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Debate No. 8
A little bit of History
Like most people reading these pages, I have always been
interested in History (aren't we all, since historical events are the basis of
BeruBara?) and I do a minimum of research surrounding the facts and events
described by Berusaiyu no Bara. I never thought, except for the obvious
characters, that the "heroes" of the story were anything but fictitious, but I
know that the story is so well made that distinguishing between "real" and
"made-up" is sometimes difficult. For instance, I had my doubts about the
General. I heard that Ryoko Ikeda found his name amongst the men trying to save
the remaining Royal Family after the execution of Louis XXVI. Here are a few
things I found.
M. de Jarjayes
Ryoko Ikeda mentions that she got the
name "Jarjayes" (it is with an "a", and this is also how it is spelt in the French version of
the Anime) from the list of "conspirators" determined to get the Royal Family
(The Queen Marie Antoinette, Louis-Charles -the "Dauphin" or Louis XVII, since
Louis XVI is dead-, Mme Royale Marie-Therese and Mme Elisabeth, sister of the
late King) out of the "Prison du Temple" where they are held on the 3rd floor
(Louis XVI had the 1st floor but is no more).
We all know that all of them, except
for the Dauphin, finished on the guillotine (even Mme Elisabeth, a few years
later!). As for "Louis XVII", we all know the polemic surrounding his
substitution, escape, or Death.
I have to say that, at the time, even
though the Temple was very well guarded (always at least 150 men in the inside
Court), it was still very easy to get in and visit (wearing a uniform was enough
for the guards who would not necessarily approach you, or holding a "pass",
6,000 to 7,000 passes per month were issued during the first few months of the
Royal Family's stay!). When you know that, without photographs at the time, it
was easy to transfer those cards, the possibilities were huge. Especially since
possible escape routes (such as Stable doors or Courtyards) were only found
AFTER the death of the Royal Family, such a plan wasn't at all utopic for the
conspirators.
The plan we are interested in was
probably the best and most baffling of all, and would have succeeded... but we
all know the rest. Ryoko Ikeda probably found the name of the General thanks to
Lepitre (What a name for a conspirator!), who was one of the leaders in the
conspiracy, and also the one who talked about the implicated parties (including
Jarjayes). It is most probable that Ikeda found an account of the surprising
story Lepitre gave (well after the facts) in 1817.
The plan was simple, but
effective:
The Ringleader was Toulan, a member
of the Commune, who, even though he was in public a fervent adept of the
Republican Cause, was in fact devoted to the Royal Family. Being so active in
the Commune, he was the one who, on the 26 January 1793, stole the Stamp and
Ring of the dead king, secured in the Council Room, and restituted it to
Marie-Antoinette, while being the loudest in protesting against the
theft.
Toulan managed to convince Lepitre to
help in his plan to arrange the escape of the Royal Family. The only problem
was that Lepitre was much more interested in the money he would be paid than the
Royalist Cause.
Costumes were collected and/or
created for Marie-Antoinette and Mme Elisabeth. Male costumes, including
padding to change their figures, hats and all accessories. They deployed an
incredible ingeniosity in getting these items inside the walls of the prison.
It would be more difficult to get Mme Royal and the Dauphin outside, but they
elaborated a plan including more costumes and even the drugging of the tabacco
the guards would be using this night. Finally, they would be escaping one by
one using fake passes that Lepitre was supposed to get them. As I said, once in
possession of the passes, the guards wouldn't pay too much attention to the
holders of the documents, and they could get outside to the Rue de la Corderie,
were M. de Jarjayes (there he is!), would lead them to
safety.
Jarjayes would only have a secondary
role because his face was too well known to be part of the core of the
operation, but he was given the difficult task to protect and hide the family.
Besides, he had helped engineered the plan and was a solid contact regarding the
operations with the Queen.
At this point, I will have to say
that the General was also a "Marechal de Camp", and that he was a simple knight
(Chevalier de Jarjayes, and not a Count, which makes me think that he may not
have been of military descent, but acquired a name and title for himself, nor
Great Nobility). This is quite contrary to the image and background given by
Ryoko Ikeda of the character, but she was right in stating the undying devotion
of the General to the King and then the Queen. He actually had stayed in Paris,
at the risk of his own life, by order of the King, and after his execution for
the Queen herself, even though he did not have any formal
orders.
