Louis Philippe

• Main Author: Gavin, Catherine I.
• Published: University of Aberdeen 1931
• Subjects: 944.06
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.592476

The purpose of this thesis is threefold. It attempts, while describing the outstanding incidents in the Life of Louis Philippe, to show that the impressions received during his early life profoundly influenced his policy as King of the French, and had a stronger effect upon his later actions than the circumstances of the world in which he actually moved. It attempts to depict the development of the Anglo-French alliance, and to show Louis Philippe's vital services to European diplomacy in the fostering of the Entente Cordiale. The writer has laid especial stress on the Franco-Spanish relations, and has not only attempted by a chronological narrative to unravel the problem of the Spanish Marriages, but by a study of the papers relative to Louis Philippe's adventures with Spain in 1808 and 1810, has been able to consider the Spanish Question in the light of these previous transactions, which were practically unknown. The thesis is divided into eight chapters, the first two dealing with his life story from 1773-1830, the third and fourth with the July monarchy from 1830-1840; while the fifth and. sixth/ sixth, continuing the narrative of the reign, deal especially with Anglo French relations and the Spanish Marriages. The seventh chapter describes the causes and course of the social revolution of 1848, and the last chapter is an epilogue on the last years of Louis Philippe. The writer hopes that this thesis will be a contribution, however slight, towards the better knowledge of a personality too long neglected by the history students of this country. The work for the thesis was done in Aberdeen, in the British Museum and Public Record Office, London, and the Bibliotheque Nationals, Paris.