Criticising the Ruler in Pre-Modern Societies – Possibilities, Chances, and Methods

Kritik am Herrscher in vormodernen Gesellschaften – Möglichkeiten, Chancen, Methoden

Contributions by Gloria Chicote Contributions by Stephen Church Contributions by Lisa Cordes Contributions by Mohamad El Merheb Contributions by Egon Flaig Contributions by Annette Gerok-Reiter Contributions by Matthew Giancarlo Contributions by Karina Kellermann Contributions by Jan-Dirk Müller Contributions by Birgit Ulrike Münch Contributions by Lena Oetzel Contributions by Maureen Perrie Contributions by Alheydis Plassmann Contributions by Martin J. Powers Contributions by Heiner Roetz Contributions by Christian Schwermann Contributions by Raji C. Steineck Contributions by Matthew J. Strickland Contributions by Charles West Edited by Karina Kellermann Edited by Alheydis Plassmann Edited by Christian Schwermann

Book cover: Criticising the Ruler in Pre-Modern Societies – Possibilities, Chances, and Methods

Extent: 458 pages

Publisher: V&R unipress

Subjects: Medieval Studies, Social Sciences 

Language: English

Hardback (Published)

(December 2019)

ISBN: 9783847110880

6.3 x 9.25 inches

Price: $113.00

In stock

When looking at pre-modern monarchical societies, one does not expect to observe fundamental dissent directed at the social order as such or at the political system. As a rule, criticism was limited to individual monarchs, their performance and decisions.


When looking at pre-modern monarchical societies, one does not expect to observe fundamental dissent directed at the social order as such or at the political system. As a rule, criticism was limited to individual monarchs, their performance and decisions. While discontent could lead to insurrection and rebellion, which normally only culminated in the ruler being replaced by another monarchical figurehead, the subtler methods of voicing criticism were applied within a framework of legality, of a set of customs or of a code of rules of the game and intended to improve the performance of the incumbent or reform his conduct at court. The various forms of verbal or staged censure of rulers in pre-modern monarchical societies are the subject of this volume.

  • Contributions by Gloria Chicote
  • Contributions by Stephen Church
  • Contributions by Lisa Cordes
  • Contributions by Mohamad El Merheb
  • Contributions by Egon Flaig
  • Contributions by Annette Gerok-Reiter
  • Contributions by Matthew Giancarlo
  • Contributions by Karina Kellermann
  • Contributions by Jan-Dirk Müller
  • Contributions by Birgit Ulrike Münch
  • Contributions by Lena Oetzel
  • Contributions by Maureen Perrie
  • Contributions by Alheydis Plassmann
  • Contributions by Martin J. Powers
  • Contributions by Heiner Roetz
  • Contributions by Christian Schwermann
  • Contributions by Raji C. Steineck
  • Contributions by Matthew J. Strickland
  • Contributions by Charles West
  • Edited by Karina Kellermann
  • Edited by Alheydis Plassmann
  • Edited by Christian Schwermann