Chapter 956 Fleet Visiting Europe (6)

Author: Chongqing Lao Q

Chapter 956 Fleet Visiting Europe (6)

July 2, 1679, France, Grace Le Havre (today's port city of Le Havre in northwest France).

The port of Grace-Le Havre was founded in 1517 and was called "Francico City" at the time. It was named after King Francois I of France who ordered the construction of the city. It was later renamed "Grace-Le Havre", which means "Grace-Le Havre".

That is "Port of Grace" (Le Havre means port or dock).

The Port of Grace Le Havre was built to replace the silted ancient ports of Honfleur and Harfleur. The port is located on the north bank of the estuary of the Seine, one of France's four major rivers. Its geographical location is very important. It is on the edge of the English Channel.

, is the maritime gateway to Paris, the capital of the Kingdom of France.

In the afternoon of that day, in the pouring rain, a Qi fleet visiting Europe, consisting of eight warships, two supply transport ships and five merchant ships, arrived at the port of Grace-Le Havre, which immediately aroused the concern of the local French.

Violent shaking

Before the Qi fleet arrived at the French port, news of the Balearic Battle spread like wildfire to France and was submitted to the desk of King Louis XIV.

Louis XIV was happy to see the outcome of the maritime conflict between the Kingdom of Spain and Qi. Not to mention, in this conflict, the stupid and arrogant Spaniards also suffered heavy losses, not only the loss of naval ships

It was disastrous, and several coastal towns were bombarded by the Qi fleet. It was so embarrassing that it was even thrown into my grandma's house.

Although Louis XIV did not have much favorable impressions of Qi, the relationship between the two countries was neither good nor bad, let alone close. They only maintained envoys to each other and maintained certain official exchanges. But compared to the geopolitical competition

The opponents, the permanent enemies on the battlefield, the Spaniards, the Qi people appear to be a little more lovable.

In order to compete for the hegemony of the European continent and to create the natural boundaries of France, after Louis XIV took office, he spared no effort to launch a war against the Habsburg Dynasty, continuously attacking the Kingdom of Spain and the Holy Roman Empire in both directions east and north.

Territory, heading southwest, trying to push the national border towards the Pyrenees.

It can be said that the HRE and the Kingdom of Spain under the rule of the Habsburg family are the two most important enemies facing France, and they are the opponents that Louis XIV strives to continuously weaken. The Franco-Dutch War that just ended, although the main battle

The target is the United Provinces in the lowlands,

However, France still took the opportunity to severely damage Spain and the HRE, seize Franche-Comté, Flanders, Hainaut and other regions, and also obtained the right to garrison troops in the Principality of Lorraine, which extended French influence to the German region.

France's dominance of Europe has gained an excellent geopolitical situation.

A few years ago, I heard that Spain and Qi had a series of frictions over territorial disputes in the southern tip of America. Several armed conflicts broke out in their respective American territories. Although they were all small-scale battles that did not make it to the stage, it seems that

When the Spaniards got into trouble, the French were still secretly happy about it, which more or less involved the Spaniards' excess energy.

What makes the French even more happy now is that Spain is actually starting a fight with the Qi people on their doorstep. It is said that the fleet was sent by the Qi State to visit Europe, and there were many members of the Qi State's diplomatic mission accompanying it.

The occurrence of such an incident will definitely make the Qi State furious, and it may be necessary to formally declare war on the Spanish.

Perhaps because they had a common enemy, the French gave the Qi delegation a grand reception.

Local French officials even considered that the Qi people had experienced several sea battles and needed urgent repairs to their damaged ships, so they generously vacated a dock and provided the Qi people with a large amount of repair ship materials and canvas.

Although the French navy officers and soldiers of Qi State guarded the ship very carefully and refused French shipwrights to enter the bottom of the cabin, as if they were worried that their shipbuilding craftsmanship and internal structure would be peeked into, although the French had a little grudge, they also expressed their full sympathy.

Understand and respect.

The French navy officers and soldiers in Hong Kong very enthusiastically invited the Qi navy officers and soldiers to participate in various cocktail parties organized by them, and they "exchanged" their experiences in attacking the Spanish navy.

Four days later, an order from His Majesty the King came from Paris, cordially inviting the Qi delegation to Paris to meet with King Louis XIV of France.

A Royal Guards Cavalry of 3,000 people will provide security protection for the mission along the way. Varèse, the king's favorite and opera composer, will personally accompany the mission. Up to 30 royal luxury carriages will thoughtfully escort the mission.

Transportation will be provided for the entire journey. The towns and stations passed along the way will also provide the mission with the highest standard of food and accommodation free of charge.

His Majesty the King requested that wherever the Qi delegation passes, the wealth and power of the Kingdom of France must be vividly presented to these guests arriving from the east.

