La Garde Ecossaise Historical Fiction and Early Modern Studies Newsletter.

Welcome

A warm welcome to the La Garde Ecossaise Historical Fiction newsletter this is your fortnightly update on the novel series and early modern studies. 

New Releases and News from La Garde Ecossaise

Audio guide chapter 2 Ancestry 1641 rebellion.

Audio guide chapter 3 Ancestry Clan Donald.

Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube.

Quote

‘The late Jacobite Rebellion has soured the trust between both nations; however, I am confident with God’s help these two great nations can work together to achieve prosperity and peace across Christendom.’

La Garde Ecossaise Book 1 p.2

Early Modern Digest

UNESCO site reopens, King Philip II monastery  https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/dec/30/san-lorenzo-de-el-escorial-monastery-spain-open-up-secret-spaces-after-revamp

DNA of indigenous dogs found at Jamestown Virginia https://www.sci.news/genetics/indigenous-dogs-13192.html#google_vignette

Painting in the 17^th century could be a risky business. https://www.galvnews.com/health/free/painting-in-the-17th-century-could-be-Prisky/article_bab08912-7c6f-5769-9847-70adad002140.html

Maria Sibylla Merian 17^th century female scientist. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/sep/01/maria-sibylla-merian-17th-century-female-scientist-insect-illustrations-rijksmuseum-show

16^th century ties between the Ottomans and the Ming Dynasty unearthed. https://www.timesofisrael.com/mount-zion-dig-unearths-16th-century-chinese-porcelain-bowl-fragment/

Do You Know?

Meldrum as a surname is a sept (branch) of the Gordon clan.

Feature: What do we mean by ‘Early Modern’?

At a first glance this seems like such a simple question to answer. The term early modern when applied to the past often refers to events, people, ideas, culture and art from the sixteenth to eighteenth centuries. Yet, as with all things the term early modern is not as simple as it first appears.

Early Modern History or Early Modern Studies, what’s the difference?

As a student or someone with a general interest in history you probably come across the terms ‘Early Modern History’ and ‘Early Modern Studies’ and may think they are one and the same. Indeed, as a student sitting a general survey course on the early modern period your university may have a ‘Centre of Early Modern Studies’. If so, I strongly recommend that you become familiar with their website, people and events.[1] 

However, early modern history and early modern studies are not the same. Early modern history is a subcategory within the umbrella term early modern studies. 

Centres of Early Modern Studies are multidisciplinary centres where scholars across the university who work in the time period, from c.1500-1750 broadly defined, come together to discuss the period. A wide number of disciplines are brought together each with their own methodologies and approaches to the subject. These centres often include scholars from History, English, French, German, Spanish, Music and History of Art. Taken together scholars gain new insights into the period due to the different approaches and methodologies of their respective disciplines with the aim of gaining a more holistic view of the period.[2]

The early modern meaning of the word ‘modern’

We must also be clear about the meaning of the word ‘modern’ and the problems that the term ‘early modern’ entails. Indeed, an observer may conclude that ‘early modern’ relates to our very own perceptions of progression towards the twenty-first century and that ‘early modern’ means a time where we can start to recognise elements of ideas, discoveries and aspects of society that continue to shape our own world and one we can easily recognise today. Yet, this is a wrong assumption to make.

The word ‘modern’ is a lot older than you probably think. The word ‘modern’ that evolved into the word we know today came into use in the English language in the 1400s and its use increased throughout the sixteenth century. However, its context and meaning are quite different from what we are familiar with today. The Oxford English Dictionary lists some notable examples from the 1400s onwards. The OED states that the word ‘modern’ is an adjective ‘Being in existence at this time; current, present. Frequently applied (sometimes as a postmodifier) to the current holder or incumbent of an office or a position’. [3] Indeed, we can see that the word ‘modern’ means current time in The Art of Memory published in 1545.[4]

