The Age of Louis XIV: The Rise of Modern Diplomacy

Abstract

William James Roosen has written first general study of European diplomacy in age of Louis XIV which is based on actual practices and institutions of that era, rather than on writing of early theoreticians.Though seventeenth century may not have been a period of great innovations in international diplomacy, it provides us with an important illustration of workings of a system which was well suited to gradually changing needs of its time and which has been called the best form of diplomacy ever developed.Dr. Roosen demonstrates both obvious differences and many similarities between diplomatic procedures and practices of seventeenth century and twentieth. Any student of diplomacy and international relations will gain valuable insight and understanding from this study of early modern diplomatic personalities, institutions, and practices.One of Dr. Roosen's goals in writing this book has been to discover relationships between ideological and socioeconomic structures and diplomatic personalities who have influenced modern diplomacy. Further, he supplies only available study of realities of diplomatic practices in seventeenth century and provides an excellent basis for comparison with twentieth century international relations, in hope that studying early modern diplomatic personalities, institutions and practices should increase our understanding of international relations today.There are chapters on The States of Europe, Kings and Ministers, Ambassadors, Second Class Diplomats, A Typical Early Modern Embassy, Information: Important Objective of Diplomatic Activity, and The Variety of Diplomatic Duties.