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The Fronde is a series of anti-government troubles in France in 1648-1652.

What is the Fronda? The definition of this term, although it has a strictly historical basis - they are called a series of anti-government speeches in France in the mid-17th century, - nevertheless is ironic and mocking. The events showed that all the main actors of those long-standing events turned out to be hypocrites, who in words favored the welfare of the country and its people, but in reality pursued only their own selfish interests.

A little excursion into linguistics

We will linger a little more on the word "front" itself. This is none other than the Russian-speaking pronunciation of French - Fronde, which means "sling". Once it was called the popular children's game, which belongs to the category of empty and frivolous fun. For the reasons outlined above, it is customary to use it against people who say they are dissatisfied with the authorities, but who are not able to decide on any specific actions.

France mid-17th century

Events that gave impetus to the emergence of this term, began to unfold in France since the twenties of the XVII century. By that time, most of the country's population, which was peasants, was actually ruined by wars, exorbitant taxes and looting both on the part of its army and a number of enemy hordes. This was the reason for the social tension that resulted in open riots.

According to the established tradition, the front is a term used to denote the speeches of representatives of the higher French aristocracy, who tried to use popular discontent for their own personal purposes. At that time, under the young Louis XIV, the government was administered by his mother - the Queen Regent Anne of Austria and the first Minister Cardinal Mazarin. Their policies aroused discontent not only among the masses, but also the court elite. As a result, the opposition was formed, which was headed by the parliament.

Disparate speeches of the masses

Confrontation of representatives of the highest levels of government was preceded by popular performances. And although the rebellion is often meaningless and ruthless, regardless of whether it flares up in the Orenburg steppes or under the windows of Versailles, in this case the queen and the cardinal were lucky - it was only a matter of building barricades, and there was no bloodshed. But the fear of Anne of Austria suffered and made concessions to rebels and parliament.

A new turn of events took place when, in 1648, the Prince of Conde, bribed with generous gifts, rose to the side of the queen, a recognized hero of the thirty-year war that had just ended . This desperate adventurer and a soldier soldier surrounded Paris with his detachments, thus provoking a new outburst of discontent among the masses, who, in alliance with a whole group of aristocrats, took to the streets again.

The court struggle and the continuation of the Troubles

The Fronde is exactly what was formed as a result of such a striking misalliance - the union of a poor people and satiated rich people. If the first in their anti-government slogans were quite sincere, the latter tried to extract only personal benefits from what was happening. This was well understood by the main initiators of the Troubles - members of parliament. Not hoping for the help of the aristocracy, they hastened to conclude a peace treaty with the queen, and on this everything has temporarily subsided.

But a lasting peace in the country did not happen. Tranquility was violated by the same Prince Conde. As it turned out, he was devoured by an exuberant envy of Mazarin and a desire to impose on the regent of the king the acceptance of personal political decisions. Not possessing the ability to lead a delicate court intrigue, he with his rude antics turned the yard against himself and eventually ended up in prison.

The commander in the cassock

While the radiant troublemaker was sitting in the cell of the Vincennes castle, a new rebellion broke out in the country, this time organized by his own sister, together with the Duke of La Rochefoucauld and a group of aristocrats who hated the cardinal. The main danger to the court was that Princess Conde and her friends, ignoring the national interests, attracted as their allies the Spaniards, the traditional enemies of France. No wonder the opinion was established that the front is first of all a struggle of personal interests.

It was necessary for the cardinal to leave for a time the service of the Mass in the Cathedral of the Notre Dame and to lead the troops to suppress the rebellious regions. He was accompanied by success, and soon the bulk of the rebels lay down their arms. The longest resisted the government forces of Bordeaux, but his defenders surrendered in July 1650. It should be noted that Mazarin, despite the fact that he was a person of high spiritual rank, knew the military business well. After suppressing the rebels, he quickly and competently stopped the offensive of the Spaniards who were advancing to them.

The freedom and treachery of Prince Conde

However, after the defeat of the rebels, the front in France did not give up - too many were at Mazarin's enemies in Paris itself. The aristocrats, who hated him and rushed to power, conspired with the parliament that had become subdued for some time and created a coalition that demanded of the queen the removal of Mazarin from power and the release of Prince Conde from prison. Encouraged by the confusion of Anne of Austria, the frontiers tried to declare ruler under the young king Louis XIV not her, but the prince of Orleans.

The first two requirements were met, and Prince Conde left prison. After being released, he, contrary to the expectations of his former adherents, was flattered by the generous promises of the queen and joined her camp. However, soon finding out that the promises of wealth - just an empty sound, found himself deceived and instantly flipped back to the frontiers. Oddly enough, his old friends gladly accepted him - apparently, their venality was considered quite normal.

War hated by the people

By this time the situation in the country was very serious, and the security of the Queen was threatened by a real threat. In many cities, a mutiny triggered by Prince Conde and his entourage began, and in the south the Spaniards began another offensive. Events could have taken a very bad turn, but Cardinal Mazarin's situation has saved the situation.

Shortly before that, under the pressure of the parliament, demanding his resignation, he left the territory of France. And now, at the most critical moment, appeared again, but not alone, but accompanied by a powerful detachment of mercenaries who were recruited in Germany. It should be noted that he was on time, as Prince Conde with his troops had already entered Paris.

On the streets of the French capital and at the city gate, desperate clashes began. A curious detail - historical documents show that the common people in this case adhered to neutrality, with equal hostility towards both sides of the conflict. Everyone is already fed up with an endless and no-leading enmity, so old that the causes that gave rise to it ceased to be relevant. The Fronde lost the support of the masses and developed into a struggle for power within the state elite.

Completion of the political game

The end of everything was the actions of the regency queen. For the time being, she removed from the capital the cardinal, who was so irritated by the oppositionists, and declared her readiness to yield to the demands of the parliament. This was another political maneuver, but with his help, Anna of Austria attracted to her side former opponents from among the aristocrats. All of them received honorary and warm places in the government. Conde remained alone and soon made another betrayal, joining the Spanish army.

This ended the infamous Fronde. Briefly summarizing what happened, we can say with all confidence that, having begun as an outbreak of mass social protest, this process was drowned in an egoistic struggle for the power of the highest dignitaries of the state. Despite the magnitude of the events, everything that happened in France between 1648 and 1653 was due to the personal interests of a limited number of people. That is why it is commonly believed that the front is a kind of empty game satiated with the wealth and power of politicians.

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