History :
The construction of the triumphal arch has been decided by Napoleon Ist to dominate the perspective of the Champs Elysees Avenue. The emperor, who was an admirer of Rome, took one of the Roman architectural constructions to celebrate the victories of his armies.
If the Triumphal Arches are a Roman invention, their significance evolved with time. All the first Roman arches were situated to the cities doors. The Roman soldiers who came back to their city after a military battle had deposed their weapons then had passed under the arch.Thus; they were reinstated symbolically in their city like citizen of full rights.
Later, at the end of the Roman republic, the power has been concentrated more and more in the hands of some men.
These wanted to mark their impression in the most sacred places of the Roman republic, as the republican forum, while using the triumphal arches. The Triumphal Arches which were in the beginning a pacification tools and social cohesion, became therefore solely means to glorify the people’s war victories and the General who make its build.
For this reason Napoleon made build this arch.
The construction of the triumphal arch lasted 30 years, from 1805 to 1835, because it has been delayed by the succession of the monarchical systems which modified the preliminary draft of many times.