+LIFE AT THE FRENCH COURT IN THE 16th CENTURY WAS (for most nobles) >AN EXPENSIVE EXPERIENCE< ***************************** ( michael degruyere probably as a relative " got a break" *************************** >HE WAS, WE REMEMBER, EDUCATED AT THE COURT, BESIDE FRANCOIS wearing special white clothing, for 8 years ( dekoven biog. ) *************************** >FRANCOIS 1st WAS QUITE A LADIES MAN & MICHAEL deGRUYERE HAD (inherited from the devirgy) WITH HIS RADIANT BLOND HAIR >followed happily this lead< *************************** >(mrs dekoven definitely does not approve of michaels court "high jinks" with the young francois) ******************************* >THE COURT OF THE HOLY ROMAN (at that time in italy giving >michael medici culture) >EMPIRE WAS ALSO EXPERIENCED BY THE YOUNG COUNT MICHAEL. ********************************** >LIKE OUR COLLEGES< >michaels father, count louis, was a gifted political mediator & made (CHIEF SAVOY MEDIATOR FOR PHILIPPE deBRESSE) >certain michael was exposed to the northern austrian court as well as the french home court. ******************************* >COSTS @ THE FRENCH COURT (for nobility) >WERE DEPENDENT ON THE #of retainers in the suite. ************************** ( in 1516 the young prince frederico gonzaga, of navarre, had 50 re- tainers with 40 horses ) *********************** +PRINCE RENE OF SAVOY, UNCLE >OF KING FRANCOIS 1st< >was the "grand master" of the french court, supervising appointments & (ANN.COST, 215,000 LIVRES) > in charge of the 622 person staff. ********************************** >WE CAN REST ASSURED MICHAEL RECIEVED GOOD TREATMENT (there shared savoy hIstory) **************************** >NOBLES AT THE FRENCH COURT (up to 10,000 nomadic people) >liked to spend only part of their time there as their chateau in the countryside were very +BEAUTIFUL PLACES+. ******************** "GENTLEMEN OF THE CHAMBER" >was a role king francois created for the young males closest to him in 1516 when he wnt of to conquer milan +MICHAEL deGRUYERE'S ROLE+ ****************************** +CATHERINE deMEDICI+ >was brought in from florence to marry king francois'son henri & bring much +FLORENCIAN ART AND CULTURE+ >into the french court ********************** >COUNT MICHAEL & CATHERINE WERE +DEVOTED FRIENDS FOR LIFE+ >(toward the end of his life she had michael appointed to the panel ( GRUYER / GUISE ) >investigating the murder of >THE DUKE de GUISE< ******************** + KING FRANCOIS' 1st's DAY+ 1) THE KING'S LEVER : his day would begin by the most honored guest handing him his shirt. (after he had looked at a list to see who was there) ****************************** 2) he would attend to state papers and/ or meet with his councilers until 10. ( leroy, bossancourt, & other rel. ) ******************************** 3) at 10 am he would attend mass w/ all the princes and lords in residence. (degruy prince michael @ his side, ********************************** >TO MENTION A FEW< >savoy, anjou, lorraine, navarre, provence, touraine, champagne, bresse, languedoc, poitou, berry burgundy, limousin, gascony etc. ********************************* 4) at 11 am he would have his lunch w/ music as he would dine alone. many days he would listen to books from (LARGEST EUROPEAN) >his library being read w/ dramatic gusto fitting his romantic nature. ********************************** 5) twice a week he would hold an open audience after his generous lunch. (the 6 foot tall king was athletic and known for his appetites) ***************************** 6) lovemaking was important to king francois and he would spend an hour or two with his queen and mistress as suited the moment. ******************************** 7) he would withdraw to his study until 3 p.m. when he would partake of sport such as tennis or hunting. ******************************** 8) in the evening he would dine with his family (michael degruyere included) with entertainment such as a ball or masque included. ( leonardo davinci's star radiant @ night ) ****************************** 9) the kings day ended with his "coucher" which like the "lever" was attended by the assembled honored nobles. *********************************** >THE LOVE FOR ITALIAN CIVILIZATION AND THE GEOGRAPHY OF FRANCE (art, culture, transport) >MADE FRANCOIS' 1STS COURT THE LEADER OF EUROPE. ************************* >degruy / degruyer castles/chateau (PLUS SAVOY BLOOD) >were perfectly located to play +I M P O R T A N T + R O L E S+ ****************************** (mediators w/ mobile swiss soldiers located w/ high alpine pass control were important kingly relatives) ********************************* >O V E R V I E W< ++++++++++++ >THE GOLD THAT FOUNDED SWISS BANKING INTERESTS SOURCE may very well come from the riches of the soloman temple >1ST CRUSADE HISTORY< (templar jerusalem to templar swiss) ***************** gene ray, san diego, california (google) eugenerayart.com