The operation had been exactly timed
and thought over. Every details of the day studied, the schedule was finally
drawn.
But Lepitre was late in delivering
the passes, despite a FF200,000 advance, and soon, when the date reached the 13
March, Jarjayes correctly assumed that it was now too late to allow the escape
of the whole family. This is where his presence in History is best known: he
offers to help the Queen escape, but she refuses if her children are not saved.
One of her last letters to Jarjayes starts with these words: "We made a
beautiful dream, that's all". She then thanks the Chevalier for his devotion
but assures him that she has no regrets if her Son cannot accompany her. This
is the last known involvement of Jarjayes with the Royal Family and the last
trace of his passage in History.
There may have been some time later a
plan to help "Louis XVII" escape, and this would have involved the plan devised
by Toulan and Jarjayes, modified to accommodate the new elements, but the
involvement of Robespierre and the events leading to the great controversy as to
whether it was the Dauphin who died in the Temple or not prevented such an
action. To this day, even due to staggering evidence provided by new technology
and DNA testing, there are still some doubts and some historians still refuse
this fact.
Later, many more attempts to save the
Royal Family (especially the one led by the Baron de Batz) were made, some
nearly succeeded. Nearly... because we all know the rest.
Andre Grandier
Sadly, Andre is a fictitious
character. Still, Ryoko Ikeda had to find her ideas somewhere. And find
a name... A funny little coincidence came across when I was reading about
something totally different. The only Grandier I could find a trace of,
in History, was Urbain Grandier, who was executed as a sorcerer under Louis
XIII. The poor man, in fact a victim of a political plot of the Church looking
for a scapegoat, was accused of bewitching a few young nuns and served as an
example. After or before this, I couldn't find the name Grandier anywhere
else. The interesting fact is that Grandier was condemned after a young nun,
being interrogated about him, supposedly "reverted to a trance-like state" and
shouted "Urbanus magicus rosas diabolica". This sentence, although in
incorrect Latin -but what would you expect at this time with little
instruction-, meant, at least according to the accusers, that Urbain (Urbanus)
the Magician bewitched her with roses coming from the Devil. She is,
after that, supposed to have had roses coming out of her neck and ears, smelling
of Sulphur.
Could it be possible that this
relatively obscure fact was known to Ryoko Ikeda and that she used the name of the
Martyr, because of the implication of the roses in his tragic
fate?
Before the Revolution
If there is one thing which always amazed me about the French
Revolution, this is the fact there should have never been one. Maybe it was the
timing, the misunderstandings, the attitude of the Royal Family and all events,
which, taken one after another, managed to heat up the people enough that the
reform became Revolution. I have, of course, to give their due to the great
leaders, the inspiration of the Revolution, who, for the People or for their own
purpose, by their views and eloquent versions, speeches and actions, lead a
group of men, not always sure about the direction to take, into one of the
World's best known Historical Event.
It was acquired: there would be a reform, and some striking
changes into the social and economic state of the Kingdom. Was it enough?,
obviously not. But the situation was maybe a bit different to what most people
think to this day:
In 1789, the Clergy represents the
First Order of the Kingdom. They not only hold religious functions but operate
in many civil functions as well. They benefit from important privileges and
their revenue comes mostly from many taxes, the most important, well known and
direct being the "Dîme", and their only monetary contribution to the Kingdom is
the "Free Gift", the amount of which is decided every 5 years and doesn't
represent much of their revenue.
There are many oppositions within
their rank. First between the "regular" clergy (dedicated to the Mass,
teaching, Charity or contemplation), which suffers strenuous losses in numbers
(vocations becoming rarer by the year) and the "high secular clergy", made of
high ranking religious men, all issued from the Nobility. For obvious reasons,
these insist on the keeping of their financial and judiciary
privileges.
There is also the "bottom" of the
Clergy, which varies tremendously from region to region, and these are far from
opulent, and many haven't received even the most basic instruction. This is
this (major) part of the Clergy which will protest against the lavish lifestyles
of their higher ranking counterparts.
