Description
Book SynopsisThis 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.
Table of ContentsAcknowledgements List of Figures List of Abbreviations Preliminary Notes Introduction 1 Diplomatic Practices 2 Topic and Terminology 3 State of the Field 4 Methodology and Historical Sources 5 Outline of Chapters 1 Unhappy Products of Unhappy Times: European Thought on Diplomacy and Festival Culture in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries 1 Introduction 2 The Humanist Roots of Diplomacy and Festival Culture 3 Practices of Negotiation 4 Practices of Hospitality 5 Practices of Publicisation 6 Conclusion 2 Cross-Confessional Diplomacy: The Parisian Court Festivals of Summer 1572 1 Introduction 2 Diplomatic Context 3 The Ratification Ceremony for the Treaty of Blois, 15 June 1572 4 Banquets and Theatrical Entertainments, 13–20 June 1572 5 The Nuptial Ceremony for the Valois-Navarre Festival, 18 August 1572 6 A Royal Dinner and Theatrical Entertainments, 18–21 August 1572 7 Conclusion 3 Diplomatic (In)Hospitality: Henri III’s Controversial Reception of Dutch Rebels, Winter 1585 1 Introduction 2 Diplomatic Context 3 Travelling to Paris, January–February 1585 4 Reception at Court, February–March 1585 5 Conclusion 4 Public and Back-Channel Diplomacy: Broadcasting Reconciliation at the Time of the Edict of Nantes and the Peace of Vervins, 1598–1600 1 Introduction 2 Diplomatic Context 3 Receiving Catholic and Protestant Allies, Spring 1598 4 Staging Reconciliation, Winter 1600 5 Conclusion 5 Contesting Diplomacies: Continuity and Audience Control at Two Royal Marriages, 1612–1615 1 Introduction 2 Diplomatic Context 3 Winning Support for the Franco-Spanish Double Marriage in Paris, 1612 4 Celebrating the Anglo–German Wedding in London, 1613 5 Celebrating the Franco–Spanish Double Marriage in Paris, 1615 6 Conclusion Conclusion Bibliography Index
