A Subtle Difference: King of France or King of the French? an Informal Historical Reflection On the Relationship Between the Sovereign, the Power and the Country¹

1 This article arose from a conversation in June 2007 in the Formal Gardens of Versailles, just in front of the Pharaonic chateau of Louis XIV. I was with a friendly colleague from New Zealand, Professor Stephen Levine, walking aroun the famous fountain, ‘the Baths of Apollo’, and naturally, in view of the historic and luxurious surroundings, we spoke about the former Kings of France. Somehow the conversation came to the distinction between the King of France and the King of the French. It was anew perspective for my interlocutor and a something of a linguistic stumbling block for me. A week later, agreeing that it would be useful to explore this matter somewhat more fully, we sealed the birth certificate of this article. The pain of writing it in English has been mine. The joy of its publication will be ours.

Abstract

This article considers the evolution of changes in nomenclature relating to the ruling Sovereign of France. Subtle name changes illuminate different perspectives about the nature of power and the character of national identity. Nuanced adjustments to formal titles, in legislative and constitutional texts as well as in other usage, reveal significant developments relating to political culture and the relationship between monarch and citizen.

• France
• King of France
• King of the French

Notes

1 This article arose from a conversation in June 2007 in the Formal Gardens of Versailles, just in front of the Pharaonic chateau of Louis XIV. I was with a friendly colleague from New Zealand, Professor Stephen Levine, walking aroun the famous fountain, ‘the Baths of Apollo’, and naturally, in view of the historic and luxurious surroundings, we spoke about the former Kings of France. Somehow the conversation came to the distinction between the King of France and the King of the French. It was anew perspective for my interlocutor and a something of a linguistic stumbling block for me. A week later, agreeing that it would be useful to explore this matter somewhat more fully, we sealed the birth certificate of this article. The pain of writing it in English has been mine. The joy of its publication will be ours.