In 1679, King Louis XIV ordered the construction of the Great Stable of the Château de Versailles , under the direction of Jules Hardouin-Mansart. With the already existing Petite Ecurie, it will constitute the Royal Stables and become an equestrian center of excellence. As early as the 16th century, the highly mobile Court crisscrossed France requiring more than 10,000 horses. These horses were essential to the king and gentlemen, but also for carriages and carts. The number of horses and staff varies according to the large houses, but also according to the needs for hunting and large parties, such as carousels. Around 1620 there were already 250 horses, 40 squires and 20 carriages in Paris, plus the necessary personnel. We therefore see the usefulness of royal stables.
The royal stables of Versailles
Among the first works to embellish his father's castle, Louis XIV had stables built, the first at Versailles in 1662, in the building to the right of the forecourt , for about 50 horsepower. The lack of space, they were moved to the city of Versailles and 200 boarders were reached; still insufficient, Jules Hardouin Mansart was delegated to find another piece of land and build stables worthy of the king. He chooses and negotiates plots of land on the site of the private mansions of Noailles and Guitry-Lauzun.
The king wanted them majestic, serving for his representation, in order to mark his power and his prestige. They thus concentrated the means and the men proving their values by founding the School of Versailles, crucible of the equestrian art, whose riders made work the pages, the privileged riders, the king and the members of his family; the stables were to be the showcase for the horses of the kingdom, a model for Europe and with good reason, nowadays we speak of the Royal Stables but never of the Republican Stables!
The king had horses installed there, often from foreign origin:for hunting, he favored those of England and Ireland; for the riding school, those from Spain and North Africa, as Jean François Félibien noted in 1703 "an admirable elite of horses from England, Poland, Denmark, Prussia, Spain, Africa, of Persia and various other distant countries, not to mention those of France”.
The king's great and small stables
The royal stables were built between 1679 and 1680, facing the Place d'Armes, in an arc, at the top of the crow's feet formed by the avenues of Paris in the center, Saint Cloud on the left and Sceaux on the right. With their backs to the château, there are two large buildings that are practically twins, separated by the avenue de Paris. Looks the same on the front, the back is different.
The Great Stables on the left receive riding, hunting and war horses and the training of pages and squires. There were saddle horses, carousel horses, including the king's 30 beasts, some 300 hunting horses, a few carriage horses and mourning carriages, all under the leadership of the grand squire nicknamed "Monsieur le Grand” which had a very comfortable apartment. The next pavilion on the left was reserved for the school of the pages, the dormitories, the classrooms, the chapel and the prison.
The horses were installed in stalls (boxes did not yet exist) classified by breed and coat color.
The stables opened onto the large rectangular covered riding arena. On these grounds, there was also access to five inner courtyards, including the outbuildings and the hay. Basically, we arrived at the quarry to work on the horses outdoors or present the carousels.
The upholstery was sumptuous, paneled with carpentry, equipped with large cupboards, containing the harnesses of the horses of the princes, the squires, the dauphin and the king. These cupboards protected shoe covers, boot covers, scabbards, pistol quarter panels. Around, we discovered the saddle racks where everyone had the saddle of the horse and his name inscribed on a plate. Above hung the bridles, set in gold and silver. In the chests around, there were pompoms, ribbons, cockades of all colors.
It was in the large stables that Louis XIV's horses were trained. There was therefore a multitude of personnel which often reached 1000 individuals:pages, squires, valets, grooms... not to mention the surgeon, the apothecary for the medicinal preparations of the equines, the musicians for the carousel (Lully had an apartment there ), carousel sprinklers. They also had space for wild boars to get the horses used to the smell of these animals!
Around 1814, the School of Versailles, transformed into a National Riding School, was transferred to Saumur. The Cadre Noir de Saumur, initially for military purposes, has evolved into modern sport riding, but is the worthy heir of the School of Versailles. Nowadays, the carousel of the large stable houses the Academy of equestrian entertainment and its 40 horses, as well as the coach museum.
The small stables, located on the right, were used for ordinary horses lent to certain gentlemen, for carriage horses, also welcoming horse-drawn carriages and small carriages. The carousel is circular; the buildings had three galleries furnished with stalls and all the fittings necessary for the horses. This is where the first squire "Monsieur le Premier" lived. The smaller and less majestic upholstery, however, received all the equipment necessary for harnessing, harnessing the horses and the supplies for the carriages.
These stables were important:around 1750, 2200 horses lived there. In 1790, there were still 1200. The royal stables tried to survive the Revolution, but were forced to close and the horses dispersed or confiscated. The Squires either went into exile or met an abrupt end.
Since the Second World War, the small stable has housed administrations.
The main professions in the stables
Under the Old Regime, in the world of horses, the supreme honor was to accede to the office of grand equerry, nicknamed "Monsieur le Grand", responsible for the equerries and pages. These three highly sought-after places, which were often passed on in families, would be nothing without the grooms, the lowest but essential level.
