Secretaries and Statecraft in the Early Modern World - Paperback

by Paul M. Dover (Editor)

One of the prominent themes of the political history of the 16th and 17th centuries is the waxing influence officials in the exercise of state power, particularly in international relations, as it became impossible for monarchs to stay on top of the increasingly complex demands of ruling. Encompassing a variety of cultural and institutional settings, these essays examine how state secretaries, prime ministers and favourites managed diplomatic personnel and the information flows they generated. They explore how these officials balanced domestic matters with external concerns, and service to the monarch and state with personal ambition.

By opening various perspectives on policy-making at the level just below the monarch, this volume offers up rich opportunities for comparative history and a new take on the diplomatic history of the period.

Front Jacket

'New governing institutions made the early modern centuries an age of secretaries and ministers as well as rulers. This impressive, wide-ranging and notably well edited collection of essays by leading specialists, rescues this key development from previous neglect and will be essential reading for anyone who teaches or studies this period.' Hamish Scott, University of Glasgow An illuminating exploration of the role played by state secretaries in shaping inter-state relations in early modern Eurasia The early modern period has long been seen as an age of great importance in the development of foreign relations. The rise of resident embassies, the development of institutions dedicated to diplomatic activity, and the growth of state bureaucracies were all components in the rise of recognisably modern diplomacy. This was an 'age of secretaries' that assigned important roles in the diplomatic process to a variety of state secretaries, chancellors and ministers. Bringing together case studies drawn from across Europe and Asia, and written by leading scholars in their fields, this collection offers a novel and genuinely trans-regional take on the emergence of modern inter-state relations. Paul Dover is Associate Professor of History at Kennesaw State University, GA, USA. He has published widely on the political, diplomatic and cultural history of late medieval and early modern Europe. Cover image: Ludovico Gonzaga and counselor Marsilio Andreasi, detail from Court Wall by Andrea Mantegna, fresco, San Giorgio Castle, Wedding Chamber or Camera Picta, Mantua, 1465-74, (c) DEA/M. Carrieri/Getty Images. Cover design: [EUP logo] edinburghuniversitypress.com ISBN 978-1-4744-0223-1 Barcode

Author Biography

Paul Dover is Associate Professor of History at Kennesaw State University. He has published widely on the political, diplomatic and cultural history of late medieval and early modern Europe.