Free H.J. Gaudreau - Betrayal in the Louvre by H.J. Gaudreau Page B

paused, collected his thoughts and continued, “Charlemagne’s sword is one of the most celebrated weapons in history.  The sword is sung of in the oldest known piece of French literature, the Song of Roland.  In that story the sword itself granted great power to Charlemagne and allowed him to avenge the defeat of some of his troops.  The sword developed its own mystic, much like Excalibur in England.  The sword was even believed to hold supernatural powers. 
    He paused again, “Does the sword hold supernatural power?  I have no idea, but I do know that it became hugely important to the man.  In one battle in southern France, Charlemagne had it ripped from his hand and he lost it.  One of his knights, seeing the King without his sword searched the battlefield; during the battle no less, found the sword, killed the man that had it and returned it to his King. 
    “That sounds a bit nuts,” said Jim. 
    “It does indeed, and probably was, but it did earn the man a great piece of land and ensured a town was named after the sword.”
    “They named a town after the sword?  Not the guy that found it?  Oh he got the short end of that deal,” Jim laughed. 
    “Yes, they did name a town after the sword.  It’s why we now have the town of Joyeuse, France,” Bill patiently explained.
    “What, wait, I don’t get it,” Jim said. “He named a town “Happy” because a guy returned his sword?” 
    “Well, it does sound a little odd when you put it that way,” Bill acknowledged with a grin.  “But, the name of the sword is ‘la Joyeuse,’ they named the town after the sword.”  
    “So how does the sword relate to this ambry?” Eve asked bringing Bill back to the original subject. 
    “Ah, well…this long area in the ambry is where the sword was kept between coronations.”  He again pointed with his pencil.  “It is the symbol of the House of Bourbon even more than the fleur-de-lis.  And, behind these smaller doors on either side were kept the instruments of the coronation called Regalia; the coronation crown and the individual crowns.”
    “What?  Wait…what kind of crowns?” Eve asked. 
    Bill appreciated the question, “Another interesting thing…all Kings after Charlemagne were crowned with the crown Charlemagne himself wore.  But, after the coronation, sometimes the same day, they switched to a crown made specifically for the new King.  There are several good examples in the Louvre of these individual crowns.  The crown of Charlemagne is also in the museum, it is known as the “Coronation Crown”.  Although, there is some dispute as to its authenticity among various scholars of that sort of thing.”
    Bill returned to the picture.  Pausing to gather himself he said, “Here they kept the Royal Patents.  You have a Royal Patent, but not just any Royal Patent.  You have the Patent of the Dauphin of France.  Royal Patents were rare even then.  The royal family was considered to be noblesse de epee or noblesse ancienne .  Both terms were used and they mean noble by the sword or simply traditional or old nobility.  In any case, this type of nobility is handed down.” 
    Jim and Eve were leaning forward.  Bill had become the history professor he was and his excitement with their discovery was evident. 
    “A second type of nobility is for the newly noble.  It’s where the King confers nobility on someone.  This is called “Noblesse de letters” and the letters literally mean a letter from the King saying this person is now a noble and confers the selected rank.  That letter is called a Patent.  Are you with me?”  Bill stopped his lecture to ensure his students were following along. 
    “Got it” said Jim
    “Wait, I don’t.” said Eve “If one type is by birth and the other is by a letter, then why would someone who is royal by birth need a letter?”
    “Excellent question,” Bill enthused.
    “Teachers pet,” Jim said in a mock stage whisper.  They all had a