Congrès de la noblesse européenne à Versailles

a l’invitation de l’Association de la Noblesse Française
vendredi 26 – samedi 27 – dimanche 28 septembre 2008

To the attention of the Presidents, the delegates and the members of the European Nobility Associations affiliated to the CILANE

In 2008, the ANF will commemorate its 75th anniversary, so the CILANE decided to entrust France with the organisation of the 18th congress. We have therefore the honor and pleasure to invite you in Versailles from the 26th to the 28th of September.

The congress, which will take place on saturday 27th, will deal with the following subject: the Nobility in the European civilisation. It will consider the responsibilities of the nobility in the integration of the European nations. The nobility played an outstanding part in the construction of the European civilisation and in what resulted in the “European entente” based on the conscience of belonging to the same family of nations and on shared values.

As the nations of Europe are trying to reconstruct their history, we thought appropriate to recall the place occupied by the nobility and to consider what its contribution may be now. More than conflicts, the real mainsprings of history are friendship, concord and mutual aid. Should we give a meaning to the future, we must not overlook our common identity and betray our past. We have inherited the historical, religious, philosophical traditions which resulted in the European civilisation. Thus our social group most vigilantly sees to it that the heritage, the codes, the stories, the values that shaped this Europe are maintained. “Sustainable development” is an old habit with us. Each of us brings his own traditions and culture, but it is in order to share in common consort, like musicians – proud of their art and instrument – who serve the orchestra and play the same music.

We hope that this congress will be, as it used to be in the previous years, a priviledged moment to strengthen the links between our associations and favour exchange of views and mutual aid. It will also be an opportunity for members of our associations to discover or see again prestigious historic sites.

I invite the members of your different organisations to come in great numbers to this “family reunion”; we hope that younger people will be actively present. We shall make a point of accommodating them in families.

Yours sincerely
Noël de Saint Pulgent,
President of the Association for mutual aid of the French Nobility