One of the earliest notable examples of moderne in the printed English language is within the pamphlet A glasse of the truth published in 1532. This pamphlet was written to justify Henry VIII’s wish to annul his marriage to Katherine of Aragon. The pamphlet refers to ‘moderne opinions’ which are contrasted with ancient opinions. In this context the pamphlet is contrasting the ideas of the classical scholars with current intellectual thinkers especially those scholars who embraced the new humanist ways of thinking that had emerged during the Italian Renaissance.[5] 

In a book published in 1589 about the use of maps for sea travellers by a gentleman in Norfolk the word ‘modern’ is again used to distinguish between the thoughts and ideas of classical scholars such as Ptolemy and ‘modern’ or current, cosmographers, cartographers and navigators.[6] Again, a book published in 1600 which examines the art and tactics of warfare makes a clear distinction between ancient (classical) and modern (current) theories of war.[7] The term modern used to distinguish between ancient and modern also found its way into the literature of the day. A pamphlet printed in 1585 refers to the moderne poets that were very much part of the literary and performative scene in London at the time.[8] It is clear that by the 1600s the word ‘moderne’ had become commonplace in the fields of the humanities, arts, science and politics, particularly in Europe. 

Time is a Human Construct

Individuals that lived through what we call the early modern period, or as they would call it, the current time, making a distinction between the times of the ancients and the classical scholars and their own time through the use of the word ‘modern’.

This underscores that time and how we categorise the past is a human construct, how we analyse, measure, sort and classify the past is our own design. Those living in early modern times were certainly unaware that they were living in what we now call the early modern period.[9]  

Indeed, my former school history teacher reminded us that the past is constant and continues with each day that passes. How we choose to view the past, including how we choose to divide this constant stream of people, events, ideas, discoveries and developments from yesterday is very much down to us. Indeed, as the great historian Marc Bloch stated in his work The Historians Craft that ‘historical time is a concrete and living reality with an irreversible onward rush’.[10]

The rise of the professional historian in the nineteenth century, those who were trained in source analysis and palaeography who sought to teach history at university, coincided with the emergence of the nation state. Therefore, many of these early professional historians viewed history through their own national histories pertaining to their own country. Many of these historians were clear patriots very proud of the achievements of their own country and would extol its virtues. In Britain, histories from the nineteenth century put parliamentary supremacy at the heart of the constitution and its history. We call it the ‘Whig’ narrative of history today.[11] 

Early Modern and Europe

Nineteenth century historians left us a legacy of national histories throughout Europe, and these have inevitably shaped how we classify and organise the past, in our own nations and beyond. Therefore, what may constitute early modern history, and its precise date range differs from country to country. This is of course dependent upon how that country and its historians have categorised, sorted and classified key events in their own respective nations.

To demonstrate this, I will provide examples below with some recommended reading in the footnotes for the country or countries under discussion. The examples I provide below mirror the countries we visit in La Garde Ecossaise Book 1. 

Early Modern England

Early Modern England is dominated and defined by the reigns of two royal dynasties, the Tudors and the Stuarts with a date range from 1485, the beginning of the reign of Henry VII until the Act of Union in 1707 and the creation of Great Britain or 1714 when Queen Anne, the last of the Stuarts, dies. Although this date is not set in stone, as elements of eighteenth-century history most notably, the Jacobites, can be directly linked back to the Stuart monarchy that was exiled to Europe at the end of the seventeenth century. What we classify as Early Modern England includes the founding of the Tudor Dynasty, the English Reformation, the reign of Queen Elizabeth I of England, the Anglo-Scottish Union of 1603, the Gunpowder Plot of 1605, the English Civil War (or Wars of the Three Kingdoms), the Great Fire of London 1666, Monmouth’s Rebellion, 1685, the Glorious Revolution 1688, Act of Union and the creation of Great Britain in 1707 and the death of Queen Anne in 1714.[12]

