Introduction; 1. Rulers: position versus person; 2. Dynasty: reproduction and succession; 3. At court: spaces, groups, balances; 4. Realm: connections and interactions; Conclusion; Glossary; Bibliography; Index.
A vibrant and broad-ranging study of dynastic power in the late medieval and early modern world.
Jeroen Duindam studied history and anthropology at the University of Utrecht, and was appointed to the Utrecht History Department in 1991. While Duindam taught cultural history, Cold War studies, international relations and political history, his research remained focused on the early modern European court and on the connections between rulers and elites. In 2008, he became Chair of Early Modern History at Groningen University, and since 2010 has held the Chair for Early Modern History at the University of Leiden. He is the author of numerous articles and two monographs: Vienna and Versailles: The Court of Europe's Dynastic Rivals (Cambridge, 2003) and Myths of Power: Norbert Elias and the Early Modern European Court (1995). Duindam recently edited a number of global comparative volumes and is editor of the book series Rulers and Elites. In 2011, he was awarded a prestigious Dutch research grant (NWO Horizon) on 'Eurasian Empires', a project with eight researchers based at three universities.
'An extraordinarily learned comparative study of early modern
dynasties all over the world … a trove of information … Summing up:
highly recommended. Graduate students/faculty.' F. E. Baumann,
Choice
'Dynasties is a work of tremendous ambition and interest, full of
fascinating detail and insight, and the clarity of purpose with
which it is framed means that focus is never lost … a rich and
deeply rewarding book, both in the detail and the overall
analysis.' Michael J. Braddick, The Times Literary Supplement
'The networks that established dynasties and kept them going have
long been obscured behind simplistic notions of 'absolute'
monarchy, notions first popularized by royal propaganda and later
reinforced by Enlightenment opposition. Duindam, however, looks
past these assumptions to show us the up close complexities of
dynasties; and in the end, one cannot help but conclude that
premodern dynasties, like modern democracies, were more a series of
variations on a common theme than they were a uniform system of
government. They were about complex and far reaching relationships,
not just individual rulers.' Ethan Hawkley, World History
Connected
'This book is an instantly enjoyable read, a sprightly tour which
takes the reader from Constantinople to Kyoto, from Benin to
Versailles. It is written with clarity and elegance, packed with
highly quotable sentences. Its scope is so big that anyone picking
up the volume will glean from it new information and memorable
nuggets … The book is an evocative, bright patchwork.' Natalia
Nowakowska, The English Historical Review
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