Early Modern Diplomacy and French Festival Culture in a European Context, 1572–1615

Download or read book Early Modern Diplomacy and French Festival Culture in a European Context, 1572–1615 written by Bram van Leuveren and published by BRILL. This book was released on 2023-08-14 with total page 345 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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.