During the Thirty Years' War, French King Louis XIII and Cardinal Richelieu fought across the European battlefields, making close and distant contacts, greatly weakening the power of the Habsburg dynasty, including Spain, and taking a solid step towards becoming the European hegemon.

.On the sea, France followed Spain, Portugal, Britain and the Netherlands in its efforts to develop colonies in the Americas and expand overseas.

After the "Sun King" Louis XIV ascended the throne, he focused on the goal of European hegemony and believed that France's military strength should be reflected not only on land but also on the sea.

After taking office in 1669, Minister of State for the Navy Jean-Baptiste Colbert devoted all his efforts to building the French Navy. In just eight years, the French Navy had nearly two hundred large and small warships and more than 40,000 warships.

The navy has become the third largest navy in Europe.

At this time, the French Army was even more aggressive on the European continent. After successively undergoing the baptism of the Thirty Years' War, the Heritage War, and the Franco-Dutch War, it was almost invincible on land, and it was obvious that it would become a country that was about to achieve dual hegemony on land and sea.

France at this time, Canada and Louisiana in North America (the Mississippi River had not yet been connected at this time), Saint-Domingue, Barbados, Guadeloupe, Tobago and Grenada in Central America, and French St. Louis in Africa (today's

Senegal), Bourbon Island (now Reunion) and other places established vast colonies.

During this period, there was no doubt about the power of France. The Sun King Louis XIV naturally hoped that this delegation from the New World countries could personally experience the majestic power and domineering power of France, so as to convince them of their greatness.

The Kingdom of France gave rise to a sense of awe.

——

July 22, Palace of Versailles.

His Majesty the King's bedroom is located to the east of the Palace of Versailles, in the old hunting palace of Louis XIII. The bedroom has a gold and red brocade bed and an embroidered canopy, surrounded by gilded guardrails. On the ceiling is a message titled "The King of France Protects His Sleep"

》 huge relief.

This is the political activity center of the Palace of Versailles, where the wake-up ceremony, morning pilgrimage, evening pilgrimage and greeting ceremonies are held routinely.

At 8:30 in the morning, the grand king's wake-up ceremony began. Louis XIV got up on time under the gentle call of the waiter. The first batch of royal nobles with the right to attend the meeting were honored to be allowed to come to the bedside and stay with him on the bed.

The king had a cordial conversation, discussed the situation in Europe and the country, and arranged the most important personnel appointments and removals.

When the king gets up and puts on his dressing gown to go to dinner, the second group of confidants, favored ministers and nobles who are allowed to see him will wait at the table diligently, communicate in a low voice with the king who is enjoying breakfast in pajamas and slippers, and report on the most important affairs in the country.

.

After breakfast, His Majesty the King took off his dressing gown and put on his formal clothes. The third group of court ministers and nobles waiting to see him stood silently on both sides of the palace, waiting for Louis XIV's inquiry.

After the complicated getting-up ceremony, His Majesty the King wore a carefully selected wig, knee-length tights, high heels, and was covered with treasures and ornaments. He looked extremely gorgeous and rich. Surrounded by dozens of trusted nobles and favored ministers, he went to the palace.

In the Apollo Hall (also called the Hall of the Sun God), the day's work arrangements and daily interviews began, and the outside of the hall was filled with nobles and officials waiting eagerly.

Because of his childhood experience, Louis XIV did not like Paris very much and always wanted to escape far away. He did not want to live in the Fontainebleau Palace, Saint-Germain Palace, or Louvre Museum of his predecessors. He tried to build a place of his own.

A whole new world. Versailles is the ideal palace he built for himself over more than ten years.

Whether it is the large-scale garden landscape that is the first of its kind, or the luxurious and magnificent interior decoration, various ideas that refresh the imagination of the people at the time are all comprehensive displays of Louis XIV's personal artistic aesthetics, and a physical ode to royal power.

Before the Palace of Versailles was fully completed, Louis XIV reluctantly moved the entire royal court life here. In the palace, Louis XIV established an extremely strict etiquette system, such as the king's wake-up ceremony, bedtime ceremony, and meal ceremony.

Etc., all reflect the strict hierarchical order of royal power. There are strict rules and regulations on who comes before whom, who is in what position, who can provide clothes to the king, etc.

In Versailles, the top vanity fair that pays attention to pomp and face, competition is eternal. If you are favored by the king, you can get a position, land, official title, and annuity. Otherwise, you will have nothing. Louis XIV also used these superb and skillful means to control

His courtiers.

"What's the current situation of the Qi State Mission?"

After meeting with several waves of officials and nobles, Louis XIV suddenly thought of something and turned to ask his secretary of state.

"Your Majesty, His Royal Highness Prince Kong Dai is leading dozens of ministers to have comprehensive contact with the Qi delegation. They will conduct state affairs consultations in the morning. In the afternoon, the palace etiquette officer will teach the Qi delegation the interview etiquette.

