it adorns St. Dunstan's Church in ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() From ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Miniatures of mantle sharing.... There are a lot of thumbnails on this page. Here is a supplement regarding the sharing of the mantle, unless otherwise noted "bishop". Above, illumination from the ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() And more frescoes... Painted plaster, once in the St. Martin de Tours museum, from the Charlemagne tower + two original photos : ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
![]() And a few more paintings and pictures about sharing the mantle... In addition to the numerous ones scattered along this page, here above is a close-up of an1836 painting by ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() The life of Martin in a succession of images. The life and miracles of Martin are celebrated in many ways. On the left Icelandic embroidery, between the 14th and 16th centuries, preserved in the Louvre Museum [2.80 m x 2.1 m, ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Collegiate church hangings ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
![]() ![]() ![]() Episodes from the life of Martin in a large stained glass window in the Cathedral of Notre Dame de Chartres. Many stained glass windows feature scenes from the life of Martin (we've already seen, ![]() ![]() ![]()
![]() ![]() Series of miniatures. On this page, illuminations are shown generally in isolation, especially in the previous chapter. Here are two sets. Picked up in part in the four illustrations above, five double miniatures of ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Scenes succeeding each other on painted or carved panels, altarpieces..., often altarpieces and ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
![]() ![]() ![]() A life in one picture. In one picture, the sharing of the cloak and the resurrections of the child and the catechumen [ ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Scenes to be discovered in Martin buildings. Before dealing with the four remarkable decorations illustrated above, let us add a fifth, already presented throughout this page (summary in ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
![]() Let's mention more common examples that show that, outside of cathedrals and other majestic monuments, modest St. Martin's churches can detect, even in small numbers, artistic beauties that often may not relate to Martin. Above, a capital from the church of St. Martin in ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() The four comic book albums about Martin of which boxes and plates are present several times on this page. 1) Maric - Frisano 1994 : "Saint Martin", texts ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
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![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() From Trier to Rome, built in the name of St. Martin.Martin made several trips to Trier, crossing the ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Saint Martin's Cathedrals. Here are five of them : 1) ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() A multitude of Saint Martin's churches Here is a very short chronological selection of Saint Martin's churches, all in France, listed as historical monuments : 1) Xth century Béthisy Saint Martin (Oise) (+ ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Martin and the Architects. There is, of course, no architecture unique to Saint Martin monuments. That is no reason to salute the variety of achievements. Here are four of them. 1) the chapel se Saint Martin le Vieux in the Pyrenees (+ ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Paris and Martin. 1) The ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() The Saint Martin bridges of ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
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![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() St. Martin's Basilica in ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
![]() ![]() ![]() Sculpted and painted facades, also the painted spandrels and pediments. For carved tympanums and pediments, see ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Saint Martin's chapels galore. Sometimes in ruins, thanks to those who restore... 1) Générouillas in the commune of ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Village Saint Martin. A few houses clustered around a church, villages nestled in nature are visually more appealing than large towns and cities. Here are some of them, with the number of inhabitants in the commune. 1) ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() The church of Saint Martin in ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() The ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() Do the trees of St. Martin have a pagan origin ? This St. Martin's chestnut tree [ link) at ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Left, box by Albo Helm in ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
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![]() ![]() ![]() To the left Marmoutier with above the hillside the vineyard of Clos de Rougemont. + ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
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The relics of Martin 1/8: according to the times... ![]() ![]()
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![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Are stamps other modern relics? With the ubiquitous sharing of the mantle. 1) Germany 1984 2) France 2017 3) France 1960 4) Monaco 1948 5) Czechoslovakia 6) Hungary 2011 7) Luxembourg 1980 + twenty-one other stamps : ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() On the left, the exorcist Martin expels the demon from the body of a possessed man through his ass [Tours Cathedral, bay #8, ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Surprise: Martin would have also shared his coat with the devil!. It was the illustrious painter ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Martin's mother: post-medieval delusion!. In 1572, an illumined man published a kind of ancient science-fiction with as heroine a daughter of a king of Constantinople, the beautiful Helaine, to whom stories happen and who becomes the mother of St. Martin and St. Brice (let's remember that they were born 60 years apart...). This work, of which two editions are known, is titled "Le rommant de la belle Helaine de Constantinople, mère de sainct Martin de Tours en Touraine et de sainct Brice son frère". Illustrations: covers of two editions, close-up of the second, two other images. + Link to a transcript on the site of the Lisieux media library, + three complete editions of about one hundred pages [Gallica] : ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() [corrected stained glass window from the church in Mosne, Touraine, and poster from the ![]() ![]() |
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![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Four other "Lives of St. Martin". 1) Martin on his donkey, one of the illustrations from the 1496 book shown in the box below. 2) work of the same title, in a popular black-and-white version of about 100 leaves, "The life and miracles of my lord Saint Martin translated from Latin into French" circa 1500, pilgrimage booklet + a ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
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Ernest-Charles Babut (1835-1916): died in the 1914/18 war, like ![]() Martin: hilarious fables ? Photo of this page from 2016 of the site "La Rotative" relying on Babut's work to harshly criticize the municipality of Tours, beginning thus : "On the boulevard that crosses the city from east to west, an exhibition entitled "From Martin to Saint Martin: his life, his legends" is proposed to the gaze of passersby. On red columns stamped "JC Decaux" and "Ville de Tours", one is entitled to a collection of fables that would be hilarious if the city hall did not try to pass them off as truths. Martin healing a possessed man, Martin healing a leper, Martin's relics repelling invaders...". Jacques Fontaine and Bruno Judic are also quoted, almost in support of Babut, for a substantiated article. |
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![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Historians and Colloquia. Jacques Fontaine (1922-2015, link), Charles Lelong (1917-2003), Luce Pietri at the 2016 colloquium, collections ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() 1) Semur 2015 ("Saint Martin of Tours, European Pioneer of Solidarity", François-Christian Semur, Editions Hugues de Chivré, 232 pages + ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
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![]() Remember: Martin died in Candes and his body was brought back to Tours by the Loire River for burial. Sculpted chapel in the church of ![]() ![]() Martin's body was buried in the parish cemetery of Tours on November 11, 397. It was only 40 years later that his tomb was placed in a basilica. [ ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() The glory of Martin. What happened to Martin after his death? He would have gone to ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
