Chantilly in History and Art

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gift so generously bequeathed to the French nation by the late Duc d'Aum

fixed his abode upon an isolated rock, in the midst of

hereditary task of wine-controllers to the Kings of France-an honorary post which they held for some centuries. But

perty of Pierre d'Orgemont, Chancellor to Charles V of France, who laid the

tmorency, who married Marguerite, sole heiress of the Orgemonts; and with this illustrious family Chantilly emerged from comparative obscurity into historical

f the Bourbons; and later still, by the marriage of the last Prince de Condé with Princesse Bathilde d'Orléans, and the tragic death of

eenth and sixteenth centuries, but became extinct under Richelieu, who, for reason

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ing him in his younger days is to be found in the portfolios of the Musée Condé. He it was who, in 1515, constructed the Chapel of the Chateau, obtaining from Pope Leo X a bull for its foundation. He married Anne de Pot, and their eld

with the refined taste of his time. Without demolishing the fortifications and the stately towers of the Orgemonts, he succeeded in introducing more light into the medi?val chambers by piercing their walls with large windows. He hung the interior of the castle with

still at Chantilly. They illustrate the legend of Cupid and Psyche after cartoons by the sc

ht victoriously by the side of King Francis I, at the Battle of Marignan. He followed the King to Pavia, where he was made a prisoner with his Royal master, and in 1530 he was at Bayonne, to negotiate the release of the young Princes o

tilly; where he employed his time in improving this favourite abode. He constructed on an island close to the older feudal castle, the fine Renaissance palace known as the Petit-Chateau, which by some miracle has remained almost intact to this day. It is probable that Jean Bullant, the architect of E

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e of Chantilly-is often found side by side with feudal castles of a much older period; the owners of which, apparently

s a style that reached its climax in the chateaux of Blois and Chambord, each of which preserves some characteristics of the nobles who erected them, although the

new palace. The complete absence of documents with regard to this structure is greatly to be regretted, but the supposition that Jean Bullant, who was in constant relation with Pierre des Iles, known as "Ma?on" of Chantil

securing the goodwill of Francis II and Charles IX. Queen Catherine de Medicis cordially disliked him, b

ted them again in 1567 at Saint-Denis, though at the sacrifice of his ow

unate coincidence these drawings-of which we shall speak later on-have found their way back to Chantilly. In the stained-glass windows of the chapel, painted in 1544, may be seen portraits of his numerous children executed by Ba

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reat favourite with her royal brothers, and after the death of her husband became known by the title of "Duchesse d'Angoulême." Since she was childless, Fran?ois de Montmorency was succeeded by his brother Henri, who distinguished himself as one of the strongest opponents of the Ligue. He, too, was created Constable, and subsequently assisted Henri IV in the reconquest of his kingdom. His second wife, Louise de Budos, died at the early age of twenty-three, soon after giving birth to a son and heir, called Henri after his father. Their elder child, a daughter, Charlotte, was renowned for her beauty; and Lord Herbert of Cherbury-who in his Memoirs describes Chantilly at that period-e

tatues, and works of art in the sumptuous chambers of the Chateau. He also mentions the huge carp a

ency. This King was even accustomed to visit Chantilly during the absence of its owner, and had his own apartm

French Court by her aunt, the Duchesse d'Angoulême, and her beauty, as described by Bentivoglio, seems to have been of so irresistible a charm that it made a deep impression on the fancy of the gallant King. So grea

d claim nothing for it in return but the affection of the newly-married couple!" After this confession, poor Bassompière understood that he had better comply with the King's wishes, and the fair Charlotte was therefore married to Henri II de Bourbon, third Prince de Condé. The wedding was celebrated at Chantilly with much pomp, and the King lavished splendid jewels and rich dresses upon his new niece, making no secret of the admiration he cherished for her. He spoke of it as only a fatherly affection; but in spite of his good intentions his fancy took the character of so violent a passion that he could not control it. Condé, not insensible to what was going on, purposely retired to his remotest country-seats so as to protect his wife from the gallantries of the King; but, unable to endure her absence, Henri appeared disguised as a falconer at one of the hunting parties, whereupon Charlotte, who was present, fainted on recognising h

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time to create serious political disturbances between France and Spain. The fact that the Regent of the Netherlands, in order to please both parties, allowed the Princesse de Condé to prolong her visit to the Princess o

failed-in confronting Prince Maurice of Nassau and terminating the siege of Ostend. Reduced after this exploit to comparative inactivity, h

that Henri II de Bourbon, Prince de Condé, a Prince of the Blood Royal of France, should not have received the honours due to his rank while passing through the Netherlands. Condé, who, leaving his young wife with the Princess of Orange, had already departed to Cologne, was therefore recalled. He saw his wife, and r

landers. This, however, was in truth but a pretext on the part of the King; for in spite of the libertinism in which His Majesty indulged on this occasion, and which seemed for the moment to overcloud his sense of right and wrong, we must remember that Henri IV always proved himself a patriot, and one whose constant endeavour it was to advance the welfare of France. We may, therefore,

e news reached Condé, who was already on his way to Spain, he immediately returned to France and made a temporary truce with the Re