The political and legal history of the Restoration era (1814-1830)is usually studied from
a national perspective. In this paper I will compare two
Restoration regimes, the restored French Bourbon monarchy and the United Kingdom of the
Netherlands of William I of Orange.Both regimes were established by the allied forces after the collapse ...
(Show more)The political and legal history of the Restoration era (1814-1830)is usually studied from
a national perspective. In this paper I will compare two
Restoration regimes, the restored French Bourbon monarchy and the United Kingdom of the
Netherlands of William I of Orange.Both regimes were established by the allied forces after the collapse of the Napoleonic empire to maintain
stability. I will focus on the Napoleonic legacy and in particular the politics of the two postnapoleonic regimes towards the old imperial administrative elites. What were the resemblances and the differences between the Dutch and the French socalled
Restoration politics of oblivion ("oubli/vergeten")towards the members of the 'old regime'. To what extent did administrative purges play a role in the postnapoleonic legal and political reconstruction? How succesfull was the French and Dutch policy? How can the differences between France and
the Netherlands be explained? And were both regimes really as different as is usually thought? On a more general level, the role of (criminal) law in
political reconstruction after largescale violence and upheaval will be adressed.
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