Coercion, Conversion and Counterinsurgency in Louis XIV's France

This is a study of the domestic application of armed coercion during the reign of Louis XIV. It examines the coercive aspects of tax collection and the Crown's military response to fiscal revolts, and the enforcement of Louis XIV's religious policies, focusing on the dragonnades of the 1680s and the counterinsurgency campaign waged against Protestant rebels in the mountains and plains of Languedoc. The study examines: (1) the decision-making process at the highest levels, highlighting the frequent debates among officials concerning the efficacy (and cost-effectiveness) of using the army in such roles; (2) the practical problems of implementation encountered by the intendants, governors and other responsible officials, emphasizing the Crown's expectations with regard to local institutions, and (3) the impact and consequences of various coercive policies at the local level. The study shows that both the coercive inclination of Louis XIV and the coercive capacity of the French army have been overstated. This raises interesting questions about the role of the army in the projection of state power and its contribution to the process of state formation in Early Modern France.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

History

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2015

Author dc:creator

• McCullough, Roy Lawrence

Contributors dc:contributor

• Lynn, John A.

• History, European

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

(MiAaPQ)AAI3182327

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/84668