The French Monarchical Commonwealth, 1356–1560

Offers a new perspective on the nature of political society in the French monarchy, across more than two centuries.

James B. Collins (Author)

9781108473309, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 19 May 2022

330 pages
23.5 x 15.8 x 2.1 cm, 0.62 kg

How does authority become power? How does power justify itself to achieve its ends? For over two hundred years, the Valois kings relied on a complex mixture of ideologies, ruling a monarchical commonwealth with a coherent theory of shared governance. Forged in the Hundred Years War, this commonwealth built on the defense of the public good (bien public) came undone both practically and theoretically during the Wars of Religion. Just as certain kings sought to expand the royal prerogative, so, too, elites fought to preserve their control over local government. Using town archives from more than twenty cities to complement traditional sources of political theory, The French Monarchical Commonwealth, 1356–1560 establishes the relationship between seemingly theoretical constructs, like the Salic Law, and the reality of everyday politics.

Preface
Introduction: Political theory read in the light of politics
1. La chose publique de nostre royaume
2. Political vocabulary in action
3. Murder, justice, and la chose publique in an age of madness
4. The commonwealth under siege: Louis XI
5. La chose publique and urban government
6. The Orléanist offensive: 'Puissance absolue' and republicanism
Conclusion.

Subject Areas: Central government [JPQ], Early history: c 500 to c 1450/1500 [HBLC], European history [HBJD]