The historiography of Henry de Boulainviller
The object of the present thesis is to examine aspects of the historiography of Henry de Boulainviller. Rather than concentrate on the various themes and ideas to be discovered in Boulainviller's historical writings, this work will analyse procedures and modes of presentation which support the particular attitudes and prejudices discernible as well as examine elements of his general methodology (source material, explanation, narrative, etc.).Part One explores the ways in which Boulainviller manipulates notions of 'fact', 'right', and law to argue that the old nobility of France were the true rulers of France and that the development of royal absolutism represented an aberration of the original constitution. Boulainviller's peculiar position is revealed by comparing his 'philosophy' with the political philosophies of Hobbes and Locke, and his utterly partial understanding of French history is shown to underlie his fussy attention to protocol and his choice of the happy moments of French history. It is concluded that 'feudal reactionary' is an obvious but erroneous label to affix to Boulainviller the historian of France. Boulainviller's partisan attitude exhibits itself particularly in his critical and moralizing
Price, Robin
History
The historiography of Henry de Boulainviller. The object of the present thesis is to examine aspects of the historiography of Henry de Boulainviller. Rather than concentrate on the various themes and ideas to be discovered in Boulainviller's historical writings, this work will analyse procedures and modes of presentation which support the particular attitudes and prejudices discernible as well as examine elements of his general methodology (source material, explanation, narrative, etc.).Part One explores the ways in which Boulainviller manipulates notions of 'fact', 'right', and law to argue that the old nobility of France were the true rulers of France and that the development of royal absolutism represented an aberration of the original constitution. Boulainviller's peculiar position is revealed by comparing his 'philosophy' with the political philosophies of Hobbes and Locke, and his utterly partial understanding of French history is shown to underlie his fussy attention to protocol and his choice of the happy moments of French history. It is concluded that 'feudal reactionary' is an obvious but erroneous label to affix to Boulainviller the historian of France. Boulainviller's partisan attitude exhibits itself particularly in his critical and moralizing
historiography henry object present examine aspect_historiography henry rather concentrate various_theme idea discover historical_writing work analyse procedure modes presentation support particular attitude prejudice discernible well examine element general source_material explanation narrative etc part_one explore_way manipulate notion fact right law argue old nobility france true ruler france development royal represent original constitution peculiar position reveal compare philosophy political_philosophy hobbes locke partial french history show underlie attention protocol choice moment french history conclude feudal reactionary obvious erroneous label affix historian france partisan attitude exhibit particularly critical