Early Modern Scotland

Scotland’s early modern history is classified differently to that of England’s as Scotland was a fully independent country until 1707. Dynastically speaking early modern Scottish history is dominated by the Stuart dynasty who had ruled Scotland since the fourteenth century. Early modern Scottish history is classified more in relationship to events in Europe. Early sixteenth century Scottish history is dominated by its relationship with the European Renaissance particularly during reign of James IV (1473-1513), the Anglo-Scottish wars and the diplomatic and political triangle with Scotland being pulled and pushed between France and England under King James V (1513-1542). The Scottish Reformation in 1560 during the reign of Mary Queen of Scots was very distinctive and differed greatly from the Protestant Reformation that had taken place in England under the Tudor monarch King Henry VIII. Later sixteenth century and seventeenth century Scottish history is dominated by the ongoing Protestant Reformation and the Union of the Crowns in 1603 whereby King James VI of Scotland becomes King James I of Britain and Ireland. From 1603 to 1707 early modern Scottish history is overshadowed by this absentee Stuart monarchy which was now situated in London. The success of the governance of Scotland varied from monarch to monarch. Most notably King Charles I lost control of his Scottish kingdom which led to the Scottish Troubles or the Scottish Revolution between 1637 and 1651 which was part of the Wars of the Three Kingdoms which raged throughout Britain and Ireland during the same period.[13]  

Early Modern Ireland

Ireland’s early modern history is classified according to its relationship with England. Unlike Scotland, the history of early modern Ireland is dominated by its colonial and subservient relationship to early modern England. The story of Ireland during the early modern period is one of social engineering through plantation and failed attempts at Protestant religious reform. By the end of the seventeenth century Ireland’s population was still overwhelmingly Catholic despite a minority of Protestants holding many of the elite positions  Unsurprisingly this heady mix of religious and social change resulted in conflict during the early modern period. Conflict in Tudor and Stuart Ireland often took the form of rebellions and wars. Rebellions were often marked by the Irish rebelling against English authority within the island. There were rebellions throughout the early modern period most notably between 1569 and 1573 and 1641. Sometimes these rebellions were part of a wider conflict either within Ireland itself such as the Nine Years War (1594-1603) or the Confederate Wars (1641-1649) which were part of the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, or the Jacobite Wars (1689-1691) which were part of a wider Jacobite conflict raging throughout Britain and Ireland.[14] 

Early Modern Spain

The histories of Early Modern Spain are built around Spain’s rise and fall as a global power in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Early modern histories of Spain begin with the emergence of the Catholic monarchy through the dynastic marriage of the kingdoms of Aragon and Castile, the reconquest of Spain and the expulsion of the Moors leading to the emergence of a strong Spanish state by the early sixteenth century. Throughout the sixteenth century Spanish power was projected through its mercantile dominance and conquest of the New World. Spain was also frequently at war with other European countries especially after the establishment of the Spanish Hapsburg monarchy as it sought to maintain its dominance as the main Catholic power in Europe. With the emergence of confessional divisions throughout Europe between Catholics and Protestants, the Hapsburgs struggled to keep their territories unified and free from conflict. Spain entered a protracted and bloody Eighty Years War with the Dutch in the later sixteenth century and into the seventeenth century and eventually conceded defeat resulting in the creation of the United Provinces as a Protestant and independent state. Spain was also embroiled in the Thirty Years War and had to concede the loss of territory as well as its preeminent position as the leading maritime power in Europe. From 1648 onwards Spain was in decline. In 1659 it conceded further territory to France and in the mid-1660s Carlos II ascended the throne plunging Spain into infighting and economic crisis. Louis XIV took advantage of such weakness and took more Spanish territory in the Spanish Netherlands. After the death Carlos II the Spanish throne was inherited by the Bourbons of France.[15]

Early Modern Germany and the Holy Roman Empire

The history of the various German states in the Early Modern period are bound up with their relationship with the Holy Roman Empire and the Hapsburgs.  The sixteenth century histories of the Holy Roman Empire are dominated by the emergence and spread of the Protestant reformation with emerged in Wittenberg with people following the message and teachings of Martin Luther. Protestantism quickly spread to other parts of the Holy Roman Empire and for the rest of the sixteenth century the histories of the Empire were marked by rebellions, conversions, unrest, uneasy alliances and periods of peace. However, this uneasiness erupted into full scale bloody confessional warfare that lay waste to the Empire for three decades known as the Thirty Years War which led to defeat for the Hapsburgs in 1648 and a beleaguered and fractured Empire. In the later seventeenth century mirroring wider European developments parts of the Empire attempted to strengthen their authority by concentrating powers in institutions or individuals and appointed standing armies.[16] 

