Sons and Heirs ─ Succession and Political Culture in Nineteenth-Century Europe

During the century that followed the defeat of Napoleonic France, Europe experienced its last monarchical age. In spite of dramatic changes in almost every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life, monarchical systems survived in rude health across the continent and only the First World War would put a dramatic end to many of them. By focusing on the role played by heirs to the throne, this volume offers an original perspective on the ability of monarchies to flourish under the dramatically altered conditions of the nineteenth century. The contributions consider the place of royal heirs within their families, their education and accommodation, their ability to overcome succession crises, the consequences of the death of an heir and finally the roles royal heirs played during the First World War. Ranging across Britain, France, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Austria, Prussia, Wurttemberg and Denmark the international team of specialists contributing to this volume paint a portrait that is both analytical and truly European.

Frank Lorenz Muller teaches Modern History at the University of St Andrews, UK. He works on nineteenth-century European history and specializes in the history of monarchy. In 2011 he published Our Fritz: Emperor Frederick III and the Political Culture of Imperial Germany.

Heidi Mehrkens is Researcher in Late Modern History at the University of St Andrews, UK. She focuses on nineteenth-century European histories of monarchy, media and political cultures. In 2013 she co-edited a volume on German political history, L'espace du politique en Allemagne au XIXe siecle.