The Groom
Under Louis XIV, the groom was "a flunkey", almost a slave, sleeping on the straw in the stable. His work was essential, he had to scrape the ice from the drinking troughs in winter, he waded through the mud in the spring and spent his time scrubbing, cleaning, removing manure.
Over time, the situation of these servants has changed. It is the man that the horse sees and hears first, who knows if the animal is well or rather sick. He carefully watches over the animals and the installations, the stalls, the stables, the drinking troughs (primary element in the same way as the gasoline pump nowadays), the horse not liking dirty water at all. He becomes a valuable auxiliary for the rider, preparing the mount for him and often making it work.
The page
Young people from old noble families entered the school of Versailles at age 15, after presenting their quarters of nobility to be admitted. They all aspired to become squires or cavalry officers. The fifty chosen ones received general instruction and riding lessons for four years. The most motivated then reached the rank of student squire. The best becoming "cavalcadours" could help with the lessons given to the new pages and help the squires with the training of the horses.
Proud and happy, they had permission to accompany the king when he traveled in a carriage or on horseback . For night shifts, four pages from the Little Stable lighted up all around the royal carriage and two other pages were available for each following vehicle. During times of war, pages served as aides-de-camp. When there was a hunt, each lady riding a horse from the Little Stable was accompanied by a page from the Little Stable.
The squire, sir
The student squire followed a three or four year apprenticeship before obtaining the rank of "ordinary squire". The very strict selection admitted three or four winners. At this point, they were already in their thirties, received permission to teach new ones, train young horses and put them to work.
The best were interested in equestrian art, based on three principles "gathering, impulse, balance". The squire had to sense any change in the animal, the goal being to become one with it:a status that fostered respect and made people envious.
The first squire directed the King's Small Stable and commanded the so-called ordinary squires, the pages and the valets. He had to be present when the King rose and when he went to bed, in order to know if the monarch wanted to ride a horse or decided on a hunt. Depending on the case, he prepared his boots for him and put on his spurs.
One of his functions was to help the king:to get into the carriage, to pick up an object that the monarch drops on the ground, to put on his cuirass and to give him his arms on days of battle, as an aide-de-camp.
The Great Squire, Mr. Great
The office of Grand Ecuyer dates back to the days of the ancient Capetian warlords, when kings showed a particular interest in horses. At the beginning of the 15th century, it was a court service in its own right. The Grand Ecuyer was already directing 200 horses and around 1500 we began to talk about modern horsemanship, the first Grand Ecuyer being Galéas de San Severino.
Monsieur le Grand always came from a large family, was very well paid and this financially interesting position was always a pretext for favors since he was very close to the king. From Louis XIV, this office will remain in the "Lorraine" family until the Revolution.
The Grand Equerry had substantial advantages, such as his pavilion on the edge of the rue de Paris, in the large stables, 72 rooms on 3 floors, including attics for servants .
The grand equerry reigned over the staff, supervising the pages and other officers of the stable as well as the musicians, doctors, surgeons; close to the king, he attended the levee, had an important place during the ceremonies by walking alongside the monarch, being invited like the king and having the right to ride in the royal carriage; when entering towns, the grand equerry on horseback and carrying the royal sword in a scabbard of blue velvet, sprinkled with golden fleurs-de-lis preceded the king. In times of war, he lodged next to the monarch, ready to provide him with the necessary horses.
But he had other responsibilities, including supervising the royal studs, choosing the stallions and controlling the academies. In addition, he managed the funds intended for the liveries of the personnel of the two stables and of certain corps of officers of the king's household.
Some Great King's Squires
Let us now look at some great riders who have marked the history of the royal stables and the School of Versailles by developing the equestrian art to modern riding current.
Antoine de Pluvinel
He is the true precursor and undisputed first master of the French riding school. Protected by Henry III and Henry IV, this first grand equerry introduced Louis XIII to horse riding and supplanted the Italian masters who had ruled until then, by developing equestrian techniques.
Born in Valentinois in 1555, he moved to Italy at the age of ten to learn horse riding under Pignatelli until around 1572. Mr de Sourdis, first squire to Charles IX, brought him back to France to be named first squire to the Duke of Anjou, the future Henri III. Among the gentlemen accompanying Henry III to Poland, he was one of those with whom the young king left the country hastily to ascend the throne of France in 1574. In 1589, on the accession of Henry IV, Pluvinel retained his office and income of chamberlain, under governor of the dolphin, tutor of the duke of Vendôme. Five years later, as the first ordinary equerry, he founded an equestrian academy, at the location of the current Place des Pyramides.
