Francogallia

by François Hotman, Ralph E. Giesey, J. H. M. Salmon (Translator)

For at least two centuries after its first appearance in 1573 Hotman's Francogallia influenced the way in which men regarded the European past and appraised the validity of political institutions. The intricate collation of the variorum Latin readings by Professor Giesey here demonstrates that nearly half the complete work consists of material added by Hotman to later editions in such a manner as substantially to modify the argument and balance of the original Francogallia. This definitive Latin edition contains a facing English translation by Professor Salmon, and a joint introduction in which the editors discuss the genesis and development of the text, which can no longer be regarded as written in response to the massacre of St Bartholomew. The editors analyse the discordant elements in Hotman's thought as his Calvinist background, his fundamentalism in both constitutional and religious doctrine and his ambivalent attitude to his profession as an eminent jurist.

593 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1574

About the author

François Hotman est un jurisconsulte et un écrivain polémiste français connu pour son engagement dans le calvinisme.

François Hotman (aka Francis Hotman) was a French Protestant lawyer and writer, associated with the legal humanists and with the monarchomaques, who struggled against absolute monarchy.

(Source: wikipedia)

Reviews

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very intriging history of France before it was ever called France. The book covers from the time of the Gallic Wars waged by Julius Caesar against. The French language was created from a combination of Greek, Roman-Latin, ancient Gallic, and German when the Franks entered the region. Charlemagne is mentioned infrequently, only because he's not the primary focus of the narrative.

I was interested in reading this book during my studies at Brigham Young Univsersity, while majoring in Family History-Genealogy. I took a social history class that focused on European Families and this title was among the sources which were sourced in one of the books which I read for the course. The subject matter is politically based, but it delves into how Franco-Gallia was once a free state and how liberties were lost. It was interesting to read, however, that the Gauls used to democratically elect their kings, and depose them when there was corruption or maladministration.