Versailles ou Marly ? Dimension spatiale de la prestation de serment des évêques de France sous Louis XIV

Abstract

In the last phase of Louis XIV’s reign, from the 1690s onwards, the Château de Marly, in addition to Versailles, became a key venue for royal political activities. This essay examines the extent to which a connection can be observed between the conception and function of these two residences, through a comparative analysis of the oath ceremonies for bishops as they took place under Louis XIV in Versailles and in Marly. The aim is to show how the design and decor of Marly complemented that of Versailles and offered spatial markers for the control of sacred matters such as the bishop’s oath. This study establishes two key points. To begin with, in the first half of the 1690s, the chapel at Versailles emerged as the main venue for these celebrations. It was there that the king established the new conception of his role based on piety and re-established the stability of the French episcopate after years of crisis. From around 1695 onwards, Marly became increasingly important for the oath ceremonies. It is possible to apply Michel Foucault’s concept of heterotopia to the analysis of the function of this residence. It reveals, among other things, that Marly contributed to the creation of elite episcopal structures and enabled bishops to position themselves in the feudal hierarchy.

Keywords

• Louis XIV
• Versailles
• Marly
• ceremony
• oath
• bishop