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2 years ago in Bibliography , Historiography By Samaira

I’m building a bibliography and need to know: are there dedicated historical studies that focus specifically on martial law as practiced in the Early Modern era?

Much of the scholarship I find jumps from medieval commissions to 19th-century colonial uses. I'm searching for monographs or major articles that treat the Early Modern period (c.1500-1800) as a distinct context for analyzing martial law. Who are the leading scholars, and what are the primary case studies (e.g., the Tudor reconquest of Ireland, the dragonnades in France) that form the core of this sub-field?

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By Martinamame Answered 1 year ago

Yes, though the literature is specialized. Foundational works include John Childs's "The Army and the Restoration, 1660-1688" which details martial law under Charles II. For a theoretical and comparative view, David L. Smith's chapter in "The Experience of Revolution in Stuart Britain and Ireland" is excellent. Key case studies are the Tudor and Stuart use of martial law in Ireland (studied by Steven G. Ellis), the "dragonnades" against Huguenots in France, and its application during the English Civil Wars. I would recommend starting with the edited volume "Martial Law in the Early Modern Age" as it provides a direct comparative framework across

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