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![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() The baby through whom the scandal comes: the mother is a ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Brice, Martin's sultry successor, gets better with age [illustrations anonymous, except for right Eliane Mendiburu (link), at ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() Florent and Maurille. On the left, Martin receives Florent and ordains him [1524 tapestry, Saint Pierre de Saumur church] + ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Lazarus of Aix: sculpture on a capital in the chapel of Saint Lazarus, in the lower church of the abbey of Saint Victor in Marseille, his epitaph restored by ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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![]() ![]() Child's grave found in a necropolis located "in the immediate vicinity, between a few meters and a few dozen meters, of the place where Bishop Martin was buried in 397." [ ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
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![]() ![]() To the left text by François Coulaud, drawing by Alain Duchêne + the two plates : ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() Between the Basilicas of Armence and Perpet, a temporary building ? On the CD associated with the ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() 428-507: the time of the barbarian invasions in Touraine. Taking into account the dating of Armence's episcopate between 430 and 437 and that of Brice in two sequences, from 497 to 430 and from 437 to 442, the ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Sanctus Bricius in an undetermined location and in the present basilica ![]() ![]() Two stained glass windows in the Saint Laurent church in ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() To the left, Patrick and the bush on a stained glass window in the church of St. Patrice (see box below) (links : 1 2, another link where it says he knew Maurille and Florent). On the right Martin and Patrick stand side by side at the feet of St. Gregory (of Tours ? or the Pope ?) [ ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Side by side in Orton Church in ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Two boxes by Albo Helm in ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() St. Martin de la Bataille Abbey. At left, scene from the Battle of Hastings on the ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() "Leon the Great, Defying Attila", text France Richemond, drawing Stefano Carloni; Glénat-Cerf 2019 + ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Church vs. Huns, the Pope ![]() ![]() + The same scene on a ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() 439: Hun mercenaries defeated by the Visigoths. 13 years before Attila's death, 42 years after Martin's, Huns mercenaries of Litorius would have sown terror in the basilica of Armence [drawing Mike Ratera, see below]. Terrified at their approach, the Visigoth king Theodoric I asked the bishop of Toulouse to negotiate peace. Overconfident, Litorius recklessly stormed Toulouse. Beaten, wounded, taken prisoner, this lieutenant of the Roman general ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() 451: Attila and the bagaudes. A decade after their misdeeds in Tours as mercenaries of the Romans, the Huns commanded by Attila attempted to invade Gaul. To do this, Attila sought to ally himself with the Bagaudes, through the intermediary of a kind of ambassador, a Greek physician, named Eudox, who was familiar with the Bagaudes lands. But the rural people in revolt against Roman oppression feared the Huns even more. Moreover, the Christianization of the countryside begun by Martin began to bring them closer to the city dwellers. This was a failure, as shown in the comic book series "The Song of the Elves" published from 2008 to 2010 by Soleil Productions in three volumes, with script by Bruno Falba and drawing by Mike Ratera. It describes the preparation for the ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() >>>On the adjacent page is the chapter titled "449-451 The Huns and Attila's Betrayed Trust in Eudoxus and the Bagaudes". ![]() ![]() 451, harangued by the young Genevieve, the Parisians do not give in to the Huns. Left anonymous image circa 1890, right engraving ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Genevieve at Tours. At left, a miracle of Genevieve in the Tours basilica [Lobin workshop circa 1900], told by Bruno Judic in the ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() 451, guided by their bishop Aignan, the Orleanians repelled the Huns, shortly after the relief of the Parisians and shortly before the Battle of the Catalaunic Fields. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Paulin of Perigueux. His writings are on the remacle site. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Illustrated history books often included on this page. In the 19th century, 10 years apart, two magnificent books were published on Touraine, dealing with its history with many unpublished engraved illustrations, some in color. Their grandiloquent ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
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![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Historians of Tours and Touraine. Each of them is cited multiple times on this page : ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() Paule and Eustochia disciples of Jerome of Stridon. At left, mosaic made from a ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Paule and her descendants bishops until Gregory of Tours. On the left is Abbess Eustochia, daughter of Paule and aunt of Eustochius, the fifth bishop of Tours [painting by ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Melanie the Elder and Melanie the Younger. On the left is the Ancient one [ ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() The family proximity of Eustoche (and his nephew Perpet) to Melanie the Younger and Paulin de Nole. The tree on the left shows that Eustoche and Melanie the younger are first cousins. The tree on the right shows that Melanie the elder, grandmother of Melanie the younger, was first cousin to Paulin de Nole. The "SOSA" indications match up with people in the ancestry of many genealogists and beyond... since Eustoche's parents are ancestors of Charlemagne ( ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() On the left, the martyrdom of Gervais and Protais, one by flagellation, the other by decapitation [design for stained glass window in Noyant de Touraine, by Julien Fournier and Amand Clément 1875, ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
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![]() ![]() Councils: an episcopal democracy? The Gallic bishops met for the first time in Arles in 314. Whether provincial, regional or national, councils continued throughout the troubled times of the barbarian invasions. The non-exhaustive list is on this ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() The first bishops of Tours painted on the oratory of the Tours Museum of Fine Arts. In the tower of the Gallic enclosure adjoining the Fine Arts Museum, formerly the Archbishop's Palace, next to the cathedral [reminder: ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Evolution of the city of Tours 2/7: With the new Perpet Basilica, Tours becomes a capital of pilgrim tourism Tours thus became a place of pilgrimage, in a way the ![]() ![]()
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![]() ![]() ![]() At left, Perpet directing construction, from a calendar by ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Perpet's consecration of the basilica and prayer within its walls. On the left stained glass window from the Lobin 1870 workshop, located in a ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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![]() ![]() Other scenery. ["La basilique de Saint-Martin de Tours", Charles Lelong, 1986]. Opposite, ![]() | ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() Remember that we have seen ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() 1) Merowig at the foot of Martin's tomb [ ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
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![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Pre-Romanesque art, from Perpet's basilica to Laloux's. Plant and animal decoration by ![]() ![]() ![]() Right : in order to preserve the unity of the whole despite the fragmentation of the building site, ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() Martin supports Maure in his fight against the Arian Visigoths, such is the meaning of these two stained glass windows by Lux Fournier [church of Saint Branchs in Touraine, ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() The Gallic state of Soissons under Egidius from 461 to 464, on the left, then, on the right, under Syagrius from 464 to 486. In the center a Visigoth warrior [drawing Pierre Joubert, "Au temps des royaumes barbares" 1984]. ![]() ![]() ![]() 461, Chinon: the Visigoths, the Gauls of Soissons and Mexme, disciple of Martin. As the stained glass window on the left shows, St. Mexme repelled (temporarily...) both the Visigoth soldiers of Frederick (son of Theodoric) and the Gaulish soldiers of General ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() 501, Amboise: Alaric II and Clovis, the kings of the Visigoths and Franks, sign peace. "The conference had link on the confines of the two kingdoms, in the small island Saint Jean [today golden island], in the middle of the Loire. Approaching each other, the two princes embraced. [...]Alaric touched the beard of Clovis and Clovis that of Alaric, testimony of an eternal friendship." [ ![]() 507, Vouillé, near Poitiers: the victory of Clovis. Six years later, the war resumed and, at the ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() 470: the writer Sidoine Apollinaire, cousin of bishops of Tours, becomes bishop of Clermont. Coming from the Gallic aristocracy, Sidonius Apollinaris was one of the greatest scholars of his time, author of a brilliant correspondence, also playing a political role with the Gallic emperor ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() Left, 498: Martyrdom of Volusian, successor of Perpet, according to a 12th-century Romanesque capital (P.-S.) + other ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() The crowd of pilgrims around Martin's tomb ["The Private Lives of Men" 1985, same above]. |
