Obviously the connections between French and European royalty and the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris are too numerous to list, but in the face of yesterday's tragic fire, I thought maybe we could reflect on some of them.
The beatification of Joan of Arc and the coronation of Napoleon I come instantly to my mind, as does the coronation of Henry VI of England as king of France, an enthronement which was reversed over the course of the Hundred Years War. The usual coronation spot for the kings of France was Reims, but were there any other coronations held at Notre Dame de Paris?
Medeline of France married James V of Scotland there. James's daughter Mary, Queen of Scots, married the future Francois II there. There must have been many other royal weddings there. Can anyone cite any?
The kings and queens of France were, of course, generally buried at St. Denis, but are there any royals interred at Notre Dame?
On a more sinister note, Louis IX ordered the burning of the Talmud in the Place de Greve in view of the Cathedral as part of his persecution of his Jewish subjects.
Other notable royal history moments associated with this magnificent, if now gravely damaged, structure? Not counting of course the numerous statues, engravings and other images of kings.
I suspect you've covered pretty much everything there, Gary. It's my impression that there are many more royal associations with the Basilica of Saint-Denis where the French kings and queens are buried (not aware of any burials in Notre Dame). It was in that church in 1593 (and not In Notre Dame) that Henri IV chose to renounce his Protestant faith and convert to Catholicism. That is also where the annual mass to commemorate Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette is held.
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