It is from this moment that he revolutionizes horse riding becoming the art of equestrianism, according to his two principles:the horse must be considered as a sentient being and intelligent and his psychology should not be overlooked. He wants the welfare of the horse. First of all, he recommends simple bits, with broken barrels so as not to hit the horse's mouth; then he abolishes the brutal processes and insists on the soft methods "one must be stingy with blows and lavish caresses in order, as always repeated, to oblige the horse to obey and handle more for pleasure than for evil". P>
It transforms the teaching of dressage, by making the horse work "the brains more than the kidneys and legs". The flexibility of the horse is important and must be worked around the pillars for the movement and positioning of the hips, a method still relevant in Vienna in the Spanish school. Pluvinel is totally against abuse and beatings "let kindness prevail over severity ... one should not beat a horse unless its disobedience is the result of laziness". His writings will be published in 1623 three years after his death. The "royal carousel" was created in the form of an interview for Louis XIII when he was his riding master. Revised a little later, it will bear the title of "Instruction du roi en l'enseignement de mounted à cheval", embellished with illustrations by Crispin de Pas.
Antoine de Pluvinel trained in warrior horsemanship, able to make it evolve into pleasure riding. He can be described as the “father of modern horsemanship”. These principles would be taken up and perfected a century later by La Guérinière.
François Robichon de La Guérinière
Born in 1688, spent his youth in Normandy where his brother was director of the Caen Riding Academy . Equerry to the king in 1715, he directed the riding academy in Paris, at the Tuileries riding school. In fifteen years, he made a great reputation until in 1731 he was appointed ordinary equerry by the Grand Ecuyer Charles de Lorraine, Count of Armagnac.
Based on the writings of Pluvinel, but especially on those of Salomon de La Broue, ordinary squire of the Great Stable of the King under Henry III, La Guérinière wishes a school of simpler, more natural riding and above all more adapted to the horse's abilities "knowledge of the naturalness of a horse is one of the first foundations of the art of riding it, and every horseman must make it his main study".
It emphasizes two crucial points, the flexibility and the conditioning of the horse with the shoulder in and the descent of the hand, "this lesson produces so much good effects at the same time that I consider it as the first and the last of all those that can be given to the horse to make him take on complete suppleness and perfect freedom in all his parts”. His writings "School of Cavalry" around 1731/1733, embellished with plates by Parrocel, are recognized by all the major riding schools.
Louise Julie Constance de Rohan
Madame de Brionne was Grand Esquire to King Louis XV. Daughter of Charles de Rohan, she was born in 1734. On the death of the Grand Ecuyer Charles de Lorraine in 1751, her responsibility fell to her great-nephew, the Comte de Brionne, husband of Louise Julie. Recently married, she gave him that same year a first son, then two daughters and a last son. Due to this charge of Grand Ecuyer, they lived in the apartment in the large stables that Louise Julie had renovated and transformed to her liking. The day of the grand squire is exhausting:as soon as he gets up at 5 a.m., he oversees the grooming of the horses, then the awakening of the pages at 6 a.m., attends the king's levy at 8 a.m., is present at the large table, participates in hunting days; he deals with the administration of the stables and meetings with his deputies; he must return to the castle for supper and it is often after midnight when his day ends.
The day the Comte de Brionne fell ill in 1760, his eldest son was only 9 years old; in no case can he transmit his office to his son before the heir is 25 years old. He then asks the king to entrust the position to his wife while waiting for the boy to come of age. Never seen ! The king hesitates for a long time, not seeing a woman in such a position, but promises that the son will become grand squire. A year later, the Comte de Brionne died. His young wife does not let herself be discouraged, she especially wants to keep the superb apartment as well as the income and advantages of her husband. Helped by her friends, she wrote a memoir addressed to the king, showing that in history, several women had held male positions and recently the Countess of Toulouse had held the office of Admiral of France during the minority of the Duke of Penthievre. Finally, the Chamber of Accounts accepted in September 1761.
For 10 years, she reigned over the Great Stables, riding admirably on horseback and holding her rank in the great ceremonies. An excellent administrator, she took care of the maintenance and repair of the buildings, leaned over the school of the pages, noting their qualities and their faults, while having some problems with the First Master of the small stables, who wanted to take over. on the Grand Esquire since she was a woman. She educates her son perfectly until he comes of age. Having to leave the large stables with regret, she bought the Château de Limours, renovated it and organized balls and shows. In 1789, she retired to Austria, where she died at the age of 81 in 1815.
Antoine Cartier
Comte d'Aure, born in 1799, second lieutenant in 1815, was seconded to the Manège de Versailles to quickly become a cavalcadour squire to Louis XVIII in 1817. The School of Versailles being abolished in 1830, the Comte d'Aure successively opened three rides in the heart of Paris. He aspires to make French breeding better known, to teach outdoor riding in quarries and to encourage hunts and races. Chief squire at Saumur in 1847, he was appointed commandant of the stables of Napoleon III and Inspector General of Haras in 1861, until his death in 1863.
The Comte d'Aure, one of the best riders, showed throughout his life, qualities of balance and dexterity "think of the movement you want to execute, and you will see that it will go by itself”, as well as a great audacity on horseback, going to break in young horses himself.
The "Treatise on Horsemanship" in 1834 and the "Reflections on a New Method of Horsemanship" of 1842, will remain famous.