![]() ![]() ![]() On the left, a Frankish woman in the early sixth century [ ![]() |
![]() Excerpt from ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() To the left, in 496 it seems, the ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | |
The baptism of Clovis by Bishop |
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![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() The baptism of Clovis was followed by that of many soldiers and their wives, as shown in this painting by Jules Rigo, 1860 approximately [Musée des Beaux-Arts de Valenciennes]. | |
![]() Extract from a page from the "Clovis I" site + the same scene where Clovis enters the basilica to receive the (honorary) title and crown of consul from the emperor Anasthesius, in a ![]() ![]() "Triumphal entry of Clovis at Tours in 508", ![]() To the left the basilica, in the background the walls of the civitas Turonorum / City (formerly Caesarodunum). |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Right, Clovis in front of Martin's tomb ["The Life and Miracles of Bishop St. Martin," 1516, ![]() ![]() |
![]() Clotilde survives a massacred family. In 486, at age 12, Princess Clotilda had her parents and four brothers murdered by her uncle Gondebaud, now the sole ruler of the ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Clotilde in front of the tomb, this time topped by a depiction of the sharing of the cloak. Miniature from the ![]() ![]() |
![]() Right, stained glass window from the Saint Grégoire des Minimes church in Tours [Van Guy 2005, Fournier workshop, photo Daniel Michenaud, link) ![]() ![]() ![]() Sancta Clotildis in the present basilica, Lorin and Lobin workshops [ ![]() |
![]() Didion's stained glass window (1866) recounting the life of Clotilde in the ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() To the left, Clotilde's last hours in Tours, from "St. Clotilda Queen of the Franks", text ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() Clotilde, Queen of the Franks, in the exercise of power, with her husband Clovis [painting by ![]() In these three images, Clotilde is in charge, manipulating husband and then children (center the division of the kingdom among her sons) (right the anachronism of Herve's basilica). [Wikipedia, Grandes chroniques de saint Denis, Bibliothèque de Toulouse, and illustration of 1889]. Below, 19th century engraving by ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Monegonde. At left, stained glass window from the Basilica of Saint Clotilde in Paris (next to the stained glass window of Saint Medard) (photo Robert Harding). At center, 1602 statuette from the church of Rosière la Petite in the commune of ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() Radegonde Queen of the Franks. 1) her meeting with Clotaire I ; 2) top, in 538, her eventful wedding feast ( ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Radegonde, two stained glass windows in the present Saint Martin's Basilica in Tours: workshop Lobin of Tours (Radegonde placing her queenly crown on the tomb) and workshop Lorin of Chartres. Then stained glass window from the church of Saint Radegonde in Poitiers. On the right, the death of Radegonde, stained glass sketch by the Fournier workshop of Tours [ ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Sainte Radegonde in Touraine. In Tours, on the right bank of the Loire near Marmoutier, there is a semi-troglodytic church named after her, built in the 12th century, enlarged in the 16th and restored in the 19th. Martin is said to have lived and officiated in the troglodytic part [photo at left, link]. The ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
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![]() ![]() ![]() Clotaire I, son of Clovis and Clotilde, exempts Tours from taxation. To function properly, the Merovingian state of course needed to collect taxes. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() Three murders involving Frederick in 568, 575 and 586. At left, miniature "Chilperic strangling Galswinthe in front of Frédégonde" [Grandes chroniques de France, 1412, ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() 576, Meroveius takes refuge in the basilica to escape from Frederick. By marrying his aunt Brunehaut, with the consent of the bishop Pretextat, Merovius provokes the anger of his stepmother Frederodina, leading his father to lock him up, then to tonsure him and ordain him a priest in Metz. Merovius escaped and took refuge in the basilica of Saint Martin in Tours. His father laid siege to the city, he escaped again, but was betrayed and murdered by one of his relatives in ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Brunehaut as mean as Frederick? While Gregory of Tours had described Brunehaut as "a young girl of elegant manners, beautiful of figure, honest and decent in her morals, of good counsel and pleasant conversation", Frédégaire, in his Chronicles considers that she has aged badly and would have become "woman more cruel than any wild beast". It is this view, putting her on the same level as Frédégonde, that the writer ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() To the left, the wedding of Brunehaut and Sigebert. In the center, Brunehaut in two late 19th century illustrations.
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() The Abbey of Brunehaut in Autun. Founded in the 6th century by Brunehaut, having collected her remains, the ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() To the left a miniature from the book "Life of Saint Radegonde by Venance Fortunat" circa 1100 [Bibliothèque municipale de Poitiers]. Then a stained glass window from the church of ![]() ![]() Venance reciting his poems to Radegonde by ![]() + ![]() |
![]() Prostitution in Christian countries through the centuries. Some of the revolted nuns of 589 probably became prostitutes... Saint ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() At left, a stained glass window grouping Gregory, Martin, and Clotilde in the church of Saint Gregory of the Minimes in Tours [Van Guy 2005, Fournier workshop, photo Daniel Michenaud, link) (the basilica in the Hervé version, ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() To the left, Gregory of Tours in the ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() The pilgrimages of St. Martin in the 6th century (at the time of Gregory) and in 1985 ["Life and worship of St. Martin", C. Lelong 1990]. Charles Lelong in his book of 2000: "It is a phenomenon above all regional and, for a significant part, diocesan : 27% of pilgrims are from Touraine, 12% come from foreign countries, Spain, Italy or even the East. On the left fifteenth-century carved corner post, 26 rue de la Monnaie in Tours, depicting a pilgrim [ ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() | ![]() This vial contained Martin's virtus! Oil in small vials deposited near the tomb, so that the liquid would become charged with the virtus of the saint, carried away as relics. In 1865, this vial was discovered with coins of the emperors Honorius and Majorian. An inscription indicates that it comes from the tomb of Martin. + two pages of explanations : ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() With Gregory, whatever the association of these first two illustrations [ ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() Stained glass windows in the present basilica dealing with events in the Perpet basilica [Lobin circa 1900, link]. 1) ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Engraving by Karl Girardet [ ![]() |
![]() Excerpt from ![]() ![]() + the three plates recounting this battle : ![]() ![]() ![]()
![]() ![]() Here the Battle of Poitiers is called the Battle of Tours (also on the ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() At Aachen, capital of the ![]() + ![]() |
![]() ![]() The collegiate church of Saint Martin in Angers is a fine example of the Carolingian architectural renaissance. On the right, evolution in the 5th, 9th and 18th centuries. Links : ![]() ![]() |
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![]() ![]() | ![]() Alcwinus in the actual basilica ![]() + video Arte February 25, 2020 (7 min.) on Alcuin, the Charlemagne Tower and the Basilica of Saint Martin |
![]() ![]() | ![]() "School of Alcuin in Tours" [ ![]() + 2 pages : ![]() ![]() + ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Alcuin presents Charlemagne with a manuscript from the scriptorium of Tours [ ![]() ![]() |
