The Limits of Absolutism in ancien régime France

by Richard Bonney

Overview

This selection of articles is organized around three broad themes: the nature of the governing system in France (’Absolutism’); the political crisis of the mid-17th-century (the ’Fronde’); and the development of royal finance. The author first considers the growth of the French state in its ideological and institutional aspects, then the opposition such developments provoked, much centred on the figure of Cardinal Mazarin. In the last section particular attention is given to fiscal history, including a comparison of mid-18th-century France with the other states of Europe. Professor Bonney would argue that the ’fiscal imperative’, the increased requirements posed by the costs of war, and the long-term consequences of fiscal growth may be seen as one of the decisive factors in the development of the modern state.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780860784821
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	05/28/1995
Series:	Variorum Collected Studies , #491
Pages:	352
Product dimensions:	5.88(w) x 8.81(h) x (d)

Table of Contents

Contents: Absolutism: what’s in a name?; Bodin and the development of the French monarchy; Was there a Bourbon style of government?; The French Civil War, 1649-53; The English and French Civil Wars; Cardinal Mazarin and his critics: the remonstrances of 1652; Cardinal Mazarin and the great nobility during the Fronde; La Fronde des officiers: mouvement réformiste ou rébellion corporatiste?; Mazarin et la Fronde: la question de responsibilité; The secret expenses of Richelieu and Mazarin, 1624-61; The failure of the French revenue farms, 1600-60; The state and its revenues in ancien régime France; Louis XIII, Richelieu and the royal finances; 'Le secret de leurs familles': the fiscal and social limits of Louis XIV’s dixième; Comparative fiscal systems on the eve of modernity: the French enquiry of 1763; Index.

Editorial Reviews

Collects papers of Bonney originally published over a period of nearly 20 years, encompassed under three broad categories: the nature of the governing system, i.e., absolutism; the political crisis of the mid- 17th century, which is called the Fronde; and the development of royal finance. One notable aspect of the author's work--the provincial intendants of Richelieu and Mazarin, the subject of his first book, and those of Louis XIV, the subject of a projected book, are not included. Two of the 15 papers are in French; many others assume a knowledge of French for full comprehension. Distributed by Ashgate. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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