So this is a room you might just past by and see the many portraits wondering what it is? Well is another wonderful historical room in the Palace of Versailles, Room 1792. This marks the end of absolute monarchy in France after 948 years on September 21, and the beginning of the 1st Republic! Let me tell you a bit more on it ok: hope you enjoy it as I.
And of course, as many know, this was not the end really just a bit of a change in words. By the gracius coup d’état of Napoléon I we had the first empire, (1804-1814), and then Waterloo 1815, and then, the monarchy restoration of the Bourbons, under a parlamentary monarchy of Louis XVIII (bro of Louis XVI!). And then, his youngest brother Charles X took over in 1824; his absolute tendencies brought again the monarchy under the July revolution of 1830. Thereafter, the parliament chamber elected a king of the French in Louis Philippe I. He tried to mingle in absolutism with common sense but to no avail too many opposition. The opposition of the King was composed of Legitimists supporting the Count of Chambord (Duke of Bordeaux heir as Henri V) Bourbon claimant to the throne, and of Imperial Bonapartists and revolutionary Republicans, who fought against royalty and supported the principles of democracy. (even thus the Bonapartists did it early by a coup d’état overthrown government). All these brought about the February 1848 revolution (another one!) . On 24 February 1848, the monarchy was abolished and the Second Republic was proclaimed (No 2) with its first elected President Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte! Who unfortunately later became a dictator as well as the I from 1852 to 1873. Since, then we have had the Third Republic (1870-1940) , the Fourth Republic (1946-1958) and the current Fifth Republic since 1958. I have a post on the last possible effort to bring the monarchy back in 1881 by Henri-Charles-Ferdinand-Marie Dieudonné D’artois, Count De Chambord , last heir of the elder branch of the Bourbons and, as Henry V, pretender to the French throne, and offered it ,but refuse to be king under the current revolutionary tricolor French flag ,but rather under the royal white flag of France! He was descendant by Louis XV and on his death in 1883 left no heir. This follows as to this date a dispute between the House of Bourbon of Spain, and the House of Orléans seeking the true legitimacy of the crown of France if ever will be doubted…
And after this brief, condense historical note, brings me finally you might said to the Room 1792. History needs to be told however.
The Palace of Versailles on the Room 1792 ,also call the Revolution room, symmetrical to the Salon of Hercules, this room brings together the Wing of the Midi, or Wing of the Princes, with the central body of the palace. The room 1792 is nearly 155 m2 re-developed by Louis-Philippe on the site of the former Salle des Marchands under the reign of Louis XV, which became the Salle des Cent Suisses in the time of Louis XVI.
Louis-Philippe, who created the current decor, will dedicate the Room 1792 to war, the Galerie des Batailles to the great victories of France, and the Salle 1830 room to national reconciliation. This triptych was, in his mind, to mirror the Salon de la Guerre, the Galerie des Glaces and the Salon de la Paix of Louis XIV. The monarch will assemble portraits of heroes of the revolutionary and empire wars in the 1792 room, bearing the insignia of their rank in September of that year, when the French Republic (France) was proclaimed. The citizen-king, then Duke of Chartres, will thus be represented in the uniform of a lieutenant-general.
The only survivor of the rooms of the Louis-Philippe museum dedicated to the French Revolution, the Room 1792, alone provides the keys to understanding the historical and political project of the King of the French. It marks both the end of a world, the French absolut monarchy falls on August 10, 1792 , and the opening of a new era full of hopes and worries too. Monarchical Europe is united against revolutionary France, which finds in itself the living forces that will unite to defend it.
The main paintings evoke the call to arms to defend “the Fatherland in danger” The National Guard of Paris leaves for the army, September 1792, from Cogniet as well as some of the emblematic battles of the French revolution such as Valmy, the 20 September 1792, by Mauzaisse after Horace Vernet, and Jemmapes, November 6, 1792, by H. Scheffer after Horace Vernet, and the many warlords to whom she owes the victories of her armies.
Next to Kellermann, Dumouriez, Luckner, are represented Rochambeau, veteran of the American War of Independence, La Fayette, his most famous fighter, and Louis-Philippe himself, who fought in Valmy and Jemmapes. The portraits of the future heroes of the Empire occupy the embrasures of the windows, and Napoleon Bonaparte occupies a prominent place above the front door. A subtle hierarchy is established between the portraits, and Louis-Philippe presents himself as a fighter of the French revolution, heir to the Enlightenment and guarantor of new ideas.
The Palace of Versailles on the Room 1792: https://en.chateauversailles.fr/discover/estate/palace/1792-room
There you go folks, a dandy historical room in architecturally and historically fascinating Palace of Versailles!! Room 1792 is part of the history of France and you should visit it while there. I have taken some of the text from the palace and some from my books on the subject; hope you enjoy it as I
And remember, happy travels, good health,and many cheers to all!!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 