The Final Years of the Constable of France, 1593–1627

Bibliographic Data

ID8940091
AuthorsD Winton Thomas (0000-0003-2505-5051, corresponding author), Daniel Thomas (0000-0002-2426-5893), Daniel J Thomas (0000-0001-7332-4776)
Year2016
Volume39
Issue1
Pages73-103
Publication date2016-02-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueFrench Historical Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0016-1071 • E-ISSN: 1527-5493
PublisherDuke University Press (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1215/00161071-3323445
OpenAlexW2391682559
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited21

The abolition of the office of constable in 1627 has often been viewed as part of Richelieu's supposed campaign against the excessive power of the high nobility, both within and without the royal army, and has been seen as an action that helped construct the system of “absolute monarchy” in France. Yet more recently questions have been raised about the real significance of the office's suppression. Building on this debate, this article offers an examination of the vicissitudes of the office of constable between 1593 and 1627 to provide a more detailed portrait of this position and its powers during its final years. By doing so, the article also provides wider insight into the crucial relationships among royal offices, armed force, and the nobility in early modern France. L'abolition de l'office du connétable en 1627 a souvent été considérée comme un élément d'une campagne mené par Richelieu contre le pouvoir excessif de la haute noblesse, simultanément à l'intérieur et à l'extérieur de l'armée royale. Cette suppression a ainsi participé à la construction de la « monarchie absolue » en France. Pourtant, plus récemment, des chercheurs ont soulevé des questions vis-à-vis le vrai sens de la suppression de l'office. S'appuyant sur ce débat, cet article propose un examen des vicissitudes de la charge du connétable entre 1593 et 1627, afin de proposer un portrait plus détaillé de ce poste et de ses pouvoirs lors de ses dernières années. L'article propose ainsi un plus large aperçu de la relation fondamentale entre les offices royaux, la force armée et la noblesse dans la France moderne

Art · Art history · Humanities · Nobility · Political science · Politics · Portrait · European Political History Analysis · Historical Economic and Social Studies · Historical Studies and Socio-cultural Analysis · History · Law

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