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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 monarchy's 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.
List 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
Who’s Who
Further Reading
References
Glossary
Index
About the author
Alan James is a lecturer in the Laughton Naval History Unit of the Department of War Studies, King's 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.
Summary
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.
