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A Pretender's Concept of the French Monarchy
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 August 2009
Extract
Out of what is sometimes called the dream world of pretenders have come some of the freshest, most common sensical political writings of contemporary France. Indeed, the doctrines advanced during the last twenty years by Henri, Comte de Paris (born in 1908), heir and pretender to the French throne, have earned him the epithet of “Revolutionary Prince.” To the many paradoxes of modern France must be added that of a pretender who has better understood the fundamental prerequisites of successful democratic government than many of the traditional Republican leaders.
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References
1 Williams, Philip, Politics in Post-War France (London & New York, 1954), pp. 150–151. Williams is one of a few observers of the French scene who recently have begun to appreciate the Comte de Paris' position.Google Scholar
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3 “Ce n'est pas avec les mauvais principes de la Revolution Frangaise qu'on chassera les principes de la Révolution Russe, car ce sont les mênes.” Ibid., July 11, 1936.
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25 The many interesting, and sometimes controversial, episodes of the Comte de Paris' career fall without the scope of this paper. Suffice it to say that the abrogation of the Law of Exile, June, 1950, can be interpreted as a blanket approval of his activities since 1934. The Comte de Paris inherited the mantle of pretender upon the death of the Due de Guise, August, 1940.
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35 Ibid.
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38 The Comte, Comtesse de Paris and their twelve children have many of the attributes one would look for in a royal family.