Fitzpatrick, Brian (1977) Catholic royalism in the department of the Gard, 1814-1851. PhD thesis, University of Warwick.

Preview

PDF WRAP_THESIS_Fitzpatrick_1977.pdf - Requires a PDF viewer. Download (21Mb)

Request Changes to record.

Abstract

The thesis attempts to examine the character and
motivation of the Catholic royalist movement in the
Gard from the fall of the First Empire to the eve of
the Second Empire. The thesis proceeds chronologically,
with six chapters and a conclusion.
In chapter one, the origins of the Catholic royalist
movement are traced to the antagonism between Catholic
and Protestant elites in the late eighteenth century,
and to the subsequent ascendancy of the Protestants
during the Revolution and the Empire. During the First
Restoration, Catholics resented the moderation of the
royal government. The Hundred Days gave them a pretext
to plan the counter-revolution they desired.
Chapter two presents the White Terror of 1815 as a
calculated measure, designed to eliminate the Protestants
as a political force, and to ensure Catholic royalist
domination in the department.
Chapter three examines the unsuccessful struggle of
the Catholic royalists to retain their grip on the Gard
during the "liberal phase" of the Restoration.
Chapter four presents the revival of Catholic royalist
dominance after 1820., when the murder of the duc de Berry
discredited the liberal policies of Decazes, and the
ascendancy of Catholic royalism until 1830.
Chapter five examines the transfer of power to the
Protestant bourgeoisie after the July Revolution. Until
1833, Catholic royalists waged a "guerilla" campaign
against the Orleanist authorities, but the failure of
military opposition led many young Catholics to challenge
the July Monarchy in elected assemblies. By the 1840's,
there was a strong Legitimist opposition group in the
Gard.
In chapter six, the effects of the 1848 Revolution
on Legitimism are studied. Universal suffrage gave
Catholics a numerical majority in the department, but
revealed a split between the notables and the working
classes. Nevertheless, in 1851, the coup d'etat received
the support of the Catholic population, while it was resisted
by the Protestants.
The conclusion stresses the local nature of Catholic
royalism in the Gard, and the importance of sectarian
rivalry in sustaining it.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD)
Subjects:	D History General and Old World > DC France
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	France -- Gard -- History -- 19th century, Royalists -- France -- Gard -- History -- 19th century, Catholics -- France -- Gard -- History -- 19th century
Official Date:	September 1977
Dates:	Date Event September 1977 Submitted
Institution:	University of Warwick
Theses Department:	Department of History
Thesis Type:	PhD
Publication Status:	Unpublished
Supervisor(s)/Advisor:	Lewis, Gwynne
Extent:	vi, 318 leaves
Language:	eng

Request changes or add full text files to a record

Repository staff actions (login required)

View Item

Downloads