The European Nobilities Volume 1 Western and Southern Europe

Scholarly interest in Europe's nobilities has gathered pace over the past two decades, as the elites who exercised political and social dominance over an extended period have begun to receive adequate scholarly attention. This has been particularly evident for the early modern period of European history, when the importance and power of individual aristocrats and of the nobility as a whole were at their apogee. This collection of authoritative essays, leading national specialists examine the nobility of a particular country or region, on a systematic basis: they analyse the structure of the particular elite, and survey its political and economic activities, as well as the social and ideological basis of its own position and power.

Hamish Scott is Professor of Modern History, University of St. Andrews.

Preface * Glossary of Technical Terms * Introduction: The Consolidation of Noble Power in Europe, c. 1600-1800--H.M.Scott & C.Storrs * The British Nobility, 1660-1800--J.Cannon * The Dutch Nobility in the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries--J.L.Price * The French Nobility, 1610-1715--R.Mettam * The French Nobility, 1715-1789--J.Swann * The Nobility in Spain, 1600-1800--I.A.A.Thompson * The Italian Nobilities in the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries--C.Donati * Guides to Further Reading * Notes on Contributors * Index Preface * Glossary of Technical Terms * Introduction: The Consolidation of Noble Power in Europe, c. 1600-1800--H.M.Scott & C.Storrs * The British Nobility, 1660-1800--J.Cannon * The Dutch Nobility in the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries--J.L.Price * The French Nobility, 1610-1715--R.Mettam * The French Nobility, 1715-1789--J.Swann * The Nobility in Spain, 1600-1800--I.A.A.Thompson * The Italian Nobilities in the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries--C.Donati * Guides to Further Reading * Notes on Contributors * Index