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![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() On the left, a miniature from a Roman manuscript of about 840 shows Alcuin, in the background, introducing his student Raban Maur, already seen above, to Martin, who lived four centuries earlier, in a ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() Carolus Magnus in the present basilica [Lobin workshop]. In the center, a rendering of the Basilica of Tours in Carolingian times in ![]() ![]() Extract from the ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() Before marrying Luitgarde of Alemania, Charlemagne had had four wives. The most famous was the third, ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Luitgarde. 1) 19th century engraving. 2) figure by Gustave Vertunni, between 1938 and 1946. 3) 20th century illustration 4) wax statue of the former ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() 814, Louis I succeeded his father Charlemagne. Born in ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() Judith, the beautiful ambitious. Center Louis and Judith "Genealogy of Charlemagne" in " ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() 843, the Treaty of Verdun. The signing of the birth certificate of France according to the will of Judith of Bavaria [ ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() Judith long hated by her stepsons and their children. Published in 1999, the third book in the series "I Svein, Hasting's companion," by writer ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Charles II, King of Francia. Two portraits of Charles II the Bald (843-877), son of Judith and Louis I the Pious, first ruler of a kingdom that would become France [Wikipedia illustrations]. Left, illumination from the "Psautier of Charles the Bald" from before 869 ( ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Circa 471 | (possibly November 11, 471) Inauguration of the basilica by Bishop Perpet. |
In 558 |
A fire destroys the roof, which is restored by King ![]() ![]() |
In 630 |
Saint ![]() ![]() |
Circa 800 |
New fire, which ![]() |
In 853 | (November 8) The Normans looted and burned the basilica it was repaired soon after, but summarily "it appeared inferior to that of ancient times". |
In 903 | (or 904) Last incursion of the Normans, the basilica is restored "with much work and at great expense its appearance was much brighter than the previous one". |
In 994 | (994 or 997 for some) A formidable fire "destroys the basilica as well as 22 churches in the neighborhood". A total reconstruction is required. |
![]() 1869 engraving showing the ![]() |
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![]() ![]() 866, the death of Robert le Fort, Frankish nobleman, count of Tours and Anjou, count of Poitou, lay abbot of Marmoutier and Saint Martin de Tours, marquis of Neustria, great-grandfather of Hugues Capet, at the ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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Evolution of the city of Tours 3/7: Martin's town, Martinopole, became the castle and then ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
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![]() Sanctus Odo / Odon, first canon of St. Martin and archicantor (first canon), then second abbot of Cluny, first abbot of St. Julian of Tours, in the present basilica, also with his ![]() ![]() ![]()
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![]() Foulques Nerra ravages the basilica. In 990, the terrible Foulques Nerra seized the city of Tours and committed an outrage in the basilica... Driven out by ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Foulques Nerra, from Jerusalem to Loches. After committing atrocities in and around Touraine, Foulques would go to Jerusalem to do penance and return refreshed. He did this three times, in 1003-1005, 1009-1011 and 1036-1039. The last episode was the most memorable, as these illustrations show. On the left, he is being flogged (link) (another link about his life). On the right, on all fours, he is tearing (would tear...), with his own teeth, a marble shard from Christ's tomb. This relic, which disappeared during the Revolution, was the glory of the ![]() |
![]() ![]() On the left, Tours in 976 is in the possession of the Count of Blois, ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
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![]() ![]() ![]() Cape-Banner. On the left, early 20th century images showing Clovis with the cope of St. Martin held up as a banner + four other images : ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Left engraving by Lacoste Aîné, text by Stanislas Bellanger [ ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
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![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() On the left, in 1014 Hervé de Buzançais had the burned basilica rebuilt in Romanesque style [sketch and Lobin stained glass of the basilica]. The cross of the crusader on the armor of the knight is anachronistic, the crusades did not start... In the center right, restitution of the Romanesque basilica by Hervé ["La basilique Saint-Martin de Tours", Charles lelong 1986]. This scene is found on a ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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Tours and Water 1/6: Construction of the ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
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![]() ![]() 1997 and 2015-2020, two 3D restitutions of the Gothic basilica. Since 2015, a 3D model project of the collegiate church in its environment has been developing, Renaissance Virtuelle Saint Martin, ReViSMartin (links : 1 2 3) ). The eventual goal is, with a virtual reality headset, to "walk into the past of the 15th century." The two illustrations above and others below are from the video 2020 (9 mn 18 s) + seven others : ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
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![]() ![]() ![]() Center, Treasurer Hervé in the actual Laloux Basilica. On the left and right, two stained glass windows from bay #8 of Tours Cathedral (on the transport of the body of Martin de Candes to Tours), probably from Hervé's Gothic basilica [flickr photos Philippe_28]. |
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![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Three intellectuals who left their mark on their time: Fulbert of Chartres, Berenger of Tours, and Abelard of Paris, each with a book in hand or under his elbow [19th century engraving, engraving by ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() Urbanus II traveling and preaching, miniature from the "Roman of Godfrey of Bouillon" [14th century, ![]() ![]() ![]() March 1096, Urban II preached ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() The tomb in the center of Châteauneuf. From 1014 to 1360, Hervé's basilica stood in the center of the Châteauneuf / Martinopole enclosure [ ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() To the left, a sculpted head from the Romanesque basilica of Saint Martin, dated 1035-1040 (+ ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() To the left the Council of Tours in September 1162 [ ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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![]() Fool's Day, engraving by ![]() ![]() + ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() The majestic prelate that Martin never was. We have already seen that in his time the mitre and the crosier did not exist ( ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
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![]() At Chinon, the chapel of the Martinian queen Radegonde, daughter-in-law of Clovis, conceals an exceptional fresco, discovered in 1964, showing the Plantagenet royal family hunting. It dates from the late 12th or early 13th century. Henry II is certainly in the lead, followed possibly by his daughter Joan, his wife Eleanor, and his sons Richard Heart of Lyon, holding a falcon, and John without a land [link to a study on the site "Les portes du temps" with this remark by Michel Garcia "the mural deliberately depicts the dramatic moment when the queen takes leave of her lands and her children, and emphasizes the affection and admiration that the latter have for her"]. + ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Henri and Alienor, from the tender dance of lovers, under the ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Alienor and Poitiers Stained glass window by Auguste Steinhel 1879 in the Poitiers City Hall (links : 1 2 3). Eleanor of Aquitaine married Henry in 1152 in Poitiers, and there, in 1199, she confirmed before the ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, blessed by Martin, early version in a German ![]() ![]()
![]() The Fréteval Interview. On July 22, 1170, near the ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() 1189: Touraine last battlefield of Henry II Plantagenet. Above, just after the capture of Tours, near Ballan (15 km southwest of Tours) + ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() 1190: in the cathedral of Tours, Richard the Lionheart takes the bumblebee and the scarf before leaving on crusade [ ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() Fontevraud a stone's throw from Candes. The ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
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![]() ![]() 1203: the capture of Tours by Philip Augustus (southwest gate, the English garrison is defeated "Saint Simple"), 1460 miniature by the Tourangeau ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() Solid supporters of the king: the banneret knights of Touraine. The ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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![]() ![]() ![]() St. Louis and St. Martin reunited, symbols of the close relationship between the French monarchy and the Abbey of St. Martin (link). At left, Louis and Martin in armor, stained glass window in the chapel of ![]() ![]() |
Commune of Tours 2/5: bourgeois revolts against the authority of the chapter.
