MERIT AND DISTINCTION SWORD FROM THE PAGES SCHOOL GIVEN BY THE KING TO MR. ADEMAR DE GAIN MONTAIGNAC IN 1830, 2nd model by the sword maker Loyselier (1822-1830), Restoration period. 32701

SWORD OF MERIT AND DISTINCTION FROM THE PAGES SCHOOL GIVEN BY THE KING TO MR. ADEMAR DE GAIN MONTAIGNAC IN 1830, second model by the sword maker Loyselier (1822-1830), Restoration period. 32701

Gilt bronze hilt. Guard with one branch richly decorated with swords, Medusa heads, acanthus leaves, palmettes, flowers. Shield-shaped quillon embossed with the Grand Arms of France on a background of flags and banners with oak and laurel branches, bordered at the bottom with a ribbon bearing the raised inscription "GIVEN BY THE KING." Pommel shaped like the bust of an ancient helmeted warrior. Four-sided beech wood grip, adorned with mother-of-pearl plates on the front and rear and with gilt brass rods decorated with foliage on the sides. Relief-molded ferrule with scallop shells and dolphins on the edges. Triangular white blade, 79.4 cm long, acid-etched on the front with a series of foliage motifs, and on the back with a cartouche bearing the inscription "GIVEN BY THE KING TO M. ADEMAR DE GAIN MONTAIGNAC / LEFT THE PAGES IN 1830." Scarlet wool knot. Black leather scabbard with two gilt brass fittings.

France.
Restoration period, reign of Charles X (1830).
Very good condition, blade with oxidation from use, leather of the scabbard replaced at a later date.

PROVENANCE:
Former collection of Commissary General Robert D. STIOT.

NOTE:
In 1816, Louis XVIII reestablished the Pages Service, which was attached to the King's Chamber until 1821. The ordinance of November 1, 1820 reorganized the Pageshouse, which was then placed under the authority of the Secretary of State for the King's House and the Grand or First Equerry to establish the Pageshouse of the King's Stables or Pages School. They were admitted at the age of 15 to pursue their education for three years before entering the army, according to the ordinance of December 31, 1817, which stated that for admission to the army, they would be assimilated to the Special Military School, the Royal Polytechnic School, and the Pages School. The number of Pages at the Pageshouse varied, with 8 Pages being present at all times between 1814 and 1816, totaling 16 Pages over those two years; in 1821, the number rose to 48 Pages, then to 54 Pages in 1826, peaking at 60 Pages in 1829.
Pages named second lieutenants upon completing their instruction received a sword, along with their discharge, intended to be worn with dress uniform in place of the standard model provided with their new assignment in the army. The main sword maker responsible for producing the Pages' swords was Fatou, who produced 158 swords; a second merchant, Mr. Loyselier, also produced some, but only 10 examples.

