The Last Days Of Louis XIV – September 9, 1715
At first light, the funeral convoy is welcomed at the city gates by the Dionysian clergy.
After the customary prayers are said, Louis XIV’s body is taken into the Basilica of Saint Denis. It had been decorated in mourning and the upper choir was transformed into a lying-in-state chapel for the King’s coffin.
In the meanwhile, the King’s heart was brought to Saint-Louis des Jésuite, today known as Saint-Paul-Saint-Louis. A Church build on orders of Louis XIII at the Rue Saint-Antoine, Marais. Louis XIV’s heart was brought there to rest next to his fathers, in a shrine capped with silver and bronze angels holding a silver heart.
The King’s body will lay in state at Saint-Denis for the next forty days.
3 Comments
Adele
I have been so intrigued with your series of the last days of Louis XlV.
While death among the nobles has always been knpwn to be more then extravagant, I didn’t realize how long they remained visible to their world.
As, already as of today, he has been dead for several days, I’m wondering what steps were taken to ’embalm’ in some way?
Thank you
AuroraVonG
He was embalmed after the autopsy and before he was placed in his coffin. His coffin were actually two, one inner coffin of lead which was placed into a larger oak coffin. After it the coffin remained on display in his apartments in Versailles for several days. Now it remains on display at Saint Denis for 40 days, a traditional thing to do with French Kings.
Adele
Thanks