Synopses & Reviews
Each book in the
Seminar Studies in History series provides a concise and reliable introduction to complex events and debates. Written by acknowledged experts and supported by extracts from historical
documents, a
chronology,
glossary,
whos who of key figures and
guide to further reading,
Seminar Studies in History are the essential guides to understanding a topic.
In 1598, France emerged exhausted from nearly forty years of damaging civil and religious warfare. By 1661 this same country was the leading power in Europe and set to embark on one of the most celebrated periods of its history. The system of government founded during this period became known to historians as royal absolutism. It was closely associated with both Cardinal Richelieu and his successor Cardinal Mazarin who, in turn, were seen as instrumental in brokering the changes that took place within both government and society at this time.
Alan James argues that there was no conscious plan to modernise France or to create a new, more centralised and bureaucratic form of government. Instead the ministries of Richelieu and Mazarin were based on the traditional values of religion, war, and privilege. Organised thematically, the book examines the key priorities of government in turn to come to an assessment of the success of French absolutism, defined in its own terms.
Alan James is a lecturer in the Laughton Naval History Unit of the Department of War Studies, Kings College London. His is author of The Navy and Government in Early Modern France, 1572-1661 (Boydell, 2004) for which he was awarded the prize of Best Young Academic Author of the Year by the college.
Review
On Alan James, 'He writes capably, is scholarly in approach and backs up his arguments with judiciously chosen documents.'
Richard Wilkinson, History Review
Synopsis
Each book in the
Seminar Studies in History series provides a concise and reliable introduction to complex events and debates. Written by acknowledged experts and supported by extracts from historical
documents, a
chronology,
glossary,
whos who of key figures and
guide to further reading,
Seminar Studies in History are the essential guides to understanding a topic.
In 1598, France emerged exhausted from nearly forty years of damaging civil and religious warfare. By 1661 this same country was the leading power in Europe and set to embark on one of the most celebrated periods of its history. The system of government founded during this period became known to historians as royal absolutism. It was closely associated with both Cardinal Richelieu and his successor Cardinal Mazarin who, in turn, were seen as instrumental in brokering the changes that took place within both government and society at this time.
Alan James argues that there was no conscious plan to modernise France or to create a new, more centralised and bureaucratic form of government. Instead the ministries of Richelieu and Mazarin were based on the traditional values of religion, war, and privilege. Organised thematically, the book examines the key priorities of government in turn to come to an assessment of the success of French absolutism, defined in its own terms.
Alan James is a lecturer in the Laughton Naval History Unit of the Department of War Studies, Kings College London. His is author of The Navy and Government in Early Modern France, 1572-1661 (Boydell, 2004) for which he was awarded the prize of Best Young Academic Author of the Year by the college.
Synopsis
An attention grabbing, controversial study of the power of legendary Cardinals Richelieu and Mazarin and the success of the French Monarchy between 1598 - 1661. This book turns the idea of royal absolutism on its head by redefining, and not trying to deny, the French monarchys success from 1598 - 1661.
- The controversial position taken by James on the popular theory of absolutism will attract widespread interest.
- A valuable addition to Seminar Studies in History series.
- Incorporates the conclusions of recent, detailed research on seventeenth-century France
- Benefits from valuable additional resources such as documents, chronology, glossary, guide to characters and a detailed bibliography
Synopsis
An attention grabbing, controversial study of the power of legendary Cardinals Richelieu and Mazarin and the success of the French Monarchy between 1598 - 1661. This book turns the idea of royal 'absolutism' on its head by redefining, and not trying to deny, the French monarchy's success from 1598 - 1661.
- The controversial position taken by James on the popular theory of 'absolutism' will attract widespread interest.
- A valuable addition to Seminar Studies in History series.
- Incorporates the conclusions of recent, detailed research on seventeenth-century France
- Benefits from valuable additional resources such as documents, chronology, glossary, guide to characters and a detailed bibliography
Synopsis
This controversial study takes the provocative line that the French monarchy was a complete success. James turns the idea of royal absolutism on its head by redefining the French monarchys success from 1598 - 1661.
The Origins of French Absolutism, 1598-1661 maintains that building blocks were not being laid by the so-called architects of absolutism, but that by satisfying long-established, traditional ambitions, cardinal ministers Richelieu and Mazarin undoubtedly made the confident, ambitious reign of the late century possible.
About the Author
Alan James is a member of the Laughton Naval Unit of the War Studies Department, Kings College London, where he teaches history. He is the author of The Navy and Government in Early Modern France , 1572-1661(2004) for which he won the prize of Best Young Academic Author of the Year at Kings College.
Table of Contents
Introduction to the Series
Acknowledgements
Chronology
Map: France in 1620
Introduction
PART ONE: THE BACKGROUND
1. EARLY BOURBON MONARCHY
The ‘Peace Of Nantes
The Recovery Of Royal Authority
The Early Reign Of Louis XIII
PART TWO: ANALYSIS
2. RELIGION
The Catholic Reformation
The Cardinal Ministers
The Huguenots
Jansenism
3. WAR
Early Aims and Ambitions
France in the Thirty Years' War, 1635-48
Mazarin and the Peace Of The Pyrenees, 1648-59
4. GOVERNMENT
Popular Rebellion
Money
Officers of the Crown
Fronde of the Parlement, 1648-49
Personal Government
5. SOCIAL ORDER
The Fronde of the Nobles, 1650-53
Louis XIII and the Nobility
Historians and the Nobility
The Dynastic State
PART THREE: ASSESSMENT
6. THE ORIGINS OF FRENCH ABSOLUTISM?
The Fouquet-Colbert Rivalry
The End Of Government By First Minister?
The Golden Years, 1559-61
PART FOUR: DOCUMENTS
Whos Who
Further Reading
References
Glossary
Index