Includes bibliographical references and index.

Acknowledgements -- List of Figures -- List of Abbreviations -- Preliminary Notes -- Introduction -- 1 Diplomatic Practices -- 2 Topic and Terminology -- 3 State of the Field -- 4 Methodology and Historical Sources -- 5 Outline of Chapters -- 1 Unhappy Products of Unhappy Times: European Thought on Diplomacy and Festival Culture in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries -- 1 Introduction -- 2 The Humanist Roots of Diplomacy and Festival Culture -- 3 Practices of Negotiation -- 4 Practices of Hospitality -- 5 Practices of Publicisation -- 6 Conclusion -- 2 Cross-Confessional Diplomacy: The Parisian Court Festivals of Summer 1572 -- 1 Introduction -- 2 Diplomatic Context -- 3 The Ratification Ceremony for the Treaty of Blois, 15 June 1572 -- 4 Banquets and Theatrical Entertainments, 13–20 June 1572 -- 5 The Nuptial Ceremony for the Valois-Navarre Festival, 18 August 1572 -- 6 A Royal Dinner and Theatrical Entertainments, 18–21 August 1572 -- 7 Conclusion -- 3 Diplomatic (In)Hospitality: Henri III’s Controversial Reception of Dutch Rebels, Winter 1585 -- 1 Introduction -- 2 Diplomatic Context -- 3 Travelling to Paris, January–February 1585 -- 4 Reception at Court, February–March 1585 -- 5 Conclusion -- 4 Public and Back-Channel Diplomacy: Broadcasting Reconciliation at the Time of the Edict of Nantes and the Peace of Vervins, 1598–1600 -- 1 Introduction -- 2 Diplomatic Context -- 3 Receiving Catholic and Protestant Allies, Spring 1598 -- 4 Staging Reconciliation, Winter 1600 -- 5 Conclusion -- 5 Contesting Diplomacies: Continuity and Audience Control at Two Royal Marriages, 1612–1615 -- 1 Introduction -- 2 Diplomatic Context -- 3 Winning Support for the Franco-Spanish Double Marriage in Paris, 1612 -- 4 Celebrating the Anglo–German Wedding in London, 1613 -- 5 Celebrating the Franco–Spanish Double Marriage in Paris, 1615 -- 6 Conclusion -- Conclusion -- Bibliography -- Index.

This book is the first to explore the rich festival culture of late sixteenth- and early seventeenth-century France as a tool for diplomacy. Bram van Leuveren examines how the late Valois and early Bourbon rulers of the kingdom made conscious use of festivals to advance their diplomatic interests in a war-torn Europe and how diplomatic stakeholders from across the continent participated in and responded to the theatrical and ceremonial events that featured at these festivals. Analysing a large body of multilingual eyewitness and commemorative accounts, as well as visual and material objects, Van Leuveren argues that French festival culture operated as a contested site where the diplomatic concerns of stakeholders from various national, religious, and social backgrounds fought for recognition.

English

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