Early Modern Diplomacy and French Festival Culture in a European Context, 1572–1615 (Rulers & Elites, 20)

Book info: Early Modern Diplomacy and French Festival Culture in a European Context, 1572–1615 (Rulers & Elites, 20) (Hardcover, 344 pages) – Brill, 2023. Language: English.

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.