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1267, appearance of the burghers of Tours. About a century before this reunion, around 1360, under common ramparts of the twin cities of the Episcopal City and Châteauneuf, it is in 1267 that a writing mentions the "bourgeois de Tours" uniting under the same term the bourgeois citéens (of the city) and the bourgeois of Châteauneuf. Bernard Chevalier in his "Histoire de Tours" (1985) points this out by estimating that henceforth "there is already a single ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() To eliminate the Templars, Philip the Fair set up an intense propaganda operation. Shortly after the Estates General in Tours in May 1308, some of the most important Templar dignitaries were imprisoned in Chinon, in the Coudray tower, where they left graffiti [left illustration + ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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![]() ![]() To the left two lepers are denied entry into a city [ ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() The plague. On the left, the plague in Tours in the background the cathedral with its two unfinished towers [ ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Evolution of the city of Tours 4/7: the unification of the two cities into a single commune.
At the end of this dark period, the City and Châteauneuf were finally able to be reunited under the same enclosure, which was logically preceded by the creation of a common government.
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Commune of Tours 3/5: 1355, a royal ordinance unites the two Touraine cities. The ordinance promulgated in Beauvais by the king ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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![]() ![]() Bertrand Du Guesclin against the English and the Great Companies. On the left, he won the ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Miniatures from the ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() Mad Charles VI and Isabeau of Bavaria in 1420 at the ![]() ![]() |
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![]() After the victories of Joan of Arc and her coronation at Reims in 1429, Charles VII became "the victorious [ ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() 1436, Charles VII and his court attend, in Orleans, the rehearsal of a mystery (play) + two boards : ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() 1448, Charles VII created the ![]() ![]() ![]()
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![]() ![]() 1436, the Tourangeaux celebrate the marriage of the dauphin Louis and Princess Marguerite of Scotland. Both children of kings, they were 6 and 5 years old when their marriage was pronounced in 1428, then 14 and 13 on June 24, 1436 when the marriage was celebrated in the ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
![]() ![]() Louis XI in his castle of Montils, renamed Plessis lès Tours [ ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() On the left one of three watercolors by ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
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![]() ![]() 1468, ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() 1477 in the basilica, Louis XI learns of the death of Charles the Bold. "Kneeling, in the attitude of profound recollection, the king gives all the signs of the most fervent piety. Suddenly one of the lords of the court approaches and addresses to him in a low voice a few words his face, usually severe, just now full of compunction, lights up and becomes radiant he straightens up with pride, he cannot contain his joy and lets it burst. Louis XI has just learned that the most intractable of his enemies is no longer : Charles the Bold is dead !" [ ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() Francis de Paule's arrival at Le Plessis [ ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() At left, another arrival at the Plessis [ ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
![]() ![]() ![]() [Captions from "Magazine de la Touraine" #41 (1992), engravings by ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() To the left, Louis XI praying to his favorite saint, Martin [tomb of Louis XI in the nave of ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Commune of Tours 4/5: 1462, the good city of Tours has its first mayor, Jean Briçonnet. Gradually a secular power is formed in Tours, which becomes a ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Photos taken from four postcards commented on by Donat Gilbert ["Tours à la belle époque" 1973]. 1) The ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
![]() Louis XI addressing burghers, here those of Angers, in 1474, during the presentation of the communal charter [painting by ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() Louis XI, considered a ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() 1) To the left, once in the Basilica of Saint Martin, now in the cathedral, the tomb of Charles Orland (Italian influence : Orlando, Roland) and Charles, grandsons of Louis XI, children of Charles VIII and Anne of Brittany, who died at 3 years (measles) and 1 month (link). Commissioned by Anne in 1499, it is the result of a collaboration between French (workshop ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
![]() ![]() ![]() On the left, the ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() The marriage of Charles VIII and Anne of Brittany on December 6, 1491 at Langeais was encouraged by François de Paule. Photo of the reenactment in a room of the castle with wax figures. The spouses, aged 21 and 14, are small on the left. Below, in Tours, we toast to the health of the newlyweds! [ ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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![]() ![]() ![]() On the left a score, the first ones appeared in the 11th century. In the center , presumed portrait of Jean de Ockeghem. At right, illumination by Etienne Collaut, "Chantres au lutrin" 1537, Ockeghem possibly the central figure with gray hair and glasses [ ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ["Visages e la Touraine", Pierre Leveel, Jacques-Marie Rougé, Emile Dacier, Jacques Guignard 1948] ![]() The ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() The double queen Anne of Brittany first wife of King Charles VIII and then wife of King Louis XII, in application of the agreement signed at her first marriage. At left, her portrait, in front of an illuminated book, by ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Francis I at age 5 and 20 and the death of Francis of Paola [ ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() The Saint Martin Basilica of Hervé, rebuilt in 1180, in the Middle Ages. On the right, excerpt from the view below. ![]() Gravure by ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() The Good City. After 1360, a single enclosure unites Saint Gatien Cathedral (center left) (on its right the ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
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![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Renaissance buildings in Tours. On the left is the ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
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![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() To the left, Francis I, king from 1515 to 1547, repenting (?) for taking the silver grid [Lobin stained glass window in the present basilica].
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![]() ![]() Maps from Hélène Noizet's study cited above, showing the possessions of the Saint Martin chapter in Touraine and eastern France. There was also ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() The troglodytic habitat of Martin and his followers. On the left, cross-section in the fourth century [Lelong 1989]. In the center, drawing of the caves in 1749 [Honoré Cassas, ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
![]() ![]() ![]() Furnished caves. At left, the ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
![]() ![]() ![]() Marmoutier currently. On the left, the portal of the crosier, with a sculpture in its pediment (+ ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
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![]() ![]() To the left, the woman-Loire pictured on the Rougemont hillside: her knees, head, one shoulder and two breasts protrude... To the right a model reconstituting, seen from the south, the abbey in its most beautiful expansion,or almost (see below the Gaignières plan).
