THE COURT

1483-1589

ROBERT J. KNECHT

YALE UNIVERSITY PRESS NEW HAVEN AND LONDON Contents

List of Illustrations and Maps ix

List of Abbreviations XV Preface xvi Introduction xix

Chapter 1 The Golden Years, 1483-1559 1 Chapter 2 One Kingdom, Two Capitals 22 Chapter 3 The Court 33 Chapter 4 The Courtier 48 Chapter 5 The Daily Round 64 Chapter 6 Outdoor Pursuits 80 Chapter 7 Ceremonies 94 Chapter 8 Summit Meetings 124 Chapter 9 Royal Builders 142 Chapter 10 Art Patronage 168 Chapter 11 'Father of Letters' 199 Chapter 12 A New Parnassus 211 Chapter 13 The Canker of Heresy 226 Chapter 14 The Kingdom in Crisis, 1559-74 241 Chapter 15 Queen Mother 259 Chapter 16 Henry III: The King and his Mignons 280 Chapter 17 The Court enfete 305 Chapter 18 The Court under Fire 318 Chapter 19 Nemesis 328

Notes 342 Bibliography 369 Glossary 384 Genealogy 390 Index 392 Illustrations and Maps

Figures

1. King Louis XII ofFrance. Painting attributed to Jean Perreal (The Royal Collection © 2007, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II). 3 2. Louise of Savoy, countess of Angouleme. Miniature from anonymous manuscript, Le Compas du daulphin (Bibliotheque nationale de , ms. fr. 2285, fo. 5). 6 3. The Assembly of Notables held at Tours in 1506 and the betrothal of Francois dAngouleme and Claude de France. Miniature (Bibliotheque nationale de France, ms. fr. 5083, fo. 1 verso). 7 4. Map ofParis in the Sixteenth-century. From Georg Braun and Franz Hogenberg, Civitates Orbis Terraram (1572). 30 5. Charles de Maigny. Statue by Pierre Bontemps (Musee du , ; photo RMN). 36 6. The Court ofFrance Leaving the chateau ofAnet. Drawing by Antoine Caron (Musee du Louvre, Cabinet des Dessins; photo RMN © Jean-Gilles Berizzi). 41 7. Guillaume Goujfier, seigneur de Bonnivet. Drawing by Jean Clouet (Musee Conde, Chantilly; photo RMN © Rene-Gabriel Ojeda). 53 8. CardinalAntoine Duprat. Bust in terracotta (Musee du Louvre, Paris). 55 9. Game ofjeu de paume or tennis and a game of chess. Fifteenth-century French miniature from Valerius Maximus, Faits et dits memorables (British Library, Ms. Harley 4375, fo. 151 verso). 86 10. A tilt and counter-lists (Bibliotheque nationale de France, ms. fr. 20,360, fo. 138). 89 x ILLUSTRATIONS AND MAPS

11. The Oath andAnointing at the Kings Coronation. Drawing (Musee du Louvre, Paris; photo RMN). 95 12. Tableau-vivant staged at the Porte du Palais in Paris, devised by Pierre Gringore for the entry of Queen Claude on 12 May 1517. Miniature (Bibliotheque nationale de France, ms. fr. 5750, fo. 49 verso). 106 13. Arch erected at the Porte Saint-Denis for the entry of King Henry II into Paris on 16 June 1549. Engraving from the festival book published by Jean Dallier. 108 14. The Fontaine des Innocents, place Joachim Du Bellay, Paris. 109 15. The baptism of the future king, Francis I (Bibliotheque nationale de France, ms. fr. 2275, fo. 4 verso). 116 16. The meeting of the French and English kings, Francis I, and Henry VIII, at the Field of Cloth of Gold, 7 June 1520. Bas-relief from the Hotel Bourgtheroulde, Rouen. 125 17. Casket with incised rock crystal panels showing scenes from Christ's Passion. Made by Valerio Belli (Pitti Palace, Florence; photo Museo degli Argenti). 133 18. The chateau of Amboise. 145 19. The chateau of Blois in the sixteenth century. Engraving from Jacques Androuet du Cerceau's Les plus excellents bastiments de France (1576-9). 147 20. The facade of the Loggias, chateau of Blois. 148 21. The chateau of Chambord. 150 22. Plan of the chateau of Chambord. Engraving in Jacques Androuet du Cerceau, Les plus excellents bastiments de France (1576-9). 151 23. Inner courtyard of the palace of the Louvre, Paris. 154 24. Elevation of the chateau of Madrid in the Bois de Boulogne, near Paris. Engraving from Jacques Androuet du Cerceau, Les plus excellents bastiments de France (1576-9). 156 25. Inner courtyard of the chateau of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, near Paris. 159 26. The chateau of Villers-Cotterets in the Ile-de-France. 160 27. The chateau of Fontainebleau. Engraving from Jacques Androuet du Cerceau, Les plus excellents bastiments de France (1576-9). 162 28. Plan of the chateau of Fontainebleau. Engraving from Jacques Androuet du Cerceau, Lesplus excellents bastiments de France (1576-9). 163 29. Leonardo da Vinci Dying in the Arms ofFrancis I. Pastel by Giuseppe Cades (1750-99) (Ashmolean Museum, Oxford). 170 ILLUSTRATIONS AND MAPS xi

