The Princely Courts of Europe 1500-1750: Ritual, Politics and Culture Under the Ancien Regime 1500-1750

by John E. Adamson (Editor)

In the period between the Renaissance and the French Revolution, the court was paramount in European political and cultural life. It was not only the princes' place of residence, it functioned as the seat of government, the stage for factional and dynastic rivalries, and often as a major source of artistic patronage. Take a tour of twelve of the great European courts. Learn how these households were run, how the architecture of their palaces and gardens were adapted to the routines of courtly life, what role the courts played in the princes' relations with the wider community of the realm, and how magnificence and ritual were deployed to political ends. It's a lavish introduction to a vanished world.

Genres: History

Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

Reviews

[Liam Ostermann · Rating 4 out of 5]

(revised to correct spelling and grammar but otherwise unchanged - March 2024)

This is a extremely interesting book, but it is a scholarly, academic exploration of the subject, so the readability (for a layman) of the various essays/articles varies. The aim of the book is to place 'courts' and 'court life' within a serious historical framework, which is good, but it inevitably drains the subject of a certain amount of its fascination - of course that is the problem - the 'bling' and frills and gossip etc. around courts is what makes them fascinating - anyone who has read St Simon or any of the great French memoirists will know this - but they also had a serious purpose in both establishing/projecting/imposing the power and influence of the ruling 'prince' or king, Grand Duke, etc. his family and kingdom, duchy, princedom, etc.

I think a subject like this needs the serious treatment and for it to be acknowledge and understood how all the various courtly activities worked and what they helped to do - but it also needs some of the literary touches one only gets from people like St Simon. Also although I respect the seriousness of the intention behind this book and others on court culture I can't help thinking that it was an edifice that once erected ran on far beyond its usefulness or reason. Even monarchs like Louis XIV who created so much of the court culture and programme that was copied elsewhere felt trapped by its suffocating inflexibility - it is amazing how long things like 'court dress' continued in countries were the monarchy had ceased to be in anyway a real power. In the case of the Medici Grand Dukes it is fascinating, but also staggering to learn that the whole panoply of court continued under the last Grand Duke Gian Gaston - who rarely left his room, or his bed, and spent his time with street roughs (well lets be honest with rough trade) drinking and doing with rough trade what you would expect (seriously!? do I need to be specific?!). What were all those hundreds of court officials and officers doing all day while Gian Gaston was getting drunk and fondling those street boys? The question is not even asked which reflects a lack of connection, in the essay on the Medici by Marcello Fantoni, between the theory of court culture and the reality.

So this is an interesting, but not-easy-or-amusing to read book with lovely illustrations. But if you want to know what court life was really like read St Simon.

[Michael Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Any aristocracy wants to extend its influence socially and geographically, and its first task in that pursuit is to be noticed, especially by means of very conspicuous consumption. In Europe between the Renaissance and the French Revolution, this meant the development of the court as probably the most important influence in a nation’s political and cultural life. This lush volume surveys twelve of the great courts, from England, France, Russia, and Spain, to the princely establishments of Florence, Savoy, and Bavaria, as well as the singular oddity of the papal court in Rome. In addition to the pretty pictures — which are very numerous — the specialist authorities who wrote the chapters have investigated and largely reinterpreted the function of the European court. Whom, exactly, were they designed to impress? Were they really instruments of absolutism? How did they function, day to day? The picture that results is much more subtle than one might suppose, especially in the subject of power and patronage.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Using this one as a reference for "Mistress of the Vatican." In fact, the author of "Mistress" lists this same book as a reference. Reveals how papacy operated much like regencies throughout Europe between 1500-1750. Illustrations.

[Snail in Danger (Sid) Nicolaides]

The introduction seemed to be long because it could be, and the chapter on the courts of France and Navarre was kind of dull. Some parts of the introduction, which discuss the past historiographical study on courts (or lack thereof), are interesting, but I'm not sure how correct it is.