Ancient People in L’Ancien Regime

The old saw has it that in the good “old” days, older persons were relatively rare, and sometimes because of this, robustly regarded. However, it was thought that as history progressed and the birth and mortality rates fell, old people became a much more common sight. Furthermore, as societies changed and nuclear families budded off to more of the extended variety, old people lost some of their panache. As a result, for other sociological and economic reasons too complex to enter into here, this approach holds that the old person in modern times has become an undervalued commodity.

There is, of course, some truth to this account. However, a closer study of the history of aging actually offers a more nuanced picture. Actually, as a group, sometimes old people were up, sometimes they were down. For example, according to the great French medievalist and historian of the family, Phillipe Ariès, in France while old age was honored throughout the 18th century, it had been ridiculed in the previous one. Other examples of the rise and fall in the status of older persons can be found in other eras and in other places. In more modern times, for example, Americans have given universal health coverage to only one group: older persons. With some justification, child advocates have protested.

Looking back, the medical and health status of old people had been a concern for thousands of years, as reflected by the classic works of those such as Cicero (De Senectute, or “On Old Age”) up to today’s mavens of molecular biology who seek the Holy Grail of Life Extension.

But returning to France, unlike a more contemporary revolution such as Mao’s (where older persons were often denigrated, sometimes even denounced and betrayed by their children), the French Revolution ushered in one of the good times for older persons. The old revolutionary slogan of “Liberté, Égalité et Fraternité, ou la Mort!”(“Liberty, Equality and Fraternity, or Death”) should in fact have had a “et les Personnes Agées” (“and Old Folks”— and in French it all rhymes!) added to the end instead of “ou la Mort!” In English this would be rendered, quite euphoniously, as “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity, or the Elderly!” As David Troyansky, one of the historians of the period put it, “…revolutionary France also tried to legitimize itself through patriotic images of elders, and sought to provide assistance to the needy aged.”¹ 

During the Revolutionary years, the French regime used various national festivals in an attempt to convince the population to embrace its varied goals. Troyansky goes on to describe a “fête de la vieillesse (Festival of the Elderly) which “…was one of a series of secular holidays…In villages, towns and cities, French authorities in the 1790’s…organized celebrations of local elders, praising them, parading them through the streets, decorating their residences, singing secular hymns (see sidebar) and generally trying to root republican legitimacy in an idea of natural authority and honour.”²

For example, in one large French city, a broadsheet was tacked up on the city walls announcing the festival: “Ancient republics had placed the rank of a citizen’s duties respect for old people; the French nation is the only one whose legislators established a public ceremony, a national festival, uniquely devoted to solemnly honouring old age.” The day’s events went as follows: “Four healthy individuals, two fathers, aged 75 and 68, and two mothers, aged 75 and 83, possessing the best reputations for probity, patriotism and virtue, were singled out. At 7 am, ten young people gathered at the town hall and, accompanied by National Guardsman and musicians, went to the old people’s homes to decorate the doors with wreaths…the young accompanied by musicians, a delegation of others over 60…formed a cortège at 9 am to meet the four honoured elders and accompany them to the town’s esplanade, where speeches were delivered, the elders were honoured and the orchestra performed patriotic music.”²

One could ask whether these activities were just fun and games, or did they actually have an effect on the medical and social situation of older Frenchmen at the time? In fact, it turns out that contemporary legislation was actually pretty much in sync with these lofty goals. We see here what is probably the first evidence of a change in public policy: from charity given to (some) worthy recipients to the concept of a universal entitlement, which, for example underlines the systems such as the Canadian or British of today. In fact, as in both France and Germany (the first country to enact an old-age pension back in 1885), legislation that dealt with old-age security in more modern times frequently referred back to the ideas and ideals of the French Revolution to justify these more modern laws.

While it may not exactly be true to say that “plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose” (“the more things change, the more they stay the same”), it does look like the motto printed at the top of a history magazine to which I subscribe summarizes things quite neatly: “What happened then, matters now.” The elderly person, taking by their very nature, a longer view, will likely agree.
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This is one of the songs meant to glorify different segments of the population, in this case, older French citizens.

Chant pour la fête de la vieillesse

Déjà le Génie et la Gloire, Guidant au loin nos étendards, Ont couronné par la victoire Le fer béni par nos vieillards Hommage à l’auguste vieillesse! A la saison de la sagesse Offrons nos solennels accords! Français, pour célébrer cet âge, De la paix consolant présage, Vertumne étale ses trésors. Dans nos concerts et dans nos fêtes Que nos pères soient révérés! Quand l’âge aura blanchi nos têtes, Comme eux nous serons honorés.

Song for the Festival of Old Age

Already the genius and the glory, Guiding our standards from afar, By victory have crowned The swords blessed by our elders, Homage to our august elders! During this time of wisdom Let us offer our solemn promise! Frenchmen, to celebrate this age Of comforting peace fortells, Vertume spreads his treasures At our concerts and our feasts Let our fathers be revered! When age has whitened our heads Like them, we shall be honored.