30. Mars and Venus. Drawing by Rosso Fiorentino. (Musee du Louvre, Paris; photo RMN © Michele Bellot). 174 31. L'Ignorance chassee. Fresco in the Galerie Francois Ier by Rosso Fiorentino. 177 32. Diana and Callisto. Drawing by Francesco Primaticcio. (Musee du Louvre, Paris, Departement des Arts Graphiques; photo RMN © Michele Bellot). 179 33. Stucco decoration by Francesco Primaticcio in the Chambre de la duchesse d'Etampes, chateau of Fontainebleau (photo RMN © Le Rosso). 180 34. Fireplace mantel in the chamber of Queen Eleanor, chateau of Fontainebleau, with stucco decoration, by Francesco Primaticcio, dating from 1534-7. 181 35. Juno. Drawing by Benvenuto Cellini (Musee du Louvre, Paris, Departement des Arts Graphiques; photo RMN). 186 36. Saltcellar (c. 1540-3) by Benvenuto Cellini (Kunsthistorisches-

museum, Vienna). 187 37. Anne de Pisseleu, duchesse d'Etampes. Painting attributed to Corneille de Lyon (Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, H. O. Havemeyer Collection, Bequest of Mrs H. O. Havemeyer, 1929). 191 38. St Michael Slaying the Demon. Also known as Le Grand Saint-Michel. Painting by Raphael (Musee du Louvre, Paris; photo RMN © Rene-Gabriel Ojeda). 194 39. Pietro Aretino. Painting by Titian (Pitti Palace, Florence; (photo SCALA, Florence, reproduced by courtesy of the Ministero Beni 197 e Att. Culturali, 1990). Nicolas Belin 40. Francis I as a composite deity. Miniature by (Bibliotheque nationale de France). 200 41. Guillaume Bude. Painting by Jean Clouet (Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Maria DeWitt Jesup Fund, 1946). 201 42. Clement Marot. Painting by Corneille de Lyon (Musee du Louvre, Paris; photo RMN © Gerard Blot). 214 43. Mellin de Saint-Gelais. Drawing by Francois Clouet (Musee Conde, Chantilly; photo RMN © Rene-Gabriel Ojeda). 216 44. The Concert. Painting by the Master of the Half figures (State Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg; photo Bridgeman Art Library). 220 45. Marguerite dAngouleme, duchesse dAlencon, then queen ofNavarre. Painting by Jean Clouet (Musee Conde, Chantilly). 229 xii ILLUSTRATIONS AND MAPS

46. Francis I making reparation for the mutilation of a statue of the Virgin and Child in Paris, 1528. Miniature (Musee Conde, Chantilly, ms. 892/1485). 233 47. King Henry II. Drawing by Francois Clouet (Musee Conde, Chantilly; photo RMN © Rene-Gabriel Ojeda). 239 48. The tournament of 30 June 1559 in the rue Saint-Antoine, Paris. Engraving by Tortorel and Perrissin (Bibliotheque nationale de France). 242 49. The death of Henry II on 10 July 1559. Engraving by Tortorel and Perrissin (Bibliotheque nationale de France). 243 50. Charles, cardinal ofLorraine. Drawing by Francois Clouet (Musee Conde, Chantilly). 244 51. Francois, second due de Guise. Drawing by Francois Clouet (Musee Conde, Chantilly). 245 52. The assassination of Francois, due de Guise, outside Orleans, 18 February 1563. Engraving (Bibliotheque nationale de France). 249 53. A Water Festival at Fontainebleau. Drawing by Antoine Caron (National Gallery of Scotland, Edinburgh). 261 54. The Palace of the Tuileries. Engraving from Jacques Androuet du Cerceau, Les plus excellents bastiments de France (1576-9). 270 55. The Hotel de la Reine. Engraving (c. 1650) by Israel Sylvestre (Bibliotheque nationale de France). 272 56. The Colonne de l'Horoscope, Paris. 274 57. Henry III. Drawing (c. 1585) attributed to Estienne Dumoustier (Bibliotheque nationale de France). 281 58. Projectfor the Pont-Neufin Paris (Musee Carnavalet, Paris). 288 59. The Tour de l'Horloge, Ile-de-la-Cite, Paris. 289 60. The rood screen in the church of Saint-Etienne-du-Mont, Paris. 290 61. Courtiers on Their Way to the Louvre. Drawing (Bibliotheque nationale de France, Cabinet des Estampes). 293 62. Henry III behind his barrier. Engraving from the Vie etfaits notables de Henry de Valois (Bibliotheque municipale de Lyon, res 314669, p. 23). 296 63. Henry III dining 'en public'. Drawing (Folger Shakespeare Library, ms. V.: a. 146). Drawing from Richard Cook's account of his stay in France in 1584. 297 64. Balet comique de la royne in the Salle Bourbon on 15 October 1581. from R. de Engraving Beaujoyeux, Balet comique de la royne, Paris, 1582). 308 ILLUSTRATIONS AND MAPS

