The Cultivation of Monarchy and the Rise of Berlin [Hardcover]

Karin Friedrich (Author, Editor), Sara Smart (Author, Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2010 | ISBN-10: 0754609979 | ISBN-13: 978-0754609971

The start of the eighteenth century witnessed the emergence of Brandenburg-Prussia as a monarchy and acknowledged power within the Empire. In tandem with this, Berlin came to the fore as the capital city of Brandenburg, with the establishment there of the royal court. This volume makes available for the first time a selection of the diverse printed, manuscript and visual materials relating to these events. In their introduction to these documents, the editors explore the historical and political context of the rise of the Hohenzollern dynasty and the significance of the 1701 coronation of Friedrich III as King of Prussia. The festivities surrounding Friedrich's coronation and those that accompanied the marriage of his daughter the previous year were recorded by Friedrich's court poet, Johann von Besser. This volume features both the original texts by Besser and English translations of them, together with some of the engravings of the coronation, and reports from diplomats who attended the daughter's wedding. This collection of materials acts a commentary of Renaissance kingship, revealing the manner in which the early eighteenth-century monarch wished to present himself to the outside world and enhance his legitimacy among his courtiers. It also offers valuable insights into a key stage in the political and cultural history of Brandenburg-Prussia, the consequences of which exercised a crucial impact on the development of Germany and the history of Europe.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Karin Friedrich is School of Language and Literature at the University of Aberdeen, UK. Sara Smart is based in the Department of German at the University of Exeter, UK.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 440 pages
• Publisher: Ashgate (March 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0754609979
• ISBN-13: 978-0754609971
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,470,689 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)