THE SYMBOLISM OF WATER IN THE FESTIVAL OF FRENCH ROYAL ENTRY IN THE RENAISSANCE
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7.079
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Information about authors: Makarova Nina Ilyinichna, PhD in Culturology, Associate Professor of Department of Philosophy and Humanities, Novosibirsk State University of Economics and Management (Novosibirsk, Russian Federation). E-mail: siberianalchemy@gmail.com
Annotation: The symbolism of water played a significant role in the organization of Royal entry festival in France in the Renaissance. The festival introduced the city population to the new monarch and symbolically shaped the power relations between the ruler and the city. The ruler, visiting the city after his or her inauguration, confirmed the traditional privileges of the inhabitants. The city, in turn, took the king as its “Signor,” expressing its loyalty to the monarch. In the early Renaissance period, water symbolized to a large extent the sacred nature of sovereignhood, demonstrating the power of the monarch to “pacify” water, as well as transform the city into a blooming garden and to turn water into wine. Since the reign of Francis I, almost every Royal entry festival included maritime motifs, interest in which was primarily associated with the Age of Discovery, overseas exploration and the idea of creating an Empire. By the middle of the 16th century, the idea of monarch power over the natural element was still in force. However, the motives of sea travel and water battles came gradually to the fore in the organization of the Royal entry festival. The theme of the Roman Imperial triumph began to prevail over the religious imagery characteristic of the earlier period, and the ancient deities replaced to a large extent the biblical characters. The antique iconography at that time reflected also the growing importance of the humanist elite, which emphasized not only military power but also sciences, arts and law in the creation of a strong centralized state.
Keywords: French Renaissance, Royal entry, water imagery.
DOI:
Article ID in the RSCI:
Article file: Download
Information about authors: Makarova Nina Ilyinichna, PhD in Culturology, Associate Professor of Department of Philosophy and Humanities, Novosibirsk State University of Economics and Management (Novosibirsk, Russian Federation). E-mail: siberianalchemy@gmail.com
Annotation: The symbolism of water played a significant role in the organization of Royal entry festival in France in the Renaissance. The festival introduced the city population to the new monarch and symbolically shaped the power relations between the ruler and the city. The ruler, visiting the city after his or her inauguration, confirmed the traditional privileges of the inhabitants. The city, in turn, took the king as its “Signor,” expressing its loyalty to the monarch. In the early Renaissance period, water symbolized to a large extent the sacred nature of sovereignhood, demonstrating the power of the monarch to “pacify” water, as well as transform the city into a blooming garden and to turn water into wine. Since the reign of Francis I, almost every Royal entry festival included maritime motifs, interest in which was primarily associated with the Age of Discovery, overseas exploration and the idea of creating an Empire. By the middle of the 16th century, the idea of monarch power over the natural element was still in force. However, the motives of sea travel and water battles came gradually to the fore in the organization of the Royal entry festival. The theme of the Roman Imperial triumph began to prevail over the religious imagery characteristic of the earlier period, and the ancient deities replaced to a large extent the biblical characters. The antique iconography at that time reflected also the growing importance of the humanist elite, which emphasized not only military power but also sciences, arts and law in the creation of a strong centralized state.
Keywords: French Renaissance, Royal entry, water imagery.
