The Siècle history podcast

Wikipedia claims Louis-Philippe's son Ferdinand-Philippe "made his regiment wear the tricolor cockade and quickly led them to aid the [July Revolution]." That's unfortunately not quite true — as I explain in a bonus episode only for paid Patrons. Back the show in at any level to listen:

Detail from an 1831 German-language genealogical chart of Europe's royal families, by Friedrich Pustet, showing the "Haus Bourbon" including Ludwig XVIII, Carl X, and Ludwig Philipp: viewer.onb.ac.at/10F910D7

Well, in 2018 I thought I'd start a little history podcast to occupy my time in between jobs. 552,000 words later...

Earlier, I looked into the widespread claims that Jules de Polignac believed himself to be receiving visions from the Virgin Mary during the July Revolution. I tracked down all the claims I could find and found most of them dubious at best. But today I found some new information on this mystery!

Here's the relevant passages from pages 333-4 of Puymaigre's memoirs. The full book is free online: play.google.com/store/books/...

Earlier, I looked into the widespread claims that Jules de Polignac believed himself to be receiving visions from the Virgin Mary during the July Revolution. I tracked down all the claims I could find and found most of them dubious at best. But today I found some new information on this mystery!

This doesn't change my conclusion that Polignac *probably* did not believe himself to be receiving visions, but it does support the idea that some version of this story was circulating in post-1830 salons, and that Fitz-James was probably one of those spreading it.

Earlier, I looked into the widespread claims that Jules de Polignac believed himself to be receiving visions from the Virgin Mary during the July Revolution. I tracked down all the claims I could find and found most of them dubious at best. But today I found some new information on this mystery!

The Maid of Orleans is Joan of Arc, who famously was motivated by visions she said were divine (though from the Archangel Michael and several saints, not Mary). So, hmmm.

Earlier, I looked into the widespread claims that Jules de Polignac believed himself to be receiving visions from the Virgin Mary during the July Revolution. I tracked down all the claims I could find and found most of them dubious at best. But today I found some new information on this mystery!

Note important context for all of this: Puymaigre is writing this account after the July Revolution; he calls Polignac someone "whose memory is so disastrous", and as a Legitimist has an obvious motivation to scapegoat Polignac for the fall of the Bourbon Restoration.

Earlier, I looked into the widespread claims that Jules de Polignac believed himself to be receiving visions from the Virgin Mary during the July Revolution. I tracked down all the claims I could find and found most of them dubious at best. But today I found some new information on this mystery!

In Puymaigre's memoirs, published posthumously in 1884, he describes meeting with Polignac in the winter of 1829-30. Puymaigre says he came to warn the prime minister about discontent — "the ominous signs of a revolution." Polignac had "an air of self-importance [Polignac] mistook for firmness."

Earlier, I looked into the widespread claims that Jules de Polignac believed himself to be receiving visions from the Virgin Mary during the July Revolution. I tracked down all the claims I could find and found most of them dubious at best. But today I found some new information on this mystery!

Back in Fact Check 3, I found many of the claims about Polignac's visions traced back to the Duc de Fitz-James, a leading ultraroyalist. For example, Auguste Jal's 1877 memoirs describe meeting Fitz-James "often in 1831," and that Fitz-James there told him that Polignac claimed to see Marian visions

My first livestreamed aftershow is wrapped! If you missed it, you can watch the full discussion here:

This little scamp is François. He's 12 years old in this picture, and in two months his father Louis-Philippe will become King of the French. An older François was also the artist of this painting. He was a watercolorist and painted many scenes from his life, including voyages & revolutions.

As François & his family arrived for the dinner, they were suddenly pushed to the side by a group of armed soldiers, escorting a precious treasure they announced in a thundering voice: "La viande du Roi!" Or, roughly, "Make way for the King's meat!" Young François never forgot this moment.

This little scamp is François. He's 12 years old in this picture, and in two months his father Louis-Philippe will become King of the French. An older François was also the artist of this painting. He was a watercolorist and painted many scenes from his life, including voyages & revolutions.

Growing up in proximity to the royal court, François would later say King Louis XVIII featured in his earliest memory. The occasion is January 1824, at a Twelfth Night (Epiphany) dinner Louis hosted at the Tuileries Palace. François would find the bean in the galette du roi, a big deal for a kid.

This little scamp is François. He's 12 years old in this picture, and in two months his father Louis-Philippe will become King of the French. An older François was also the artist of this painting. He was a watercolorist and painted many scenes from his life, including voyages & revolutions.