65. Frenchwomen's costumes. Engraving from A. de Bruyn, Omnium pene Europae, Asiae, Aphricae atque Americae gentium habitus (Antwerp, 1581) (British Library). 309 66. Frenchmen's costumes. Engraving from A. de Bruyn, Omnium pene Europae, Asiae, Aphricae atque Americae gentium habitus (Antwerp, 1581) (British Library). 310 67. A commedia dell'arte troupe, c. 1580. Anonymous painting (Musee Carnavalet, Paris; photo © akg-images/Erich Lessing). 314 68. Henry Ill's Covenant with the Devil. Engraving from Recueil de VEstoile, fo. XLXa (Bibliotheque nationale de France). 324 69. The assassination of Henry III at Saint-Cloud, on 1 August 1589 (Bibliotheque nationale de France, Cabinet des Estampes, QB1-1589). 337

Colour plates

1. Anne of Brittany writing a letter to her husband, Louis XII (National Library of Russia, St Petersburg, ms. fr. f. v. XIV, 8, fo. 1 verso; photo © Cliche Chatenet). 2. Banquetfor the Coronation ofAnne ofBrittany. Painting by Andre Delavigne (Waddesdon Manor, Rothschild Collection, The National Trust; photo © Mike Fear). 3. Francis in his kingdom. Colour drawing of a tapestry (Bibliotheque nationale de France, oa. 16 res. fo. 4). 4. King Francis I, c. 1535. Painting attributed to Jean and Francois Clouet (Musee du Louvre, Paris; photo RMN © Herve Lewandowski). 5. Francis I hunting a stag in the Forest of Fontainbleau. Miniature le Batave from by Godefroy Commentaires de la guerre gallique, vol. 2, fo. 1 (Bibliotheque nationale de France). 6. St Thomas with the features of King Francis I. Painted enamel by Leonard Limousin (Musee du Louvre; photo RMN © Daniel Arnaudet). 7. The Galerie Francois Ier at the chateau of Fontainebleau. 8. Elephant with the fleur-de-lis. Fresco and stucco by Rosso in the Galerie Francois Ier at Fontainebleau. 9. King Francis I and the Emperor Charles V. Fresco byTadeo Zuccaro for the Villa Farnese at Caprarola. 10. Antoine Macault Offers Francis I his Translation ofDiodorus Siculus. Anonymous miniature of c. 1530 (Musee Conde, Chantilly; photo RMN © Rene-Gabriel Ojeda). AND MAPS xiv ILLUSTRATIONS

Francis I. 11. The Founding ofthe College de France by King Painting by Guillaume Guillon, alias Lethiere (College de France, Paris). Leonard Limousin 12. Anne de Montmorency. Enamel (1556), by (Musee du Louvre, Paris; photo RMN). Attributed to 13. Tomb of Philippe Chabot de Brion (c. 1492-1543). Pierre Bontemps (Musee du Louvre, Paris). scrofula. 14. Henry II in his coronation robes touching victims of Miniature from his Book of Hours (Bibliotheque nationale de

France, ms. latin, 1429, fo. 107 verso). 1 October 15. The royal entry festival of Henri II (1519-59) into Rouen, 1550 (Bibliotheque municipale de Rouen, ms. Y 28; photo Bridgeman Art Library). 16. The ballroom of the chateau of Fontainebleau. 17. King Charles IX (1560-74). Painting (1569) by Francois Clouet (Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna). 18. Catherine de Medici. Drawing (c. 1560) by Francois Clouet (Bibliotheque nationale de France). 19. Ball given in honour of the Polish ambassadors, 1573. Tapestry (Pitti Palace, Florence; photo © akg-images/Rabatti-Domingie). 20. Ball at the Court ofHenry III on 24 September 1581for the Marriage ofthe due dejoyeuse. Anonymous painting (Musee du Louvre, Paris; photo RMN © Daniel Arnaudet). 21. Henry III on his deathbed appointing Henri of Navarre as his successor. Tapestry (Musee national de la Renaissance, Ecouen; photo RMN © Gerard Blot).

Maps

page 1. Itineraries followed by Francis I and his court in 1516,1517, 1518 and 1519. 32 2. The principal sixteenth-century chateaux. 144