Making Sense of Constitutional Monarchism in Post-Napoleonic France and Germany

Abstract

The collapse of the Napoleonic order in 1814 symbolised a victory over revolutionary principles, yet it was impossible to turn the clock back and negate the legacy of the Revolution and the Napoleonic age. Could monarchical claims for personal government be realistically reconciled with the legacy of the Revolution? This dilemma gave rise to the concept of a genuinely 'monarchical' form of political rule in Europe, which distinguished itself not only from absolutism and revolutionary constitutionalism, but also British parliamentarianism. Focusing on the genesis of 'constitutional monarchism' in the context of the French Restoration and its favourable reception in post-Napoleonic Germany, this study highlights the potential and limitations of the daring attempt to improve traditional forms of monarchical legitimacy by means of a modern representative constitution. With historical, legal and politico-theoretical aspects equally examined, this work contributes towards a clearer understanding both of the 19th century and European constitutionalism.