The Nobility comes as the second
Order. The "Noblesse d'epee" (who gained their Nobility by acts of bravery
-often at war-, and can be of new or very old Nobility) is opposed to the
"Noblesse de Robe" (who gained their Nobility by acquitting themselves of
functions which require them to be nobles, and can often buy those charges and
functions). Amongst the "Noblesse d'epee", you also need to make the
distinction between the Nobility at the Court of France and the Nobility of its
Provinces.
The Nobility at Court benefits from
high revenues. The King grants them houses and domain near his Palace, and they
also receive pensions. Military officers receive a gracious
pay.
However, "looking the part" at Court
costs a massive amount of money, and many Nobles had little choice but contract
debts (the Duke of Orleans had a seventy-four Millions debt), sell or lend their
domains...
The Nobility further away from Paris,
on the other hand, is often living in misery and difficult conditions. Only
able to gain revenue from their domains, they hate the Nobility of the Court and
the "Bourgeoisie", often richer than them, but that they cannot imitate at the
risk of losing their Title.
The "Noblesse de Robe" is constituted
of members executing certain functions conferring the statute of Nobility. It
is important to note that, amongst all the political elements of the Court, the
vast majority are noble, that all the high administration is noble and that
amongst all the ministers of the reign of Louis XVII, Necker is the only
commoner.
When the Revolution threatens, all
types of Nobles (but even more so the "Noblesse de Robe" and the Nobility at
Court, having common interests) seem to "stick together" and advocate their
exclusivity, and tend to become a closed caste.
The Nobility is not necessarily
against a reform of the institutions and they do not object to the Monarchy
becoming constitutional rather than a God given Birth right, providing their
interests are safe.
Finally, the "Tiers-Etat" (Third
State). This is the notion which is the most debatable and the least easy to
analyse or understand. There are many misunderstandings.
The "Bourgeoisie" believed, in all
good Faith, that they incarnated the People of France. Granted they were many
and presented many aspects, but they certainly did not include all of the French
people.
The Bourgeoisie itself offers a
striking "hierarchy" in itself, between the high class (lawyers, doctors,
advisors...) and the middle-bottom class (mostly crafters and
artisans...).
The high bourgeoisie always had a
vision of its importance (intellectual and political) and the functions they
could occupy if it wasn't for the birth right of the Nobility. This is then
hardly surprising that they would welcome a radical social and political
transformation. They counted amongst them many great artists, writers and
philosophers, many using their talents later to "lead" the Revolution and the
New Regime.
The lower and middle bourgeoisie are
maybe even more unhappy about their situation. However, there is in them a
striking contradiction: they welcome a social change which would help their
social ascension, but they fear liberalism which would provide more competition
and therefore, economically speaking, they would rather support the traditions
of the past and welcome a Reglementation.
But these are the people forming the
base of the "Sans Culottes".
In 1789, most of the bourgeoisie
doesn't support a Revolution. They are faithful to the Monarchy. They do not
demand an abolition of the Nobility, but rather a union with them, ad obviously
equality.
Amongst those people most frustrated
by the social order, the workers (spending often over 12 hours a day in
factories in poor conditions) demand the right for everybody to be able to
afford their bread. They realise that changes so far only benefited the
Nobility and Bourgeoisie. Also in those ranks were the peasants, the majority
of the French people at that time, frustrated by the heavy taxes and practices
still maintained (such as the "servage") by the Nobility. Those men and women
were ready (and had over the years already created havoc) to lend a hand to the
Revolution.
From this account, I have to admit, there is a lot in favour
of a social and economic change, maybe radical or not, but this is not
necessarily against the Monarchy. It also took a fair amount of persuasion,
actions (lack of respect, misunderstanding of the parties involved?
interpretation of the acts of the Royalty?) and speeches to lead to the
Revolution. Many people declare that, once started, the move could not be
stopped. This may be true, but there is still to define at which point it was
irreversible. And there is also the point that the Revolution may have been
prevented.
Finally, I will have to say that, sadly, what is notorious
and remains in our minds may not necessarily be the Revolution itself (which was
quite a positive move, leading to the ideas of equality, the Declaration of the
Human Rights, etc...) and a lot less extreme than one wishes to think, but the
bloodshed that followed during the "Terror" and the "Great Terror", where the
heads of the Nobility (and not only the Nobles!) were rolling
constantly.
