Nobility and genealogy: circulation and appropriation of debates over nobility in genealogical history books in France during the early modern period
Résumé
Studies about the idea of nobility in the 18th century usually focus on the most famous and theoretical books published (the prescriptive literature on nobility). This paper aims to demonstrate that scrutinizing minor literature such as printed genealogical dictionaries can also be relevant. As a collection of individual genealogies, they often included, in their preface, a broader reflexion on the idea of nobility. Prefaces were instrumental in the legitimation of their work and in setting out the criteria used to choose the families gathered in the book. Comparisons between the various dictionaries provide a good insight on the intellectual debates about the noble condition and the respective importance of merit and blood and its definition. They reflect most of the theories and controversies, which irrigated French society.