Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1811-10-31

ouV power ana titles without Talents. hey
necessarily disappeared before the most pow
erIul and most able of their vassals. This
was Hngues Carcs, who was the founder
Of the third dynasty of French monarchs, or
Capetian race.
The royal house of Hughes Capet, i'm the
direct line, gave seventeen kings to France /;
the branch of Nalois gave thirteen kings (;
ard that OF Bourbon several Of these three
branches of the Capctian race, the direct
tine bad the honor of commencing the rc-cs-
adjustment of order, by laying the foundations
otncw institutions and new customs, and be-
coming rs 1t were, the cradle of French pub
JIG and constitutional law, the old principles
having been overturned in che turbulence of
the times accrung from the fecbleness and
downfall Of the Carloyingian race. The
branch oi Nalois presents the most active and
,nSlultuons scenes in French history: Whilst
Tie bourbon branch is in general celebrated
tor the mi!dncss of its princesand their great
vAlor. 1t has furnished many extraordinary
commanders and two Of the NEST illnstrious
kings OF the monarchy, Henry ~. of whom
the French never speak without affection !;
and Louis XIV. whom they always mention
with admiration. But the branch of Bourbon
will be less celebrated hereafter by the
terrible and famous Revolution of which it
WAS the victim. This house, the most an
Gent OF Europe, as well as the most power
iul and numerous, which could reckon many
centuries OF brilliant existence, and of happy
and constant fortune victorious over it's en-.
cmies, triumphant over its rivals, occupying
many thrones, covered with glory and full Of
honors, was destined to give TO the earth, in
the person of ITS chief, great and terrific
example OF the fraSility of human grandeur.
a frightful chasm opened all at once beneath
the feet of Louis XVI. which irresistiby en-
gulphed him; himself, his throne, his power,
and his family!
There were six ancient grand Law peeragcs
of France. I. The duchy of Burgundy, ex-
tinct in 1861, and the country finally reunited
by Louis Xl. 2. The duchy of Guienne or
Aquitaine, extinct and finally reunited by
Charles VII. 3. The duchy of Normandy,
reunitedby the forfeiture of John-sans-T cone,
uiMer Philip Augustus. T. The county OF
T6Nfeuse, extinct-and reunited by inheritance
under Philip-le-Hardi. 5. The county of
Champagne, extinct and reunited by mar
riage under Philip-lc-Bel. 6. The county Of
Flanders, freed from vassalage by Francis I.
in favor of Charles V. at the treaty of Madrid,
in 1926. The origin of these peerages is
quite uncertain, and has given rise to vari-
GUS conjectures.
The wars of the French during the dynasty
of Hughes Capet, may be classed as follow
/. The Crusades, from 1896 to 1870. Their
causes were the ardent imaginations of the
nobility, the adventurous courage and regi-
Gus zeal of the times, the policy of the popes,
and the enthusiasm of sublimated monk
The consequences were the loss to Europe of
two millions of men and of two hundred mil
lions of money, the impoverishmeut of the
nobility, the encroachment of the royal au-
thority, the freedom of the commons, some
sparks of knowledge and arts brought from
Constantinople, the institution of the knightsot
Malta, of the knights Templars, and of the
Teutonic Order. 9. The wars with Eng
land, which endured nearly 400years The
causes were, the conquest of England by
William the Norman. who was a yassal OF
the King of France: This furnished the first
subject of hostilites. The marriage of Eleo-
nora of Guienne with Henry H. (of England, }
to whom she brought many provinces, in
creased the disputes between the two crowns
The pretensions of Edward III to the crown
of France, of which he took the arms and the
title, embittered the contest and rendered
these wars almost interminable. The con-
sequences have been the territorial growth
of the French Kingdom, one of the causes Of
the absolute power of its sovereigns and Of
the decline Of its great Vassas; revolution
in political views, and rivalry between the
two nations which has continued ever since
s. The wars with Austria, which endured fol
more than 200 years. The causes of these
wars was the immense acquisitions which the
house of Austria suddenly obtained, by which
many points of contact arose between hei
and France; first. there was the acquisition
ofthe Low countries and of Franche -ComptC
by the marriage of Maximian with the heir.
ess of Burgundy; secondly, the acquisition o
Spain, Naples and Sicily, by the marriage o
Philip-lc-bcau with Jeanne-la-FoIle, heirgs!
of those countries; And thirdly, the nohi
nation Of Charles v. to the Empire in prefer
ence to Francis j. his rival. The principa
events of these wars were, for the first centu
ny Of their continuance, in favor of Austri;
who enjoyed q decided advantage in politics
apd arms; in the following century, on tn,
seQtfary, France exhibited great superiority
IN the cabinet and the field A great many
brilliant combats, and many extraordinary
men distinguishes these two centuries O
French history, which also gave birth to ma
ny celebrated treaties, namely, those Of Ma
drid, Cambray, Crespy, Chatcau-C ambresis
Veryins, Wcstphalia, Pyrenees, Nimegueu
Ryswick, Utrecht, &c. &c. a. The wars o
Italy, which lasted for about sixty years
The causes Of these wars were, first, the elf
Of the last prince Of the house of Anjou L
Louis II. Of his claims upon Naples and Sci
~; secondly, the claims OF Louis XII. am
Francis /. to the Duchy Of Milan. Thes,
wars were likewise productive of celebrated
battlcg in which many rrt.pat "a fains fcrureI