Synopses & Reviews
This book is the first major study in English of the duchy of Savoy during the period of the Thirty Year' War. Rather than examining Savoy purely in terms of its military or geo-strategic role, Dynasty and Diplomacy in the Court of Savoy comprises three interwoven strands: the dynastic ambitions of the ruling House of Savoy, the family interests of an elite clan in ducal service, and the unique role played by one member of that clan, Abate Alessandro Scaglia (1592-1641), who emerged as one of Europe's most widely-known diplomats. Scaglia, the focus of the book, affords insights not only into Savoyard court politics and diplomacy, but more generally into a diplomatic culture of seventeenth-century Europe. With his image fixed by a remarkable series of Van Dyck portraits, Scaglia is emblematic of an international network of princes, diplomats, courtiers, and artists, at the point of contact between dynasticism, high politics and the arts.
Review
'\"Professor Osborne has done a splendid job...\" Matthew G. C. Tornatore, Truman State University, Sixteenth Century Journal\"...impressive...Osborne has some insightful theories...\" Renaissance Quarterly\"...a very useful contribution to our knowledge and understanding of the Savoyard state, its politics, and its diplomacy in the Thirty Years\' War...\" American Historical Review\"A pioneering book...a masterpiece of organization. Osborne says much and stimulates the reader to think about much more.\" Bibliotheque d\'humanisme et Renaissance\"We can only applaud [this] striking new book. It makes us aware of both what we have missed in recent scholarship and what we can expect in the future from the pen of this talented historian.\" H-NET'
Synopsis
Includes bibliographical references (p. 282-297) and index.
Synopsis
History has been unkind to the House of Savoy during the Thirty Years' War, viewing it as a powerless puppet of Richelieu and Olivares. By contrast, this book examines the varied and powerful dynastic aspirations of Savoy through the career of its leading ambassador, Alessandro Scaglia (1592-1641). Scaglia was a court clan member who used diplomatic service, his expertise in the high arts, and his cosmopolitan network of friends to further Savoy's interests and those of his family.
Synopsis
'The first study in English of the duchy of Savoy in the Thirty Years War.'
Synopsis
'This is the first major study in English of the duchy of Savoy during the period of the Thirty Years War, examining the varied and powerful dynastic aspirations of the House of Savoy through the career of its leading ambassador, Alessandro Scaglia (1592 1641).\n
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About the Author
'Dr Toby Osborne was educated at Balliol College, Oxford, and prepared his D.Phil. thesis under the supervision of Professor Sir John Elliott. He has taught at Durham since 1995. This is his first book.'
Table of Contents
'List of figures; Acknowledgements; List of abbreviations; Names and dates; Introduction; Part I. Dynastic Power: the House of Savoy and the Scaglia di Verrua: 1. Dynastic power: Savoy and Europe; 2. Power and patronage: the Scaglia di Verrua in the service of Savoy; Part II. The Treaty of Monzón, 1624 1627: 3. Savoyard diplomacy: Alessandro Scaglia and the mission to Paris, 1624 1626; 4. Pragmatic diplomacy: England, France and Spain; Part III. The War for Mantua and Monferrato, 1628 1632: 5. The war, 1628 1631; 6. After the war, 1631 1632; Part IV. Alessandro Scaglia: Exile and Savoy During the 1630s: 7. Power and patronage: Alessandro Scaglia in exile; 8. The House of Savoy and the Scaglia di Verrua: dynastic instability and civil war, 1632 1642; Conclusion; Appendix; Bibliography; Index.\n
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