Engraving. Fragments. The capitals of the columns of the cathedrals at Souvigny and the bas-relief framing the arch ...

Engraving. Fragments. The capitals of the columns of the cathedrals at Souvigny and the bas-relief framing the arch at Moulins.

France, Moulin, mid XIX century Size 50 x 33 cm. The sheet is worn and yellowed around the perimeter, has minor tears and losses; rare temporary spots; moisture trail on the right edge; in the lower right corner the printer's embossing: "P.A.Desrosters fils a Mouline. L`ancien Bourbonnais."

The history of the cities of Moulins, Souvigny and Durand is closely connected with the history of the Dukes de Bourbon, since Moulins, starting in 1327, became the capital of the Duchy of Bourbonnais and dependent territories. All of them are located in the historic region of Auvergne.

[Bourbons (singular: Bourbon; French Bourbon, Spanish Borbón, Italian Borbone) - a European dynasty, the youngest branch of the royal house of Capetian, descended from Robert (1256-1317, Count of Clermont, by the wife of Ser de Bourbon), youngest son of Louis IX Saint. They came to the French throne with the suppression of another branch of the Capetian, the Valois dynasty, in 1589 (represented by Henry IV of Navarre).

In 1360, King John the Good gave Auvergne to his third son, Duke Jean of Berry, whose daughter later married the Duke of Bourbon, who thus became Duke of Auvergne.

The Dukes of Bourbon also received the Auverne Dauphiné through marriage. Ultimately, all of the remaining Auvergne lands were confiscated by King Francis I in 1527.

The dynasty is probably not only the oldest, but also the most numerous of the ruling European royal houses. Even before the proclamation of Henry of Navarre king of France, the princes of Condé and several other branches separated from the main tree of the Bourbon family, of which only the branch of the Counts de Bourbon-Busset [en] (illegitimate in origin) continues to exist today.]