Torsten Riotte: Nach „Pomp und Politik“: Neue Ansätze in der Historiographie zum regierenden Hochadel im 19. Jahrhundert

Abstract

The legacy of “Pomp und Politik”: New Approaches to the history of monarchy in the nineteenth century

The article discusses the recent historiography on German monarchy from the Congress of Vienna to the First World War. With reference to Paulmann’s seminal publication “Pomp and Politics” it emphasizes the importance of a cultural history approach during the last decade. Historians have demonstrated that 19th century monarchy was a highly popular institution that proved successful in representing itself publicly and in legitimizing itself as a political institution. While much can be said in favour of a focus on the soft powers of monarchical rule it is argued that symbolic politics need to be contextualized more strongly. Hence, the article argues for a new cultural history of politics that includes the findings of social and political analyses to a much higher degree than before.