Dynastic marriage contracts in the early modern period

Dynastic marriage contracts as evidence of European politics in the early modern period

Dynastic marriage contracts as evidence of European politics in the early modern period L’état, c’est moi! – This dictum has been attributed to Louis XIV of France since the late 18th century. Although it is considered unlikely that the Sun King actually made this statement, it symbolizes the close connection between the monarch – and thus the dynasty – and the state in the early modern period. This connection made princely marriages and dynastic marriage contracts central components of European politics during this period. Academic research into these contracts therefore provides insight into the processes and rules governing monarchical power relations that shaped Europe between approximately 1500 and 1800.