Power and Ceremony in European History

From oaths and hand-kissing to coronations and baptisms <i>Power and Ceremony in European History</i><i></i>considers the governing practices courtly rituals and expressions of power prevalent in Europe and the Ottoman Empire from the medieval age to the modern era. <br/><br/>Bringing together political and art historical approaches to the study of power this book reveals how ceremonies and rituals - far from simply being ostentatious displays of wealth - served as a primary means of communication between different participants in political and courtly life. It explores how ceremonial culture changed over time and in different regions to provide readers with a nuanced comparative understanding of rituals and ceremonies since the middle ages showing how such performances were integral to the evolution of the state in Europe. <br/><br/>This collection of essays is of immense value to both historians and art historians interested in representations of power and the political culture of Europe from 1450 onwards.