Fiscal Crises, Liberty, and Representative Government 1450-1789

This book examines the interplay between state finance and political development in Europe from the end of the Middle Ages to the French Revolution, specifically in Fiscal Crises, Liberty, and Representative Government 1450-1789.

This collection of essays delves into the intricate relationship between state finance and political development in Europe from the end of the Middle Ages to the French Revolution. Fiscal Crises, Liberty, and Representative Government 1450-1789 features contributions from esteemed historians who analyze how the continuous warfare of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries led to significant fiscal crises. These crises often compelled rulers to forge new fiscal agreements with their subjects, resulting in a shift of political power towards the populace as a means of securing financial support.

The volume opens with two insightful essays on England. David Harris Sacks examines the evolution of government finance from the fifteenth century leading up to the Civil War, while J. R. Jones extends this narrative into the eighteenth century, highlighting how emerging financial interests began to threaten the stability of representative government. Following these, Augustus J. Veenendaal, Jr. explores the Netherlands' unique capacity to finance warfare through taxes and loans, which enabled it to avoid the severe financial difficulties faced by other European nations.

Subsequent essays focus on Spain and France, detailing the changing dynamics of the Cortes of Castile and the implications of noble privileges in France. Philip T. Hoffman investigates the political consequences of repeated financial crises in France, culminating in Kathryn Norberg's analysis of how the fiscal crisis of 1789 ultimately led to the fall of the monarchy. Through these essays, Fiscal Crises, Liberty, and Representative Government 1450-1789 provides a comprehensive understanding of how fiscal challenges shaped the political landscape of early modern Europe.