The 14 essays in this volume look at both the theory and practice of monarchical governments from the Thirty Years War up until the time of the French Revolution. Contributors aim to unravel the constructs of 'absolutism' and 'monarchism', examining how the power and authority of monarchs was defined through contemporary politics and philosophy. 'there is much of interest in these essays' - M. Smuts, University of Massachusetts 'This fascinating and important collection of essays [...] do[es] much to deepen and enrich our understanding of monarchism and absolutism in early modern Europe'; 'The volume is genuinely European in its range and coverage'; 'this is a ground-breaking volume, and the standard of the contributions is consistently high' - D. L. Smith, Selwyn College, Cambridge University 'the essays are all of interest, and the volume as a whole a contribution to the study of what, until the triumph of modern democracy, was the most perdurable political institution in the Western world for two millennia' - R. Zaller, Drexel University 'This collection makes it abundantly clear that previous scholars have often underestimated the complexity of this concept [absolutism] and represents a commendable step in rectifying this problem' - G. E. Schwartz-Leeper, University of Sheffield