{"id":3434,"date":"2016-03-28T16:17:46","date_gmt":"2016-03-28T16:17:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/news.library.depaul.press\/full-text\/?p=3434"},"modified":"2016-03-30T19:17:00","modified_gmt":"2016-03-30T19:17:00","slug":"saint-vincents-reading-list-lxiii-navigating-the-ranks-of-the-nobility","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.library.depaul.press\/full-text\/2016\/03\/28\/saint-vincents-reading-list-lxiii-navigating-the-ranks-of-the-nobility\/","title":{"rendered":"Saint Vincent’s Reading List LXIII: Navigating the Ranks of the Nobility"},"content":{"rendered":"

Histoire des Dignitez Honoraires de France et Erection de Plusieurs Maisons Nobles en Duchez, Comtez, Pairries, Marquisats & Baronnies<\/em>, by Claude Malingre. Paris: Cardin Besonge, 1636.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Call number: SpC. 929.74 M29h1636<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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\"280px-Albert-de-Gondi\"<\/a>
Albert de Gondi, first Duc de Retz<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Vincent de Paul lived within a hierarchical society of altar and throne. In this power system, sovereignty, wealth, and influence were distributed locally and nationally through a complex web of titled and inter-related noble families and ecclesiastical positions. The various ranks of the nobility were carefully delineated and linked vertically and horizontally by marriage, custom, tradition and law. Standing at the summit of this hierarchy was the royal family, princes of the blood, and of course the king himself. This system was linked to the sovereign authority of the king, and confirmed as appropriate by the various parlements<\/em> and chambres des comptes<\/em> (sovereign courts specializing in financial affairs). The system was politically, socially, and religiously volatile, as families constantly jostled for titles and the power and influence that went with them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As Americans, we are very familiar with the constitutional governance of the United States, and the simultaneous overlapping of executive, legislative and judicial authority and functions at the national, state, county, and local levels. All of this governance is ultimately based on popular sovereignty determined at the ballot box. As citizens, we learn to navigate simultaneously through the multiple layers of government that surround us, and which define our rights and responsibilities as citizens. Life in 17th<\/sup> century France operated on the same basis. Part of Vincent de Paul\u2019s success can be attributed to his knowledge of how power, wealth, and authority worked in the hierarchical world of a divine-right monarchy he inhabited.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

This volume is a contemporary overview of the highest levels of the French nobility, describing in detail the titles and state and church positions occupied by members of the nobility. An interesting side note is the documentation of the claim that the King of France should be considered to be the preeminent Catholic sovereign superior to the Hapsburg Holy Roman Emperor and the Hapsburg King of Spain.<\/p>\n

\"545px-Blason_Albert_de_Gondi_(1522-1602).svg\"<\/a>
The Gondi family coat-of-arms<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

As Vincent de Paul frequently mentions members of the nobility in his writings, one can cross-reference the figures he mentions with the descriptions of their titles and functions as documented in this work. This volume describes Henri III\u2019s erection of the duchy of Retz for the Gondi family. Also contained is a detailed description of the duties of the General of the Galleys of France, a position held for generations by the Gondi family, including by Vincent\u2019s great patron, Philippe Emmanuel de Gondi.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

__________<\/p>\n

St. Vincent\u2019s Reading List is a recurring blog series exploring texts known to have been read and recommended by Saint Vincent de Paul, those which can be presumed to have been read by him, and works published during his lifetime (1581-1660) illustrating his world. All materials discussed are held by DePaul University\u2019s John T. Richardson Library. <\/em>The entire series may be viewed here<\/em>.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Histoire des Dignitez Honoraires de France et Erection de Plusieurs Maisons Nobles en Duchez, Comtez, Pairries, Marquisats & Baronnies, by Claude Malingre. Paris: Cardin Besonge, 1636. Call number: SpC. 929.74 M29h1636   Vincent de Paul lived within a hierarchical society of altar and throne. In this power system, sovereignty, wealth, and influence were distributed locally <\/p>\n

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