Heirs to the Throne in the Constitutional Monarchies of Nineteenth-Century Europe (1815-1914)

A Research Project funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council

Two fully-funded AHRC PhD studentships available in Modern History (19th-Century Europe)

Start Date: 27 September 2012

As part of the major AHRC-funded research project “Heirs to the Throne in the Constitutional Monarchies of 19th-Century Europe” (led by Dr Frank Lorenz Müller) two fully-funded three-year PhD studentships are available at the University of St Andrews.

This research project will, for the first time, explore systematically and comparatively on the roles played and contributions made by those waiting to come into the glittering inheritance of a European crown. On the eve of the First World War Europe was a continent of monarchies. A long 19th century of revolutions, wars, growing literacy, an expanding public sphere, political parties appealing to enlarged electorates, changes in social, economic, intellectual and technological life and imperial expansion lay behind them, but the continent's monarchic al systems had survived these changes in surprisingly rude health. That monarchies had flourished throughout these profound transformations points to their suppleness and ingenuity . The biological realities of hereditary rule made heirs to the throne a crucial part of monarchical systems. By analysing the heirs to the continent's many thrones the project will offer a new perspective on the culture, politics, states and societies of 19th-century Europe. The project will build on the rich body of recent research that engages with 19th-century monarchy in the fields of media history, cultural history and transnational history. It will address thematic questions across several constitutional monarchies and explore the resourcefulness, media acumen and societal integration of 19th-century monarchies. It will complement and challenge interpretations which emphasize their allegedly oppressive elements and help to explain the lasting popularity of monarchy.

This is a great opportunity to gain valuable experience of research as part of a committed and dynamic team.
Applicants for the two studentships are invited to investigate the systemic role(s) played by heirs to throne within the constitutional monarchy in at least one of the national case studies considered by the project as a whole: Great Britain, the German states, France, Italy, Austria-Hungary, and Spain. Applicants should make clear on which of these countries they would like to focus. Preference may be given to applicants working on Spanish, Italian or Austro-Hungarian history. Proposals for comparative research encompassing more than one country are also welcome.

Each student will be supported for three years from the main grant with full coverage of tuition fees and a maintenance stipend at the standard Research Councils rate (currently £13,590 PA). Some funding is also available to help with travel expenses.

Applications are open now, and will remain open until both studentships have been awarded. No decision will be made before 1 March 2012.

Please visit http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/history/research/monarchies/index.htm for details of how to apply.

Potential applicants are warmly encouraged to contact Frank Lorenz Müller (on flm3@st-andrews.ac.uk) to discuss these studentships informally.

 

 

University of St Andrews, School of History