ANST - FW: Musing on August 26th -- Frondely Persuasion

Sun Aug 27 21:44:39 PDT 2000

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From: Ellsworth Weaver [mailto:astroweaver at yahoo.com]
Sent: Sunday, August 27, 2000 23:24
To: 2thpix at surfari.net
Subject: Musing on August 26th -- Frondely Persuasion

Dear Folk,

On a hot August 26, 1648, the people – hot and hacked off – were
manning the barricades on the streets of Paris. This was a revolution
of the folk upset with absolute rule, foreign powers, and a queen who
was messing around with a Cardinal. There were two associations, one
of
parlements and one of the nobles, each were known as The Branch
(Fronde
in French.)

Louis XIII had died and left his wife, Anne of Austria, and his five
year old son, Louis XIV, to rule. Anne was fairly young, very rich,
and
all alone. She needed the help of a saintly French man.
Unfortunately,
she found neither in the guy she decided to snuggle with: Cardinal
Mazarin.

Jules Mazarin was born of an old Sicilian family on July 14, 1602. He
was captain of the pontifical troops and then a diplomat for Urban
VIII. He negotiated peace between the Spaniards and French. In doing
so, he made himself very useful to the scheming of Richelieu. When he
left the service of the pope, Mazarin went to work for Richelieu and
even became a naturalized French citizen. Richelieu was even
partially
responsible for getting Jules made a Cardinal of the Church. Before
Richelieu died (Dec 4, 1642), Mazarin had Richelieu speak on his
behalf
to King Louis XIII.  Of course Louis XIII was not long for the world
either and died May 14, 1642.

Anne of Austria gave the real power of the throne of France to
Mazarin.
Jules let it be known that he was heading back home to Italy when the
word of Anne’s offer for him to advise her reached him. He already
knew
it was coming, dear hearts. He pretended to refuse and then said
well,
he would do it but only until peace in Europe was established.

You see Mazarin majored in humble. He seemed as kindly as Captain
Kangaroo and as soft spoken as Mr. Rogers. Anne trusted him. There
are
some sources, I blush to add, that think that Anne and Cardinal
Mazarin
were secretly married. I guess it beats living in sin. Anyway,
Mazarin
had his ways. They were to stand him in good stead with both Anne and
sonny boy Louis. And Mazarin was a Cardinal and priest. He would not
have taken advantage of that.

The Fronde was really the name given to the civil war in France
between
1648 and 1653. The Frondeurs were opposed to the rule of Mazarin on
account of his rapacity (when he died his estate was worth about
$40,000,000) and employment of foreigners. Just as today, the French
did not much like foreigners except Jerry Lewis.

The movement was at first led by the parlements, which wished to
regulate taxation, especially the Parliament of Paris. This was an
attempt to substitute rule of nobility to rule by law instead of
capricious whim. Their forces were defeated by Conde in 1649. What
was
called the Old Fronde was brought to an end. Later the Fronde became
a
shoving match between the nobles, headed by Conde and Mazarin. It was
a
real seesaw with Conde getting himself put in prison and then Mazarin
having to run for his hide from Paris. In the end Mazarin won. The
Fronde, which originally aimed at consolidating the powers of the
Parlement and relieving the burdens of the people, had the effect of
establishing more firmly the absolute monarchy of France.

During his youth, Louis was content to leave the government in
Mazarin's hands, but when Jules died in 1661, the twenty-two-year-old
king declared he would be his own prime minister. From that day until
his death over fifty years later, he directed the affairs of state
and
dispensed the crown's patronage to ensure that power rested with him
personally and not with some chief minister.

There were certain little pamphlets, published during the Fronde,
which
said that obedience is due only to those kings who demand what is
just
and reasonable. They even said that kings do not make peoples, but
that
peoples have made kings. What do you think Louis XIV thought of that?
Right! Louis supported the Divine right of kings and the victories
over
the Frondes seemed to support that. Louis XIV only had to deal with
God, the rest of the folks had to deal with Louis.

Having said the above, let me add this. Louis' character underwent a
remarkable maturation. At first, he was a pleasure-loving monarch. He
had several wagon loads of mistresses. People who were rarely shocked
actually commented upon the bevy of royal beauties.  He lost his
bounce
as he grew older and actually found religion. Sure, he still loved a
well turned ankle but he felt guilty about it now. He actually
secretly
married his last mistress. He still loved glory though. He was a bug
for winning but even more so of having order and systematic rule. Of
course, that rule was to be solely under Louis XIV. It was good to be
the king.

What have we learned from this? Things sometimes turn out completely
the opposite of what you wanted? Sometimes friends of mom can be very
helpful? Most folks get religion late in life after they have had all
the fun they can have? The Church and State can be meshed into one
well-oiled machine? How about: God is on the side of the winners? Bob
Dylan had a song to that effect.

If you are out putting down revolting parlements, being regent for a
five year old king, or just watching a Jerry Lewis movie and want to
share these writings with others, do so but keep my name and sig.
attached.

BTW, I am watching Sergei Eisenstein's "Ivan the Terrible." My gosh,
it
is lush and wonderful. Sure it is in B&W and captioned but it will
still knock your socks off. I got my copies (2 tapes) at Insomniac
Video but check at your local cult video shop. If they don't have it,
they are not a quality place. Off with their heads!

Wondering if Jim Carey is Jerry Lewis’ love child,
Ellsworth Weaver

SCA – Sir Balthazar of Endor
AS – Polyphemus Theognis
TRV – Sebastian Yeats

=====
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Modern & Medieval (but always discreet)
If you are interested, contact me at
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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