Saint-Martin gate in Paris: king Louis XIV and his wars
And also
The tops
The gate |
Rilba / CC-BY-SA
This gate was raised in 1674, based on plans by Pierre Bullet (disciple of Blondel), in order to commemorate Franche-Comté’s storming by king Louis XIV.
Low-reliefs represent, to the south, the siege of Besançon city (carved by Desjardins), with king transformed into Hercules. To the north, the siege of Limburg (by Legros) and the defeat of the German.
A Latin inscription says: A Louis le Grand, pour avoir deux fois pris Besançon et la Franche-Comté et vaincu les armées allemande, espagnole et hollandaise; le prévôt des marchands et les échevins de la ville de Paris, 1674, which means "To Louis XIV, who besieged Besançon and Franche-Comté twice, who defeated German, Spanish and Dutch armies. Signed by provost of Paris, 1674."