Protecting The Fatherland: Lawsuits And Political Debates In Jülich, Hesse-Cassel And Brittany (1642-1655)

Description

This book presents a comparative analysis of the use of fatherland terminology in a political and legal context in Jülich, 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 Jülich 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. Preface Acknowledgments Note on Terminology Contents Abbreviations List of Figures List of Maps List of Tables Chapter 1: Introduction 1.1 The Problem and Its Study 1.2 Definitions and the Development of Terminology 1.3 Methodology, Sources and Structure References Part I: Holy Roman Empire Chapter 2: Political Language in the Holy Roman Empire (1500-1650s) 2.1 German Political Thought (15th-17th century) 2.2 German Fatherland Terminology References Chapter 3: Jülich: Pamphlets and Cologne Get-Togethers (1640s-1650s) 3.1 Jülich´s Early History Until the War of Succession (1609-1614) 3.2 Jülich Until the Peace of Prague (1635) 3.2.1 Until the Peace of Westphalia (1648) 3.3 Hostile Occupation: Hessian Troops 3.4 Conclusion References Chapter 4: Hesse-Cassel: Alledged Sedition and Law-Suits (1640s-1650s) 4.1 The Lineage of the Landgravial Family: 1500-1600 4.2 Maurice the Learned: Confessional Breakdown of Relations (1592-1627) 4.3 Wilhelm V: The Enemy of the Emperor and Exile (1627-1636/7) 4.4 Politics in Exile (1637-1640) 4.5 Amelie Elisabeth: Regent, Commander, and Negotiator (1637-1650) 4.6 The Nobility: Maintaining the Status Quo (1637-1646) 4.7 Final Negotiations: Peace of Westphalia (1648) 4.8 Landgravine and Nobility: Problems Arising (1646-1650) 4.9 Preparing and Filing an Official Complaint (1647-1655) 4.9.1 Remonstratio 4.9.2 Mandatum Inhibitorium et Cassatorium Sine Clausula: 1647 and 1650, 1651 4.9.3 Disposition or Gutachten 1648-1650 4.9.4 Exceptiones sub- et obreptionis: 1651 4.9.5 Mandatum Poenale Sine Clausula: 1652 4.9.6 Replica: 30 March 1652 4.9.7 PP: 30 March 1652 4.9.8 Duplica: 22 April 1653 4.9.9 Reaction to the Duplica (1653-1655?) 4.9.10 Triplica: 26 June 1655 4.9.11 Ohn Vorgreiffliche Memorialien (1653-1655) 4.9.12 (Draft Loco) Quatruplika: 1655 4.9.13 The Agreement: The End of the Legal Conflict: 2 October 1655 4.10 Conclusion References Part II: Kingdom of France Chapter 5: Patriots in France, Political Talks Between 1500s and 1650s 5.1 Political Developments: Kings, Children, and Succession 5.2 Governmental Organisation: Tasks, Taxes, and Ties 5.3 Political Thought: Sovereignty, Reason, and Patrie References Chapter 6: Brittany: Pay d´États and Don Gratuit (1648-1652) 6.1 Brittany´s Early History: Successions and a Forced Union 6.2 Cardinal de Richelieu´s Influence and Cardinal Mazarin´s Guidance 6.3 The États and the Parlement of Brittany 6.3.1 États Assembly and Parlement of 1649 6.3.2 États-Assembly and the `Rump´ Parlement of 1651 6.4 The Tax Burden in Brittany 6.5 Conclusion References Part III: Conclusion Chapter 7: Comparison of the Cases 7.1 Answering Hypothesis 1: Within Small Principalities Fatherland Terminology Is Used 7.2 Answering Hypothesis 2: Homogeneous Interests Stimulate the Use of Fatherland Terminology 7.3 Final Remarks References Bibliography Archival Sources Jülich Hesse-Cassel Brittany Printed Primary Sources Jülich Hesse-Cassel Other Secondary Literature Index