عنوان

Monarchy as an issue in English political argument during the French Revolutionary era.

Number

TLets282701

Title Proper

Monarchy as an issue in English political argument during the French Revolutionary era.

General Material Designation

[Thesis]

First Statement of Responsibility

Morris, Marilyn Ann.

Name of Publisher, Distributor, etc.

Royal Holloway, University of London

Date of Publication, Distribution, etc.

1988

Dissertation or thesis details and type of degree

Ph.D.

Body granting the degree

Royal Holloway, University of London

Text preceding or following the note

1988

Text of Note

This thesis examines the treatment of monarchy in extraparliamentarydebate in England during a period in which republicanideology challenged monarchy's utility and sanctity: from the time whenEngland first felt the impact of the French Revolution until the riseof Napoleon. It analyses the image of the British monarchy whichemerged out of this debate and its contribution to the maintenance ofsocial and political stability during the 1790s. Much of themonarchy's strength and endurance can be attributed to the adaptabilityof its image, a quality enhanced by George Ill's character and regalstyle.Beginning with the Burke-Paine controversy, this study shows howarguments on the proper relationship between sovereign and subject wereused to support contentious views on the social hierarchy. Chapter IIassesses the impact of the reformist challenge, inspired by the overthrowof tyranny in France, upon conservative ideology. Althoughnotions of the divine nature of the kingly office enjoyed a resurgence,loyalists were combining these with a new image of George III whichsuggested his fulfilment of the reformers' ideals of responsible andaccessible government.The next three chapters examine the species of republicanism whichdeveloped in England during this period and the impact which repressionhad upon reformist attitudes, by charting the vacillations inreformers' attitudes toward the King. Essentially, the predominance ofmoderate members in the reform societies and the alarm raised for theKing's life induced those harbouring republican ideals to adapt them tothe existence of a strongly established monarchy in England. But whenrepression continued, the constitutional movement was crushed, leavinga small underground movement which was republican and revolutionary.Chapter VII shows how the legal debate on the sanctity and securityof the crown branded reformers as potential regicides and promotedloyalist vigilance against them. The final chapter looks at the mannerin which royal ceremonial and ritual further supported this spirit ofvigilance and encouraged sentiments and beliefs which helped tobuttress the status quo.

Republicanism

Morris, Marilyn Ann.

Royal Holloway, University of London

Electronic name

p

[Thesis]

276903

a

Y