Victims of the Revolution
As an indication, here are a few figures
I came across regarding the Revolution, the wars against the nations opposed to
the Revolution, the civil wars, the casualties of the war of the "Chouans" and
the Terror (over 4-5 years): (Yes, I am boring so I counted and
compiled)
14 July 1789: Paris,
Bastille: About 100 dead and 115 wounded. Not exactly the massacre
one would have expected: the Bastille was nearly deserted when it was taken)
17 July 1791: Paris,
Champ-de-Mars. La Fayette and Bailly open fire on a group of protesters
demanding the "replacement" of Louis XVI.
About 12 to 40 dead and about 400 wounded
according to the Quid.
10 August 1792: Paris,
Tuileries. The attackers who will take the castle kill 600 of the 900
members of the Swiss Guard defending the castle (according to
Tulard/Fayard/Fierro). 786 killed (including 26 officers) according to the Quid, and amongst
the attackers: 98 dead and 270 wounded.
September 1792: Paris:
about 1 100 victims in Paris (Nobles, prisoners of common right, priests...)
according to Moure. 1 395 dead according to the Quid (which quotes the prisoners as the major part of
the victims, including teenagers, children and women). 3 400 victims according to Sanson (quite a
difference!).Outside Paris: about 300 dead (Quid).
November 1793: Lyon
massacre: 2 000 killed under the fire of the canons of the Republican Army,
according to Vovelle; 1 876 killed according to the Quid.
The Terror
Nantes:
15 000 victims (Biographie portative des contemporains)
Between 8 000 and 12 000 (Guepin, Lescardieri, Laurant, Historians at Nantes)
About 20 000 dead for Cretineau-Joly,
but 31 724 according to the Count of Rovigo. Only 900 according to
Dugast-Matifeux, between 900-2 800 according to Gaston-Martin.
Prudhomme counts 32 000 victims and
details the Women and Children drowned or gunned down, Nobles and
artisans.
Drownings organised by Carrier (October to December 1793):
4 860 dead according to Lallie, 1 800 for
Gaston Martin, 4 800 dead including 2 000 killed Christmas week
(Quid).
Revolutionary Tribunal of Nantes,
March 1793 to May 1794:
273 Death sentences, 42 deported (J.J. Bregeon)
Other Provinces:
332 guillotined or gunned down in Orange, 298 in
Bordeaux, 62 in
Bayonne, 391 in
Arras (Robespierre's hometown), 267 in Rennes, according to the
Quid.
Paris:
The Revolutionary Tribunal of
Paris gave out 4 021 sentences from April 6 1793, there were 2 585 Death
sentences and 1 306 suspects acquitted, 72 prison sentences and 36 deportations
and 22 cases were sent to other tribunals (Gerard Walter).
According to Tulard, the number of
people presented before that Tribunal was 5 343 and 2 747 condemned and
executed.
Number of Death penalties pronounced
by the Tribunal and other instances in the whole of France: 16 594. (in 10
months of the "Terror"). According to Tulard/Fayard/Fierro).
Of those who died under the Guillotine:
With Trial:From 13 800 according to Mourre to 18 613
denounced by Prudhomme,
Without Trial: From 25 000 (Mourre) to 40 000
according to Donald Greer.
Figures regarding prisoners at this
time vary from 100 000 to 500 000.
Vendee:
War in Vendee: The Military
Vendee (773 cities on over 10 000 square kilometres) lost about 15% of its
resident population, meaning at least 117 257 dead out of 815 000, according to
Reynald Seycher. 150 000 dead for François Lebrun.
Wars and war of the "Chouans": From
300 000 to 600 000, possibly more, including Republican soldiers, Chouans
soldiers, civilians (executed), Women and Children, and including those dead
from cold or hunger (All sources).
Total of the losses over the wars
of the Revolution and the beginning of the empire: about 2 millions dead. 400
000 are the direct results of Revolutionary wars and 400 000 to 500 000 from the
civil wars from 1792 to 1799. Deaths due to the Civil War accounted for 0.53%
of the French Population, which was about 28.5 millions at the time
(Soria).
Berusaiyu no Bara; Lady Oscar: All Rights Reserved Ikeda Productions 1972-1973, Tokyo Movie Shinsha Co. 1979-1980.
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