French castle medal: Chateau de Chaumont
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The French chateau of Chaumont has its beginnings in the 10th century and the construction of a fortress intended to protect Blois from military attack. The chateau was built by the Comte de Blois, Eudes II, in the 11th century. In 1465 King Louis XI struck back at a rebellion by having the fortress burned to the ground. It was rebuilt under the reigns of Charles I and Charles II.
In 1560 Catherine de Medici purchased the chateau; under her aegis it was the scene of parties and a meeting place for astrologers including Nostradamus. Catherine later maneuvered to exchange Chaumont for the chateau de Chenonceau, which became her favorite. In 1750 a new owner set up a glassworks and pottery factory in Chaumont. He protected the chateau during the French Revolution and it was saved from destruction. The castle's upkeep and restoration continued over many decades and the influence of various owners. In 1875 Prince Amedee de Broglie and his bride Marie Say (heiress to a sugar fortune) bought the chateau for 1,706,500 gold French francs, and spent another 560,000 francs recreating its historical splendor, through the artistry of architect Ernest Sanson. They built modern stables with running water and electricity, and created a park in the style of the English landscape garden. For 40 years the castle was the scene of lavish entertainment.
The princess enjoyed mingling with foreign potentates. The Maharaja of Kapurthala presented his hosts with an elephant that took up residence at the chateau.
After the stock market crashes of 1929, and the loss of millions of francs, the princess is said to have proposed an austerity plan of removing the foie gras sandwiches from afternoon tea. Reality caught up with her, though; the chateau elephant was sent to the zoological gardens, and the castle was sold to the French government in 1938 for 1,800,000 francs.
This medal measures 1-3/4 inches in diameter, and was struck in copper-nickel or nickel silver, with a plain edge. One side has a fine view of the chateau, the other depicts a porcupine with a French crown on his spiny back (the symbol of King Louis XII).
Historian N. Hostner describes the purpose of the heraldic porcupine:
"Louis XII, king of France (r. 1498-1515), inherited the emblem of the porcupine from his grandfather and maintained its symbolism of invincibility to particular effect in the circumstances of the Italian wars and the reconquest of the Milanese. However, the bellicose role of the porcupine within royal propaganda became increasingly less adequate to the image of a 'père du peuple' that Louis XII adopted in 1506. ... [A] certain disenchantment was felt towards the aggressive porcupine leading to its relative neglect in royal pageantry and iconography by the second half of Louis's reign. This shift is indicative of a deeper hesitancy between the image of paternal care - faithful to the duty of the Most Christian King - and the image of paternal care - faithful to the duty of the Most Christian King - and the image of glorious triumph - more suited to a bellicose warrior. The transformations undergone by the porcupine reveal the desire to redefine the very notion of the duty of kingship."
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