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Duke Leopold of Lorraine, small state diplomacy, and the stuart court in exile, 1716–1729

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posted on 2022-02-11, 10:37 authored by Stephen GriffinStephen Griffin
This article examines how rulers of early modern small states attempted to survive and increase their status in the ever-shifting political world of early eighteenth-century Europe. To do so it takes the example of Duke Leopold of Lorraine and his connections with the exiled James Francis Edward Stuart and his court. Like many other small state princes, Leopold was politically dependent upon the decisions of his larger neighbours and his policies were designed to ensure his continued survival and to increase his own prestige. Historians have long acknowledged the relationship between Leopold and James in 1713–15 but they have done little to explore their interactions between 1716 and 1729. In drawing attention to this neglected sequence of encounters, the art icle highlights their connection to broader and more well-known political affairs in the 1710s and 1720s. It demonstrates how Leopold utilized his connection with the Stuarts as he reacted to a changing political situation in Europe in the years following the Peace of Utrecht. In return, the Stuarts, seeking to achieve their political goals, could rely upon ducal advice and aid. This dynamic suggests that these small but well-connected princes and their diplomatic activities require further consideration when examining international relations.

History

Publication

The Historical Journal;pp.1–18

Publisher

Cambridge University Press

Note

peer-reviewed

Other Funding information

Richard Plaschka pre-doctoral Fellowship, ÖeAD, Vienna, Rev. Liam Swords Foundation, Paris, Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Limerick.

Language

English

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