What is it about?
This article reconsiders the role of the financiers in Old Regime France in general and the extent to which they profited from war funding under Louis XIV in particular
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Why is it important?
The article shows that the government had the financiers under control and that the profits they made during the NIne Years War were subject to a 50% tax by finance minister Chamillart when peace resumed. The article suggests that the services offered by the financiers were worthwhile but costly to the government and generated bitter social conflict.
Perspectives
I thoroughly enjoyed writing this article which brings more nuanced views about the role of financiers in Old Regime France. While some were crooks - and most were clearly obsessed with making money - they provided valuable services to the monarchy in wartime which are worth exploring.
Joel Felix
University of Reading
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Profits, malversations, restitutions. Les bénéfices des financiers durant la guerre de la Ligue d’Augsbourg et la taxe de Chamillart, Revue historique, January 2015, CAIRN,
DOI: 10.3917/rhis.154.0831.
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