BIOGRAPHY:
ADEMAR DE GAIN MONTAIGNAC was the son of Jean Leonard (or Léonor or Eleonor) Romain and Marie Jeanne (known as Pauline) Rémi de Turique, residing in Croisy (Eure). He was born on December 1, 1810 in Croisy. Leaving the Pages in 1830, he joined the 9th Chasseurs à Cheval Regiment (No. Mle 2944 puirs 43) in Auch, on January 24, 1834 as a quartermaster sergeant according to D.M. of 26.12.1841 by voluntary enlistment; assigned to the 3rd squadron; released from service on January 10, 1841, he received a certificate of good conduct and retired to Paris. Single, he died on July 19, 1848 at 317 rue Saint-Honoré (now 203 and 205); funeral at Saint-Roch and buried in Montmartre cemetery.
His grandfather was the first chamberlain of King Louis XVII and died in Mitau; his father was the governor of the castle of Pau and his mother was a sub-governess of the children of France. Ademard had a brother Aymery, also a non-commissioned officer, and like him 'ungovernable', and a sister Alix (1813-1889) who married Baron de Montbel in 1845.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:
The school's administrative records contain expenditure statements and invoices regarding purchases from Mr. Fatou, gunsmith-sword maker, at 33 Boulevard Montparnasse, for:
- 1 sword on June 1, 1822 for Mr. Deschampt de Blot for 75 Fr;
- 2 swords on August 30, 1822 for Mr. de Saint Marcé and de Villeneuve for 75 Fr each;
- 2 swords on April 14, 1823 for Mr. de Sainte Maure Montaurier and de Biron for 75 Fr each;
- 18 swords on August 20, 1826 at 75 Fr each, totaling 1350 Fr, for Mr. de Wall, premier page; de Tolozan, page dauphin; de Villevieille; de Montholon Semonville; de Lauriston; de Feltre; de Pellan; de Cheffontaine; Duhamel; de Choiseul d'Aillecourt; du Pille; Beaupoil St Aulaire; de Perignon; de Labassetière; de Vaudreuil; de Vogue; de Dillon; de Bridière;
- 18 swords on August 17, 1827 at 75 Fr each, totaling 1350 Fr, for Mr. de la Belinaye, premier page; du Curial, page dauphin; de Riencourt; de Jumilhac; de Berthier; Nicolay; de Clermont Mont St Jean; Couëtus; Vanssay; de Forton; Conen de St Luc; de Pontac; de Bethisy; de Barbançois; de Beaumont; de l'Espinay; d'Augier; de Roghe;
- 18 swords on July 22, 1828 at 75 Fr each, totaling 1350 Fr, for Mr. de Rouge Adolphe; d'Auffray; de Perigord; de la Béraudière; de Rouge Hervé; de Noël; de Courteilles; de Mesnard; de la Roche Jaquelein; de Margueritte; de Keruzoret; de Plemont; de Lorgeril; de St Vincent; de Dion; d'Ancarderie; de Sennevoye; des Chapelles;
- 10 swords on September 17, 1829 for 50 Fr each, totaling 500 Fr, for Mr. Bethune Sully, premier page; de Montemart, page dauphin; de Saint Mauris Chatenois; de Guerry de Beauregard; Conway de Cotte; de Lavaulx; Duplessy; d'Argentré; de Segonzac; Savary de Lansosme; de Noailles.
In 1830, the swords were ordered from two suppliers. Statement No. 544 includes the supply by Mr. Fatou of 10 swords for the Pages, issued in July 1830; 500 Fr. Statement No. 543 includes the supply by Mr. Loyselier, sword maker, of 10 swords for the Pages, issued in July 1830: 50 Fr. The invoices are not attached, and the names of the beneficiaries are unknown.
The records only contain the justification of the purchase of 69 swords from Fatou and 10 from Loyselier. Invoices are missing for the years 1824 and 1825, whose holders can be identified from other related documents. The total number of swords planned in the school's budget from 1824 to 1829 was 106 (16 in 1824 and 1825; 18 in 1826, 1827, 1828; and 20 in 1829), 37 more than the number actually justified for purchase.
However, we cannot rely solely on these incomplete accounting documents to establish the exact number of "exit from the Pages" swords awarded to the recipients. We have reconstructed the sword inventory and have deduced that approximately 168 swords were awarded to the Pages of the King's Stables upon their departure, from the first graduating class in 1821 to the last in July 1830, just before the events of July 27, 28, and 29. These swords were indeed given to the recipients, with 18 individuals identified with certainty: Messrs. de Rouge, de Virieu, d'Aumont, de Bernis, de Gain de Montaignac, de Lastic, de La Vincendière, de Mac-Carthy, de Montesquieu-Fezenzac, de Ponteves-Bargème, de Wall Marie, de Maquille, de Jacquinot, du Dezerseul, de Talleyrand de Perigor, de Tricornot, de Carbonnières, de Letautaud Donnine.
The following swords are found in public and private collections, all designated as GIVEN BY THE KING:
Stanislas Savary de Lancosme, who left the Pages in 1822. Mr. de Bernetz, who left the Pages in 1825. Mr. du Hamel, who left the Pages in 1826. Mr. de Villevieille, who left the Pages in 1826. Mr. de Crux, who left the Pages in 1828. Mr. de Sennevoy Armand, who left the Pages in 1827. Mr. Paul Conway de Cotte, who left the Pages in 1829. Mr. Justin de Mac-Carthy, who left the Pages in 1830. Mr. Ademar de Gain Montaignac, who left the Pages in 1830.
The first Page to leave the Pages School in July 1821 was Fitz-James, part of the first promotion of 26 Pages admitted to the school in November and December 1820, of which 16 graduated in 1822.
It is certain that the 40 Pages present in Versailles in 1830 ("new" and "semis" according to regulations) listed in the Royal almanac for 1830 did not receive swords, as they were dismissed along with all personnel of the school after the events of July.
The swords given upon leaving the Pages were of two different models. The 1st model, or Fatou's model from which 158 were made and awarded; the 2nd model, or Loyselier's model from which only 10 were produced.

Text published in the supplement to the Carnet de la Sabretache n° 31, 1976.