Early modern diplomacy and French festival culture in a European context, 1572-1615

Leuveren, B. van (2023)

Book (monograph)

This book is the first to explore the rich festival culture of late sixteenth- and early seventeenth-century France as a tool for diplomacy. Bram van Leuveren examines how the late Valois and early Bourbon rulers of the kingdom made conscious use of festivals to advance their diplomatic interests in a war-torn Europe and how diplomatic stakeholders from across the continent participated in and responded to the theatrical and ceremonial events that featured at these festivals. Analysing a large body of multilingual eyewitness and commemorative accounts, as well as visual and material objects, Van Leuveren argues that French festival culture operated as a contested site where the diplomatic concerns of stakeholders from various national, religious, and social backgrounds fought for recognition.

• Europe and France
• Wars of religion
• Religious wars
• History
• International relations
• Valois
• Bourbon
• Court
• Charles IX
• Catherine de Médicis
• Catherine de’ Medici
• Henri III
• Henry III
• Henri IV
• Henry IV
• Marie de Médicis
• Marie de’ Medici
• Maria de’ Medici
• Ritual
• Theatre

• All authors: Leuveren, B. van
• Date: 2023-08-17
• Title of host publication: Rulers & Elites
• Publisher: Leiden and Boston: Brill
• ISBN (print): 9789004435438
• ISBN (electronic): 9789004537811
• DOI: doi:10.1163/9789004537811
• Link: https://brill.com/display/title/58251
• Name: 20
• Sponsorship: Horizon 2020(H2020)
• Grant number: 101029762