Early Modern France

The history of early modern France is one about the rise of a centralised state and a great military power. Histories of sixteenth century France are dominated by the rivalry between the Hapsburgs and the Valois and later the Hapsburgs and the French Bourbon monarchy. France was deeply scarred by confessional divisions during the French Wars of Religion from 1562 to 1598 as French Calvinists known as Huguenots sought to assert their influence and presence amongst the royalty, aristocracy and in urban centres of France leading to civil war. Huguenots were tolerated within the French state under certain conditions by law known as the Edict of Nantes which was revoked by Louis XIV in 1685. The story of early modern France is also one of expansion and the consolidation of France’s borders leading to the acquisition of Dunkirk, Franche-Comte, and a significant portion of Catalonia. In the later seventeenth century France set the trend in Europe for governance through absolutism which is personified by King Louis XIV of France. Many scholars and historians of the period talk about the Ancien Régime instead which ended with the French Revolution in 1789.[17]

The Eurocentric Problem with Early Modern History

As we reflect that early modern history is essentially a human construct, we must reflect on from whose perspective early modern history is framed. This subject can be a whole discussion within another newsletter but I would like to briefly focus on the question solely from a geographic and cultural perspective. 

If we examine the main geographic focus for early modern history at its core, the focus has been on Western Europe particularly Britain, France, Italy, Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands (the United Provinces and the Spanish Netherlands) and the Holy Roman Empire with other European nations seen as outsiders.[18] 

We also must think about how the concept and framework of early modern history sits with cultures with different calendars such as the Ottoman Empire, Persia and Judaism. 

How does the framework and dating of early modern history fit with areas of the globe where western contact had been comparatively minimal at that point such as Australasia and the Pacific? Is it right to view these histories through the sole lens of Dutch and Spanish colonialism or do we recognise that the Aboriginals and Māori and other native peoples of the region have their own histories that do not fit with our very own perceptions about what early modern history is?[19]

How about territories that were significantly colonised during this period such as the Americas, is it right to construct our early modern frameworks according to the perspectives of European colonialism? Here a counternarrative is beginning to appear using native sources.[20] 

I hope you have enjoyed this feature. If you have any questions, please e-mail me at: [email protected] or if you are reading this newsletter on the web please leave a comment below. 

[1] I recommend that you google centre of early modern studies to find the one closest to you. Go to your university website to see if your university has a centre of early modern studies. Some of their events may be open to the public. If this is not clearly stated contact the director of the centre of early modern studies who will be happy to advise you. Some universities call early modern studies Renaissance studies, and, in some universities, this is combined with medieval studies.  Some centres of early modern studies; UK: University of Aberdeen, University of Oxford, Kings College London, University of Exeter, University of Sheffield, University of Cardiff, University of York, UCL, Queen Mary, University of London, University of Kent. US; University of Florida, USC-Huntingdon, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Yale University, Stanford University, CUNY. Australia and New Zealand, Australian National University, University of Newcastle, University of Sydney, University of Western Australia, ANZMEMS. Europe; Utrecht.  There is also the International Consortuim of the Centres of Early Modern Studies hosted by Australian National University. https://iccems.org/  Renaissance Society of America, FISIER A collection of early modern centres across US, Canada, UK and Europe. FISIER – Fédération Internationale des Sociétés et Instituts pour l’Étude de la Renaissance

[2] Susan Broomhall, ‘Worlds Apart, Worlds Away: Integrating the Early Modern in the Antipodies’ Derval Conroy and Danielle Clarke, Teaching the Early Modern Period (Basingstoke, 2011)  119-120.

[3] ‘Modern’ Oxford English Dictionary https://www.oed.com/dictionary/modern_adj?tab=meaning_and_use#36526146 (Accessed 02/01/2025).