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![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Left, view from the sky, from the west, in 2018, with the imposing bell tower in the center background. At right, photo from ![]() ![]() ![]()
![]() ![]() ![]() Left, drawing of the entrance to the abbey church of Marmoutier in 1781 (the ruins of which are under the shed in the front photo), with the still existing bell tower (with a lower roof) on the left [Thomas Pringot, ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() On the left, an excerpt from the reconstruction already shown to be compared with an excerpt from the sky view already shown at the bottom left, the tall bell tower is the only surviving, but shortened building. The large abbey church is replaced by the shed covering the remains. In front of it, the dormitories, infirmary and other structures for housing the monks and welcoming pilgrims have disappeared to make way for greenery. In the center and on the right, two 3D restitutions (link) : ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() From left to right: model of Cormery Abbey, Denis Briçonnet, Saint Martin de Tours (in green) and possessions of the abbey (in red), its Saint Paul tower, which has strong resemblances to the Charlemagne tower in Tours. + ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
![]() Cormery Abbey in the Gaignières Collection 1699 ![]() ![]() ![]() The famous monk macaroons! At left, lithograph by A. Noël 1819 ["Visages de la Touraine" 1948]. On the right, photo of the cloister and refectory. In the center a macaron of Cormery, not to be missed if you come to see the ruins. As the ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() 1699 engraving in the collection of ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() The Saint Cosme priory in La Riche: a scale model of the Gothic Saint Martin basilica. On the left excerpt from the overlay plan showing two chapels (out of three) accessible by an ambulatory [ ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() About the year 1500, two statues from the priory and other sculptures from Tours and Touraine at the same time. On the left Cosme and his brother Damien, 15th century (or even 16th century) works from the priory, acquired by the ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
![]() ![]() ![]() To the left, modeling of the priory in 1220 (the ambulatory and chapels above can be seen) + ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() The abbey in the 17th century, as seen from the north, in the ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Martin and Francis of Paola in the Spotlight. The two adopted Touraine saints occupy the two chapels, each lit by a modern glass roof of ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() A church with a cultural focus. On the left is one of the capitals of the porch. They were carved and designed in the 19th century by Gustave Guérin, inspired by medieval art, installed during the 1960s restoration. In the center the nave, a view taken from a set of 12 photos presented on this page of the cathedral parish, to which the church is attached. It is, however, one of the few churches in France to be owned by the state. It is a venue for a variety of cultural events, such as, at right, on December 7 and 8, 2019, when the Jacques Ibert Vocal Ensemble performed ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Medieval Martinian Demons. 1) elaborate painting on wood, 13th century [Barcelona Museum + ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() Trading streets in the early 16th century. On the left ![]() ![]() |
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![]() ![]() To the left, at the location of the present ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Leonardo da Vinci in Touraine. The famous fresco ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() The Amboise conjuration: preparation and denouement. Above and left, excerpts from the second volume of the comic book Catherine de Medici - La reine Maudite in the series "Les reines de sang", script by Arnaud Delalande and Simona Mogavino, drawing by ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() Deliberate destruction of images, ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
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![]() ![]() Tours, July 1562, the massacre of Protestants west of Tours in the suburbs La Riche, hundreds dead. "The people slit the throats of so many of these distraught men that the Loire River was stained with their blood" (period remarks by Jean de Serres). On the left, print by ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Paris, August 24, 1572, the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre. On the left, box from the comic strip Saint-Barthélémy, text by Eric Stalner and ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() The Witch Hunt. Martin's demons were still rampant... Practicing ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() March 23, 1589, session of the ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() These four events took place while Tours was the capital of France : 1) On April 30, 1589, agreement between Henry III and the future Henry IV, here probably at the castle of Plessis lès Tours [anonymous tapestry]. 2) On August 1, 1589 at Saint-Cloud, murder of King Henry III by the Dominican Jacques Clément [ ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() The instigator of the assassination of King Henry III, celebrated by Catholic leaguers, is executed in the public square in Tours On the left the image of the assassination of Henry III differs from the better known one shown above. It appears more in keeping with reality. + another ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() August 15, 1591, the escape of the young Duke of Guise (already illustrated above by Pannemaker) from the castle of Tours [ ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() The successive castles of Tours : in the eleventh century (castle comtal), in the thirteenth century (unfortified royal castle), in 1795 (fortified royal castle built around 1280) (before the construction in the eighteenth century of the current wing connecting the towers of Guise and the dungeon) and in the eighteenth century (the same royal castle, transformed, before the removal of the towers and walls located on the right / west). Illustrations from Vassy Malatra's 2011 thesis, presented below.
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![]() February 27, 1594, the coronation of Henri IV at Chartres, with the Holy Ampulla of Martin ; but the dove, present for Clovis, is not back... [Desmarets, ![]() ![]() |
Period | Representative Sovereign or Ruler |
1444 à 1524 | Charles VII, Louis XI, Charles VIII, Louis XII, Francis I |
1589 à 1594 | Henri III, Henry IV |
October 9 to December 8, 1870 | Leon Gambetta |
June 10 to 13, 1940 | Albert Lebrun and Paul Reynaud |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() In the scene of the sharing of the cloak, while the poor man's clothes hardly vary over the centuries, the same is not true for Martin, who, from the 15th to the 17th century, dresses according to the latest fashion in clothing, to actualize Martin's message. From left to right : 1) Anonymous 15th (with St. Nicholas) [National Museum of South Australia in Adelaide] 2) ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
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![]() ![]() Original variants or plan of the same two maps by Arnoullet in 1553/1572 and Siette in 1619. At left, a close-up of the basilica of the "nobilissimae urbis Turonensis" + the ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
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![]() The great hyver of 1709 as seen by ![]() ![]()
![]() ![]() ![]() Louis XIV, king from 1643 to 1715, stained glass window of the present basilica (Lobin workshop, Tours). In the center, the triumphal arch dedicated to Louis XIV, built in 1693 at the northern entrance to the city [Gallica] + ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Tours and water 3/6: a flood-prone city, the basilica under water in 1733. The 1619 map above highlights, in blue, the watercourses: the Loire, Cher, in the middle the ruau / ruisseau de l'Archevêque or archbishop's stream (![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
Except for the ancient place Caesarodunum around the cathedral, the space between the Loire and the Cher was too often flooded, forming a huge lake. The history of Tours is thus punctuated by floods over the centuries, notably in 585, 820, 853, 1003, 1037, 1231, 1309, 1346, 1426, 1474, 1527, 1586, 1608, 1628, 1707, 1711, 1733, 1755, 1757, 1846, 1856, 1866. In 1733 : "The city of Tours saw itself about to be totally submerged there was in the church of Saint-Martin 8 feet of water it was in the cathedral at the height of the main altar ; the inhabitants were three days without food, and the Loire, which was already over the bridges, threatened the city of a whole ruin, if to preserve it one had not diverted the course of it, by making open the levee between Montlouis and the Ville-aux-Dames, what submerged at once this last borough, without being able to save neither inhabitants, nor cattle, nor effects." [link].
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![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() The drawn memory of the streets of Tours in 1912. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
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![]() ![]() On June 3, 1724, King Louis XV presented the cord of the ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() The Basilica of Saint Martin before the Revolution. On the left view from the south, 15th century model by Florent Pey (the cloister in the foreground, the Charlemagne Tower in the background on the right). Right view from the north, 18th century engraving [ ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Tours and water 4/6: 1764, the manu militari evacuation of the island Saint Jacques to build the stone bridge. At that time, the population of Tours did not live only on the left bank of the Loire, behind the ramparts. On the right bank, the Saint Symphorien suburb
developed and an island, called Saint Jacques, sheltered 700 to 900 people, with houses and streets. This population, with bargemen, boatmen, stevedores, washerwomen, lived from the presence of the Loire and its river traffic. The construction of the stone bridge will upset everything. For the prestige of the city, it is one of the first flat bridges. The right bank being higher than the left bank, it is necessary to raise the latter (at the level of the current place Anatole France) by leveling the Saint Jacques island. In 1758, compensation was calculated and proposed to the owners, but many of them refused to evacuate because they were attached to their property and their island. After more than five years of procrastination the public authorities had to use force and in 1764 the army intervened with the ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
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![]() Tours in 1787, with the old Eudes Bridge and the new stone bridge. Painting by ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
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Commune of Tours 5/5: growing tension between the municipality and the chapter. During the 1780s, conflicts increased between the commune of Tours and the canons of Saint Martin. In January 1785, they were told that ".
