École militaire (France)
The École Militaire is a military school founded in Paris in 1751 , which, on the initiative of Madame de Pompadour and with the support of King Louis XV. was built on the left bank of the Seine in the Grenelle plain not far from the Hôtel des Invalides . The plans were drawn up by the king's architect, Ange-Jacques Gabriel , who was succeeded by Alexandre-Théodore Brongniart .
history
Significantly, one began with the chapel, the main building only followed from 1769 to 1772. This complex marks the climax of the so-called “Great Style” by Gabriel. The other great document of this style is the Place de la Concorde on the other side of the Seine. Gabriel came from a family of builders related to the Mansarts . When his father died in 1742, Gabriel became the king's first architect - just at a time when Louis XV. was again keenly interested in building. He also benefited from the benevolence of the Marquise de Pompadour , the king's mistress. He had just expanded Ménars Castle for her - much to her delight. It was only she who had the idea of such a poor relief. Before that, there was something similar for the female side, the women's pen at Saint-Cyr-l'École .
The site next to the disability complex on the way to Versailles was chosen as the site for the relatively spacious new royal military academy , where there was still an open field at that time that was absolutely necessary for exercise. Later the Revolution built the Champ de Mars here, and even later the Eiffel Tower was built at the top of the Field of Mars. The square between the military academy and the Eiffel Tower is still undeveloped and an extremely popular meeting place for all kinds of population groups in the evening and at night, from which the illuminated Eiffel Tower can be seen unhindered.
In this military academy, the middle pavilion is particularly striking with its four Corinthian columns on each side, which together with the mighty triangular gable imitate an ancient temple facade. Overall, however, there is a certain severity here, an increasing abandonment of decorations. This style points to Louis XVI . ahead, under which this architectural rigor will become the state style . The construction work progressed only slowly because there were constant financial bottlenecks. Madame Pompadour even sacrificed all of her income in 1755 and she was always in the ears of the king, who only granted insufficient additional funds. Gabriel reduced his planning and even relocated the main entrance.
The school, originally intended to train the sons of impoverished aristocratic families to become consummate officers , later also accepted bourgeois pupils and, in 1784, its most famous pupil, the young Napoleon Bonaparte . It was closed in 1787, after which it served, among other things, as a depot and barracks until it was restored to its original purpose in 1878. Today it houses various institutions that serve higher military training.
Use of the building parts
Left third: In the left annex was the École supérieure de guerre aérienne for the general staff of the French Air Force . In the middle of the courtyard behind the trees is the chapel . Today it is part of the canteen and is called the Rotonde . On the upper edge are the buildings for keeping horses .
Middle third: The entire left main wing is the church of St. Louis de l´École militaire . Outsiders can participate in the Sunday services. The right-hand part of the main building houses the office of the inspector general (above) and the library (below). The right part of the courtyard is the riding arena .
Right third: In the 19th century, the École supérieure de guerre navale was created for the admiralty training of the French Navy . It was in the right annex. The Institut des hautes études de défense national (IHEDN) is still located there today . In the middle transverse building is the cours supérieur interarmée .
Current organization of the École militaire
The three schools were merged at the beginning of the 21st century (as always at the command academy of the Bundeswehr ). Today's École militaire includes the Center des hautes études militaires (CHEM), the École de guerre , the Institut de recherche stratégique de l'École militaire (IRSEM) and other institutions of the armed forces, etc. a. the Collège de l'enseignement supérieur de l'armée de Terre (CESAT).
Web links
- Ministère de la culture et de la communication: Edit du Roy, portant création d'une École Royale Militaire. Donné à Versailles au mois de Janvier 1751. Edict establishing the Royal Military School (French) (Bonaparte's admission date is incorrect in this web link: he was admitted in 1784.)
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c d Communication from Hubertus von Puttkamer (2012/13)
Coordinates: 48 ° 51 ′ 9.4 " N , 2 ° 18 ′ 12.8" E