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Protecting the Fatherland: Lawsuits and Political Debates in Julich, Hesse-Cassel and Brittany (1642-1655)

Protecting the Fatherland: Lawsuits and Political Debates in Julich, Hesse-Cassel and Brittany (1642-1655)

Author: Christel Annemieke Romein
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
ISBN: 9783030742423
Published In: November 2021
Format: Paperback
Jurisdiction: Switzerland ? Disclaimer:
Countri(es) stated herein are used as reference only

RM251.10

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Description
Contents

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This book presents a comparative analysis of the use of fatherland terminology in a political and legal context in Julich, Hesse-Cassel and Brittany from 1642 to 1655. Fatherland terminology includes words such as patria, patriot and nation. In historiography, the use of these words by the nobility is often interpreted as an early sign of nationalism that conflicted with the prince's initiation of state-building. The book argues that neither 'states' nor 'nationalism' truly existed yet; rather, the political arena was dominated by dynasties. Further, it rejects the notion of deliberate state-building and demonstrates that the nobility used this terminology to object to princely politics as part of adopting a "presupposed office." This status allowed the nobility to place itself outside the ruler-subject constellation and critique the situation. The Duchy of Julich and the Landgraviate of Hesse-Cassel are used as examples of small economies of scale with homogenous nobilities, and ones where the Thirty Year's War hit hard - which led to the illegal levying of taxes and the billeting of soldiers, and in turn to the nobility critiquing princely politics. In contrast, the Duchy of Brittany, with its large economy of scale and heterogeneous nobility, found an alternative way of pursuing its interests and keeping taxes as low as possible. The goal of this book is to discuss and present three representative cases that offer insights into how the nobility safeguarded the welfare and prosperity of the fatherland and its inhabitants.

Introduction

Part I. Holy Roman Empire

Political language in the Holy Roman Empire 1500-1700

Julich: pamphlets and Cologne get-togethers (1640s-1650s)

Hesse-Cassel: alleged sedition and law-suits (1640s-1650s)

Part II. Kingdom of France

Patriots' in France, political talks between 1500-1700

Brittany: pay d'etats and don gratuit (1648-1652)

Part III. Conclusion

Comparison of the cases