Four Hundred Blows of Montauban

History of a recent myth, the legend of the " Four hundred coups" of Montauban

At the beginning of the XVIIe century, after the assassination of Henri IV (1614), France of Louis XIII launches out to the attack of the republic of the parpaillots. The Edit of Nantes (1598) had enabled them to obtain a certain number of freedoms like the practice of the worship but also of the political advantages: places of safety, assemblies, deputies representing the Party protesting at the Court. Supported by his mother Marie de Médicis, the young person Louis XIII does not intend to preserve this situation which faces the royal authority which, it, perhaps only catholic. The tensions between the two religious communities are from now on such as the royal army is mobilized to face resistance huguenote}}. The Protestant fortified towns which deny the religion of king de France, are systematically besieged. Refractory with this authority, Montauban must thus undergo the lightnings of the guns of the King all-catholic. At that time, Montauban has the same row as [[La Rochelle]]. The fortified town quercynoise then is even baptized '' small Geneva Frenchwoman ''. Entirely huguenote, its population of approximately 15.000 inhabitants counts 10.000 [[Calvinism|calvinists]]. The social life is very advanced: an enlightened middle-class could be born and made bear fruit the trade. The management of the east city to the hands of Consuls (elected by 25 inhabitants representing all the corporations of the city) who enjoy a great autonomy. For this microphone-company, it is necessary to add its florets: the College and the Academy which recruit pupils in all the provinces of the kingdom and abroad. It is for all these reasons that Montauban-the-Protestant woman gives the indication of a true Republic huguenote. Louis XIII, after having subjected [[Agen]], decides on August 10th, 1621 to put an end to the sling montalbanaise. August 17th, the king settles with the castle of [[Piquecos]] and starts the seat. This last ceases only four months later with the victory of Montalbanais. The legend wants that vis-a-vis the obstinacy of besieged, the 25.000 men of the army of Louis XIII were put in rout at each attack. After battles where the losses are dramatic for Louis XIII, this one would have called upon the services of a very known Spanish alchemist. The wizard would have, in front of [[the Tarn (river)|Tarn]], contemplated a long moment before giving the following recommendation to the King: '' it is necessary to make fear with the inhabitants of the city. A great fear which will make them go ''. The heard thing, the monarch would have required of his artillery simultaneously to draw 400 blows from guns. In a deafening din, the 400 balls would have been projected on the walls of the city. When, silence would have fallen down, the attackers awaiting rendering do not transfer anything to come. On the contrary, their resistance was only strengthened by it. Various interpretations of this event are consequently given according to the scribes. The most widespread version and which is not less erroneous wants than Montalbanais are having fun the festival at the time of the seat whereas the royal balls rained on the city. It is what for these authors would have led to the creation of the expression: '' Faire the Four hundred blows ''. Most eccentric seems that which affirms that after the '' Four hundred blows of guns '', Montalbanais broken down '' of metal to melt the balls necessary to their guns used sugar to mitigate this '' lack. Thus, of the '' hundreds of sweetened black balls would have been manufactured in the night from November 17th to 18th 1621 '', day before a hypothetical rendering. The stacking of these balls '' at the sides of the batteries montalbanaises would have depity Louis XIII so much so that it decided to raise the seat ''. These stories put at evil the facts well that the files deliver. It is a fact that Montalbanais could resist thanks to a small number of men against the plethoric royal army. It is true also that Ier Consul of the city, Jacques Dupuy (1591-1621) had taken care to prepare the city with the seat by constituting imposing reserves of vivres. During all the seat, Montalbanais did not suffer at any time from the hunger. The legend, undoubtedly, drew its origin from this food ease which could be with the eyes of the attackers a city in festival. The chronicle left by a Montalbanais middle-class man at the time of the seat, is for this reason an irrefutable proof: '' According to the coustume, the holy cene feust celebrated by two Sundays in the city and for people of war it feust celebrated with the districts, in order to not divert the soldatz '' (sic). Proof that even at the time of the worship, besieging them take the care not to distract their men from guard. It should be added that the festive aspect is not integral part of manners calvinists, preaching asceticism rather. The final element which puts at evil the myth, they are the “four hundred blows of gun”. The army of Louis XIII never had in its possession 400 parts of gun ready to draw simultaneously. Three dispersed batteries are made up in the districts of Montmurat, Villenouvelle and of Moustier, that is to say in all and for all 38 guns. If the 400 blows of guns could not be drawn simultaneously, the chronicle left by our Montalbanais testifies that the '' lundy VIe September feurent drawn, included/understood the nuict, 350 blows '' of guns. It is nothing taking into consideration Sunday, September 12th, where '' 575 blows '' are drawn. All in all, one enters during all the period of the seat a total of approximately 20.000 blows of guns. Finally, if the legend of the '' Four hundred blows '' actually drew its imaginary in the events of 1621, it is incredible that this contemporary expression originates in the history of the head office of Montauban. [[Four Hundred Blows|film éponyme]] of [[François Truffaut]] has, undoubtedly, more paternity in interpretation of the expression than the city of [[Dominique Ingres|Ingres]]. To thus admit that Montauban is at the origin of the expression, it is finally to prefer the legend with the History. == Bibliographie== Extract of [[max Lagarrigue]], '' 1940, Belgium of the fold. History of small Belgium in the South-west of France '', Charleroi, Editions of Hainaut, 2005. [[Category: Montauban

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