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CHAPTER 7
CONCLUSION
The first half of the seventeenth century in Paris witnessed a sudden increase in the
construction of ecclesiastical architecture, making it one of the most active times of church
building in the capital city. As frequently noted in the scholarship, the activity was directly
related to the impact of the Catholic Reformation, which had its greatest influence in Paris at this
time. Less well known is the significance of royal patronage, especially during the reign of
Louis XIII. During this thirty-three year period, when construction started on twenty-one
churches, Maria de’ Medici and Louis XIII contributed individually to ten of the buildings. The
motives behind the monarchs’ support of such an impressive number of churches have been the
focus of this study. Specifically I have endeavored to show that Maria de’ Medici became a
patron of ecclesiastical institutions to promote her authority while demonstrating her support of
the Catholic faith, its institutions, and its allies. Seeking to advance the sovereignty of the state,
Louis XIII contributed to churches that through their architecture, painting, and sculpture
honored French kingship and the monarch’s divine right.
The historical context of early seventeenth-century France was a decisive factor
contributing to the monarchs’ decisions to become patrons of churches. Among the key issues
leading up to this period were the Wars of Religion. Not only did this conflict pit Huguenots
against Catholics, it also created a divide among those practicing the Roman faith, leading to two
distinct agendas pursued by the moderates and conservatives. Aligned with the moderate
ideology, Louis XIII would find himself working against the conservatives for nearly half of his
personal reign while in contrast his mother joined their forces, seeking to further the orthodox
policy. Two other issues influencing the period were the reign of Henri IV, which reiterated the
close connection between Church and state, and the Catholic Reformation in France, which
provided the impetus for the building of so many churches. Each of these developments in
French history contributed to the king and queen’s decisions to provide assistance for
ecclesiastical architecture.
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