From Exile to the Throne: The Europeanization of Louis XVIII

Dynasties and State Formation in Early Modern Europe

“…A more distant relative but also a suitor was Charles Leopold of Mecklenburg (a descendent of Gustav I). 75 These machinations came to naught as the Princess married a prince of Hesse, later King Frederick I, but the lack of any offspring did set off renewed attempts to connect to the royal family.…”

“…74 When the dynasty formation was finally in the hands of its leader, and not Christina, the council or the estates as previously, he opted for what the historian Liesbeth Geevers has called dynastic centralisation. 75 The dynasty was thus reduced to the offspring of Charles XI and his queen. Unfortunately, the late 1600s was a time of exceptionally high infant mortality, even for royalty.…”

A Confucian Education for Europeans

“…These qualities, along with her notorious ugliness (not highlighted in the portrait), presumably distinguished her from Marie Antoinette, the sister-in-law she detested and who may have been the covert target of the book. 79 The Faits mémorables begins with two tales of legendary sage emperors. In the first, Emperor Yao instructs his officials to install a writing tablet and a drum outside his palace, so that his subjects can communicate with him by writing out their concerns and pounding the drum to be received.…”

De la parentèle à la famille : Perspectives prussiennes sur l’Europe des dynasties à l’époque de la Révolution Française

“…Clemens Wentzeslaus était donc l'oncle de Louis XVI ainsi que des futurs rois Louis XVIII et Charles X. 20 Selon les époques, la solidarité pouvait aller bien au-delà des cercles de parenté les plus étroits. Le duc de Brunswick, qui offrit l'asile aux Bourbons à Blankenburg, 21 le Tsar de Russie, qui les hébergea en Courlande, ou encore la Couronne d'Angleterre, qui les reçut à Londres et à Hartwell House, soutinrent les Bourbons, alors qu'ils n'avaient avec eux que de lointaines relations de parenté.…”