If the cloisters it is true were able to enjoy formerly particular privileges when they were totally sequestered from the society of the laity, inhabited by the canons alone and by the persons whom they allowed to have in their homes by the holy canons, the chapters can no longer claim these privileges since they indiscriminately admit laymen of any state and any sex into their houses. It is well known that the cloister of St. Martin contains perhaps six times as many laymen as members of their Church, so it is now given over to the customs of civil life and must contribute in full to the expenses of the municipality" (link). The City finally gave up and, in order to have peace, agreed with the intendant to remove the cloisters from the general project, not without criticizing the attitude of the canons.
Commune debuts ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() The clergyman Martin facing the new bagaudes. This painting by the German ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() The Chinon Massacre. The city of Tours was spared such dramas, but their echoes made an impression there... + three views of ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() [ ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() A ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() Left, 1853 painting, twilight remembrance of the Gothic Saint Martin's Basilica [ ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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![]() ![]() ![]() Revolution and removal of religious buildings in Tours, three emblematic examples.
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![]() Probably the last live depiction of Herve's basilica. After 1794 and before the 1798 demolition, a traveling painter, perhaps ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() The memory of the vanished basilica. These two engravings by Lacoste Aîné are from the book ![]() ![]() ![]() The 3D rendering of 2020. Nostalgia continued, with the desire for a faithful reconstruction. The ReViSMartin project, featured ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Here are the two main remains of Herve's basilica, to which we can add the cloister, below.
![]() ![]() ![]() Left and center is the cloister, right is the Chapel of St. John.
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![]() ![]() Text by François Coulaud, drawing by Alain Duchêne + the two plates titled "The Touraine Haussmann" : ![]() ![]()
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Evolution of the city of Tours 5/7: 1778, abandonment of the East-West axis to adopt the North-South axis. Until then, the city had been built on the East-West axis linking the cathedral to the Saint Martin basilica via the Saint Julien church in the center. The idea of creating a new perpendicular axis dates back to 1750 and was accepted in 1760 by the city council. It was concretized in 1756 by the plan shown below on the left, made by the Ponts et Chaussées engineer ![]()
The old axis and the new one intersect at the level of the church Saint Julien. Facing the Loire, the northern entrance to Rue Nationale opened onto two imposing monuments, the museum (behind which is the church of Saint Julien) and the town hall, planned as early as 1766 on the plan below right, by Mathieu Bayeux and ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
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![]() Tours, an image that mixes eras, from 1793 to 1828. As explained in this ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() The disappearing steeples. Towers in 1810 by ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Tours and Water 5/6: 1840, the golden age of ![]()
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![]() ![]() Tours in 1826, two watercolors by ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() To the left, the ![]() ![]() ![]()
![]() Towers without Saint Martin's Basilica. Balloon view of the west in 1847 [lithograph 1852, Robert Malnoury, ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Evolution of the city of Tours 6/7: a strong geographical and demographic expansion. Tours, after having modestly expanded eastward in 1824, biting into the commune of Saint Pierre des Corps, multiplied its area in 1845 (with correction in 1855) by encompassing the commune of Saint-Etienne Extra to the south, beyond even the Cher. The Place du Palais, whose creation we have just seen above in 1843, is no longer at the extreme south of the city and could later, in 1904, become its new center. This southern extension was extended in 1961 by taking the hillside from Grandmont to Saint Avertin. A large area was then subject to flooding by the Cher, but in the second half of the 20th century, new districts were filled in and inhabited:
Banks of the Cher (views :
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![]() ![]() Companion and its endearing museum. At left, illustration from a 1978 municipal booklet showing a parade through Tours of journeyman roofers in 1838. Housed in the dormitory and hostelry of the monks of Saint Julien Abbey, the ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
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![]() ![]() ![]() Gambetta leaves Paris to reach Tours by balloon. The blockade locked down the capital, and it became almost impossible to leave. On October 7, 1870, Léon Gambetta crossed enemy lines by flying over them, landed near Beauvais, and reached Tours on October 9 [right, drawing by ![]() ![]() ![]()
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![]() ![]() 1870, the Descartes High School on the left, the Archbishop's Palace on the right, beautiful mansions and hotels in the city are occupied by government delegations, ministerial departments, and embassies [Le Magazine de la Touraine #38, 1991]. + two postcards of the high school : ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Left, October or November 1870, Italian soldiers from ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() January 19, 1871, Prussian troops cross the stone bridge and enter Tours (link) [The Illustrated London News]. On the right, a German soldier photographed by Blaise in Tours in 1871 [Archives municipales de Tours]. + ![]() ![]() ![]()
![]() ![]() It was under the motto "Saint Martin Patron of France Pray For Us", inscribed on the reverse of their white banner that the royalist regiment of ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() The discovery of the remains of the tomb on December 14, 1860. At left, stained glass window from the Lobin workshop in the present basilica [ ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() At left, view of the cellars in which the tomb was found in 1860 (link). In the center, the remains of this tomb [ ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() The provisional chapel, a place of devotion erected while awaiting the new basilica, had at least two configurations, as these two photos show. The first (with the dedication of Paulin de Périgueux that would be repeated on the pediment of the Laloux basilica) comes from a hardback image, the second from the book Le tombeau de Saint-Martin de Tours", 1922, by ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() From 1874 to 1886, many Tourangeaux believed that rue Saint Martin would be demolished to make way for a new basilica as large as the previous one [ ![]() ![]() ![]() The aborted 1874 project by architect Alphonse Baillargé, on the site of the old collegiate church. Above the interior. At left side view, from an engraving by ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() On the left the anticlericalism of Armand Rivière, mayor of Tours from 1879 to 1882. In the center the anti-clerical daily "L'électeur d'Indre et Loire" mocks the Catholic "processionnards", November 10, 1888 (link). At right anti-anticlerical cartoon by ![]() ![]() ![]() On the same anti-procession theme, Joshua Peeters in ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() "Mademoiselle Cloque" : 1911 edition (drawing ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() The nineteenth century version of sharing the mantle. Unlike previous centuries, the iconography is more respectful of the historical period being treated. Martin is a soldier in the Roman army. He is always accompanied by an invented horse, he usually wears a helmet and his cloak is often red. The interest shifts to the attitude of the poor man who is freezing cold. The present paintings were published in 1997 by the ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
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![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() In 18 photos, the procession from Tours to Marmoutier in 1897. In "Mémoire en images, Tours" (volume 1, Alan Sutton éditeur 1993), Brigitte Lucas delivers an exceptional reportage on this Martinian day of November 14, 1897, from Tours to Marmoutier (visit of its caves), on nine pages of 2 photos each : ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() Left the spring 2004 of the rhododendrons at the Botanical Garden, center the Prebends Garden (and others) [ ![]() ![]()
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![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() 1869, the "restitution of Jules Quicherat", here the four illustrations + the ![]() |
![]() ![]() 1886, the excavations, directed by Casimir Chevalier. Below, 1887, remains uncovered [Julien-Louis Masquelez, ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Photos of the excavations in 1886 [Casimir Chevalier] mainly from an excerpt ( ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() To the left, Casimir Chevalier + another ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Quicherat's restitution (arranged by symmetry) in 1869, Laloux's plan in January 1885, and the final plan in 1886 [plans in resumptions of two pages from the book "Victor Laloux, son oeuvre tourangelle", Hugo Massire, Sutton 2019] + ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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![]() View from the south, Laloux's basilica today, in the background on the left, the Charlemagne tower, a half-reconstructed remnant of the old basilica, in front of the square with the calvary (see end of this chapter) on the right [Google Earth April 2019] + ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() Postcard from the 2nd half of the 20th century with the Laloux Basilica (right), and the Charlemagne (center) and Clock (left) towers, remnants of the Hervé Basilica. In the foreground, center, the Saint Martin cloister, with private access. + ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() The ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() To the left, the pediment (with the dedication of Paulin of Perigueux) in the present-day Basilica of Saint Martin [Wikipedia] + ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() The crypt (in the background the tomb), with the ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The tomb and relics of Martin 8/8. Let's not forget to go down into the crypt (if the door is closed, just push it open), that's where Martin's tomb is. Perpet's basilica had continued to live on through Hervé's (who took over some of its decorations), we have just seen how much of it is found in Laloux's... A strange atmosphere reigns in this place of recollection at the same time reduced and vast, underground and bathed of natural light in part, decorated with the multiple inscriptions of ex-votos charged with personal and collective histories.