[4] Ravenaas Petrus, The art of memory  that otherwyse is called Phenix (London, 1545). This pamphlet was published posthumously with the author dying in 1508/9. Image 3.

[5] Anon. A Glasse of Truth (London, 1532) Unnumbered pamphlet, image 18, image 19.

[6] Thomas Blundeville, A breife description of universall mappes and cardes and of their use and also the use of Ptholemey his tables (London, 1589). Unnumbered pages. Image 8, Image 12.

[7] Sir John Smythe, Certain discourses written by Sir John Smythe, Knight  concerning the formes and effects of diuers sorts of weapons (London, 1600). Image 4.  

[8] Thomas Lodge, Phillis: honoured with pastorall sonnets, elegies, and amorous delights (London, 1593)  Image 4, Image 5.

[9] John Tosh, The Pursuit of History (Abingdon, 2010) 24-25.

[10] Marc Bloch, The Historians Craft (Manchester, 2012) 23.

[11] Tosh, The Pursuit of History 7-8, 191-192; E.H. Carr What is History? (Basingstoke, 2001) 34-26.

[12] Lucy Wooding, Tudor England (New Haven, 2023); John Guy, Tudor England (London, 2000); G R Elton, England Under the Tudors (Abingdon, 2019) The classic introduction to Tudor England. Barry Coward, The Stuart Age 1603-1714 (London, 2017); Barry Coward, A Companion to Stuart Britain (Oxford, 2008); David L. Smith, A History of the Modern British Isles: The Double Crown 1603-1707  (Oxford, 1998).  

[13] Gordon Donaldson, Scotland James V-James VII (London, 1965); Jane E A Dawson, Scotland Reformed 1488-1587 (Edinburgh, 2007); Jenny Wormald, Court, Kirk and Community 1470-1625 (Edinburgh, 2018); Laura Stewart, Union and Revolution: Scotland and Beyond 1625-1745 (Edinburgh, 2021).

[14] Steven G Ellis, Ireland in the Age of the Tudors 1447-1603: English Expansion and the End of Gaelic Rule (London, 2014); T.W. Moody, F.X. Martin and F.J. Byrne, A New History of Ireland Volume III: Early Modern Ireland 1534-1691 (Oxford, 2009); S J Conolly, Contested Island: Ireland 1460-1630 (Oxford, 2007). Raymond Gillespie, Seventeenth Century Ireland (London, 2006).

[15] J.H. Elliot, Imperial Spain 1469-1716 (London, 1963); H Kamen, Spain 1469-1714: A Society of Conflict (London, 2005); James Casey, Early Modern Spain: A Social History (Abingdon, 2002).

[16] Joachim Whaley, Germany and the Holy Roman Empire Volume I: Maximillian I to  the Peace of Westphalia 1493-1648 (Oxford, 2013); Jochim Whaley, Germany and the Holy Roman Empire Volume II: The Peace of Westphalia to the Dissolution of the Reich , 1648-1806 (Oxford, 2013); Peter H Wilson, The Holy Roman Empire 1495-1806 (London, 2011); R.J.W. Evans at al, The Holy Roman Empire 1495-1806 (Oxford, 2011).

[17] Emmanuel Le Roy Laudrie, Ancien Régime : A History of France 1610-1774  (Oxford, 1996) ;Robin Briggs, Early Modern France (Oxford, 1998) ; William Doyle, Old Regime France 1648-1788 (Oxford, 2001).  

[18] Richard Bonney, The European Dynastic States 1494-1660 (Oxford, 1991) 242-301.

[19] Broomhall, ‘World’s Apart and Worlds’s Away’ in Conroy and Clarke eds., Teaching the Early Modern Period 118-119.

[20] Miguel Leon-Portilla, Broken Spears: The Aztec Account of the Conquest of Mexico (London, 2006); Laura Caso Barrera, Chilam Balam of IXIL (Leiden, 2018); Chrestian Le Clerq, Nouvelle relation de la Gaspésie (1691).