French 'Absolutism'?
David Parker defends a controversial term against its critics.
It is absurd to imagine that a single individual can wield total power in any society and certainly not in the context of ancien régime France. It would take only a few minutes reflection to establish a long list of factors which inhibited a full exercise of royal authority, from the sheer size of the realm to the vested interests of the 80,000 venal officeholders who administered it.
To continue reading this article you need to purchase a subscription, available from only £5.
Start my trial subscription now
If you have already purchased access, or are a print & archive subscriber, please ensure you are logged in.
Please email digital@historytoday.com if you have any problems.