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![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() 1) probably the first representation of the new basilica with its dome and statue. In 1892, ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
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![]() ![]() To the left, seen from the northeast from above, the basilica without a statue on the dome in 2015 ("The Remarkable Touraine," ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() The little-known basement of the basilica and its multiple remains. The section shown in the previous chapter shows only the crypt in the basement. Ot there is a vast basement under the entire surface of the basilica. There is a large fresco by ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() The Forgotten Martin of the Basilica. According to the page vdujardin; this beautiful and imposing fresco, 2.29 m high, is located "on the reverse side of the basilica's façade" and according to this page from the Mérimée database on the "bottom side East, south wall", with very limited access. This is a work by ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() 1902, 1956, 1977, 2013, 2017 are the dates of installation and major work of the organs of the basilica, so many water leaks and heat waves have caused damage (link). Do they play Brassens' tune "Pauvre Martin, pauvre misère" ? Or "A l'été de la Saint Martin" by Jean Ferrat... + ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() The dome of the new Basilica joins the old Charlemagne and clock towers in the Touraine landscape. On the left, "Vue de Tours," by ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
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![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Twentieth Century Stained Glass. The art of stained glass is being renewed, as evidenced by the stained glass windows shown here. 1) Church Nativity of Our Lady in ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
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![]() ![]() The Great Butchery. In Indre et Loire, 10,000 young men died in this war, including 1800 for the city of Tours. Boxes by ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
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![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() At left, Martin in the nimbus surmounts a troop of ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
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![]() ![]() ![]() To the left, cyclist in exodus asking for directions after crossing the Loire ["La Touraine dans la guerre" Pierre Leveel, CLD 1985]. In the center, at the entrance to the Prefecture, the ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() June 1940, Tours in Flames [painting on paper by Arlette Boisdet, "Secret Guide to Tours and its Surroundings", 2019]. On the left, the two "Louis XVI palaces" evoked by Maurice Bedel in 1935, on the right the basilica and the two towers. ![]() ![]() ![]() 1940: the basilica fire goal. "The basilica seems to have served as a stopgap for the surging tide of stones" ["Tours cité meurtrie", text Jeannine Labussière, photos Elisabeth Prat, CLD 1991 + ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() From June 21, 1940 to September 1, 1944, Tours lived under German occupation. The building on the right of the first photo was the city hall before it was transferred in 1904 to a new building designed by Victor Laloux. It had then become the municipal library, one of the first buildings ravaged by fire during German bombing from the opposite bank of the Loire. + other ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() To the left, on June 15, 1944, bombers attempt to destroy Wilson Bridge, St. Julian's Church is hit + ![]()
![]() ![]() ![]() In the city center, the wait for reconstruction. At left, portfolio drawing by ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Exvoto of Marshals ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() Three reconstruction projects. On the left is the Coupel project for the Châteauneuf ramparts [ ![]() ![]()
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![]() ![]() ![]() A city that has become too mineral between two rivers. On the left, south of the historic districts, the Rives du Cher district created, after filling in, in the 1970s [1978 municipal booklet]. On the right bank, the city appears very mineral and the A10 motorway below is a corridor of pollution. In the center aerial view of Tours extracted from the ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
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![]() ![]() ![]() Is Martin watching over the city of Tours for life? Views from the top and bottom of the Charlemagne Tower + three more photos from November / December 2019 : ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() 1) Cover of the "Martinian Letter" No. 2007-2 special "Citizen Sharing" 2) The community of the ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() September 1996. Images made by the two great photographers of ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Sept. 1996: John Paul II in front of the tomb of Martin January 2016 : the Saint Martin community meets with Pope Francis at the Vatican (link). |
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![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() 2016, maintenance of the new basilica A first phase of restoration work took place in 2014-2016. The dome, which was made of brick, was rebuilt in wood. The statue dominating the dome made by sculptor ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() On February 17, 2014, the statue of St. Martin's Basilica was lowered ["Secret Tours", Hervé Cannet, NR 2015 edition]. On October 15, 2016, it returns to its dome. Martin and his successor Bernard-Nicolas Aubertin, 137th bishop / archbishop of Tours, seem to greet each other, bless each other, dialogue ... [link, also showing the prior positioning of the relic box in the statue's arm, cf. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() 2016, Hungary also celebrated the 1700th anniversary, here on the Budapest - Szombathely line, Martin's birthplace (link). + ![]() |
Tours and water 6/6: the return of the flood risk between the Loire and Cher. Pandemics have returned, floods will return, better to apply the precept "To govern is to prevent". This is surely more effective than praying to Saint Martin... As Hervé Chirault and Aude Lévrier remind us in a ![]() ![]()
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![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() The Mysteries of the Basilica is a crime TV movie released on April 14, 2018 on FR3, off-series #14 of ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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![]() In the 21st century, Martin is still fighting his demons!? In his basilica!? Released in 2002 by "La comédie illustrée", the collective comic book album "Chacun son Tours" includes seven stories. The one by Ullcer, titled "The Secret of Janus," in 8 pages, presents a strange sequence (a miracle ?) in St. Martin's Basilica. + three plates: ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Alain Beyrand, Tours, December 2020 (alain (at) pressibus.org)
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Short address of this page: pressibus.org/martin
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