Izvestiya of Saratov University.
ISSN 1819-4907 (Print)
ISSN 2542-1913 (Online)


France

How Can English King Become the Sovereign of Flanders? (diplomatic struggle for the county in 2nd half of XIV сentury)

Article deals with the struggle for the County of Flanders between England and France in the second half of the XIV century. It concerns with the changes in their tactic: England and France stopped the warfare for a short period of time and used the means of diplomacy to gain Flanders instead. Members of the Plantagenet (Edmund Langley) and the Valois (Philip the Bold duke of Burgundy) dynasties in their matrimonial policy tried to seek the hand of the heiress of Flanders – Marguerite of Males.

British Eastern Policy: from the Carlowitz Congress to the Beginning of the French Revolution

The article describes the peculiarities of British policy in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East during 1699–1791, within the context of the diplomatic confrontation in Europe and the defense of British possessions in India.

The French society and the referendum of the «constitution of Europe» in 2005

This article is focused on studying the preparation and conduct of the referendum of «the Constitution for Europe» in France. Particular attention is paid to analysis of the evolution of the attitude of the French electorate toward the idea of a “referendum” and a “Constitution for Europe” from the moment the president’s announcement about his intention to hold a referendum, and its results that led to the rejection of «the Constitution». Besides, the internal factors that contributed to the negative outcome of the referendum are discussed.

Transformation of the image of power on the medals of the last Valois during the Religious wars

 The article is devoted to the study of images of Royal power that were used by the last Valois dynasty’s representatives, reflecting the transformations that occurred in connection with the attempt to strengthen the Royal authority with intensification of secular power and gaining spiritual power.