"State Secretary Jordan Veretout bowed and said: "It may take another three to five days. After the people of Qi are familiar with and master the smooth court etiquette, they will come to see His Majesty."

"Well, although the people of Qi are said to have inherited the ancient oriental civilization, they are still in the wild Han continent, so they probably lack a complete etiquette system." Louis XIV said with a smile: "I hope our complicated and rigorous court etiquette will not

As for embarrassing them too much."

Many nobles and officials in the Apollo Hall couldn't help but smile knowingly when they heard His Majesty the King's words. With the strong rise of France on the European continent, its influence has become increasingly far-reaching, and the court etiquette and court clothing of the entire royal family have changed.

It has become the object of imitation by European royal families, and it is also the birthplace of fashion that leads the entire Europe.

Louis XIV once said, "A perfect courtier should understand the rules of etiquette and learn them as if they were catechism."

In the Palace of Versailles, everyone must abide by the court etiquette set by His Majesty the King, and no one is allowed to violate it. For example, it is stipulated that ladies cannot open folding fans in front of the Queen. If you are careless, if you are not careful, you will be prosecuted, and you will be exiled from the palace.

You may be detained or even whipped.

Louis XIV also specially formulated a dress code for the women in the palace. In the Palace of Versailles, all ladies must wear palace attire. Even the wives of foreign ambassadors must follow the local customs and wear palace attire when entering the palace, otherwise it will cause diplomatic disputes.

Courtiers living in the Palace of Versailles must keep in mind various etiquette systems, ranging from how they dress when going out, to standing and walking, where to walk, what posture to use, how to use a man's cane... Being disrespectful means ruining your future, and in the end

Subtle deficiencies will also lead to a lot of discussion. It is no exaggeration to say that those with poor memory may not survive more than two episodes of the palace battle drama.

In order to present the power and wealth of the French Kingdom to the people of Qi, and to further highlight the majesty of the royal family, Louis XIV is preparing to hold a grand welcome ceremony at the Palace of Versailles. At that time, members of the royal family, nobles, senior officials, artists, writers, entertainers

Wait, as many as five hundred people will come to attend the meeting.

This grand ceremony will definitely leave a deep and shocking impression on guests from the East.

"Your Majesty, we can take advantage of the visit of the Qi envoy to sign a military alliance against Spain with them." Francois-Michel Tellier, the Marquis of Louvois, Minister of State for the Army, suddenly aligned himself when he saw His Majesty the King.

The country became interested, so they stepped forward and suggested: "In this way, at some point in the future, when we have a war with Spain, Qi can use their superior navy to attack the Spanish American possessions and cut off their overseas funds.

input."

"Is it necessary?" Louis XIV said disapprovingly: "Our Kingdom of France has the most powerful army on the European continent, and our naval strength is also growing. Colbert promised me that in the next ten years, we will definitely

Build our French navy into the most powerful navy in Europe and even the world. With this, our Kingdom of France will surely usher in a great moment."

"Your Majesty, although the people of Qi are very far away from the European continent, they control the Indian Ocean and jointly monopolize the lucrative Eastern trade with the United Provinces." The Marquis of Louvoir continued to persuade: "We only need to sign an alliance with them

The contract does not require anything to be paid, but it can cut off the Spanish's wealth channels in the Americas during wartime and contain the Spanish's weak navy. This will be of great benefit to our Kingdom of France without any harm."

"Ha..." Louis XIV looked at the Marquis Louvoir with interest, "You have a serious understanding of the world's maritime situation. In this case, shouldn't you change positions with Colbert and join the navy?

Minister of State?”

"Your Majesty..." The Marquis of Louvoir was startled, and he bowed and saluted: "For the sake of the great France, I will obey your Majesty's will and obey your Majesty's arrangements..."

"In the past few years, you have implemented drastic measures to reorganize the entire kingdom's armaments and trained our soldiers tirelessly. This has enabled our army to develop rapidly, its combat effectiveness has also increased dramatically, and we have defeated enemies one after another. I have nothing to say about this. "To be satisfied." Louis XIV said with relief: "Therefore, my Marquis of Louvoir, continue to do your job and build the army of the Kingdom of France into the most powerful army on the entire European continent, defeating all enemies. They all prostrate themselves at our feet."

"As you command, my majesty!" the Marquis of Louvoir bowed his head and promised.

In the past ten years, Louis XIV was preparing for war. His Foreign Minister Leonhard tried his best to find allies for France, Finance Minister Colbert looked for the funds needed for the war, and War Minister Louvoir Then we are looking for soldiers for His Majesty the King.

As for using a country in the southern New World to restrain Spain, Louis XIV, who was full of pride, simply dismissed it.
Chapter completed!