War, Diplomacy and the Rise of Savoy, 1690 - 1720

Cambridge Studies in Italian History and Culture

by Christopher Storrs

This book deals with the crucial relationship between war and state formation in early modern Europe. Through his participation in the Nine Years War (1688-97) and the War of the Spanish Succession (1701-14), Victor Amadeus II, Duke of Savoy, acquired a reputation for unrivaled "Machiavellian" diplomacy on the international stage. This book puts that diplomacy in context, and considers how the duke raised men and money (at home and abroad), the administrative changes forced by war, the resulting domestic pressures, and how these were dealt with.

Genres: History, Italy

364 pages, Paperback

First published January 13, 2000

Reviews

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Storrs provides a welcome development on the connection between early modern state development and war. A remarkable ruler is described, Duke Victor Amadeus II, whose capacity for government and personal energy led him to take colossal gambles on the international stage but who was capable of personally managing the medium-term consequences and changes demanded for international advancement.