The English Republican Exiles in Europe during the Restoration

The Restoration of the Stuart monarchy in 1660 brought persecution to English republicans, but their ideas lived on in the political underground and exile networks. This study explores the lives, ideas, and networks of three seventeenth-century English republicans who left England for the European continent, offering a transnational perspective on early modern English republicanism.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 318 pages
Publication date: 23 May 2024
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

The Restoration of the Stuart monarchy in 1660 brought about a significant transformation in the lives of English republicans, marking a turning point that would have lasting consequences. Despite the Declaration of Breda, issued by Charles II, which promised forgiveness to those who had opposed his father and the monarchy during the Civil War and Interregnum, opponents of the Stuart regime continued to feel insecure and faced persecution. However, their ideas and beliefs persisted in the political underground of England and in the exile networks they established abroad. While much of the historiography of English republicanism has centered on the British Isles and the legacy of the English Revolution in the American colonies, this study seeks to broaden our understanding by tracing the lives, ideas, and networks of three seventeenth-century English republicans who chose to leave England for the European continent following the Restoration. Drawing upon sources from a diverse range of English and continental European archives, Gaby Mahlberg offers a transnational perspective on early modern English republicanism, exploring the lived experiences of Edmund Ludlow in Switzerland, Henry Neville in Italy, and Algernon Sidney in the Netherlands.

Edmund Ludlow, a prominent English republican, found refuge in Switzerland after the Restoration. He had been a key figure in the English Civil Wars and had been imprisoned for his political beliefs. In Switzerland, Ludlow continued to advocate for republicanism and worked to establish exile networks with other republicans across Europe. He also played a significant role in the formation of the League of Augsburg, a coalition of European states seeking to promote republicanism and oppose monarchical rule.

Henry Neville, another English republican, fled to Italy after the Restoration. He had been a close associate of Ludlow and had also been imprisoned for his political activities. In Italy, Neville continued to promote republicanism and worked to establish connections with other exiles and political figures. He also played a role in the formation of the Roman Republic, a short-lived republican government that was established in Rome in 1799.

Algernon Sidney, a third English republican, fled to the Netherlands after the Restoration. He had been a prominent figure in the English Civil Wars and had been imprisoned for his political beliefs. In the Netherlands, Sidney continued to advocate for republicanism and worked to establish exile networks with other republicans across Europe. He also played a role in the formation of the Dutch Republic, a short-lived republican government that was established in the Netherlands in 1795.

The lives, ideas, and networks of these three seventeenth-century English republicans who left England for the European continent after the Restoration offer a unique perspective on early modern English republicanism. They demonstrate the resilience and persistence of republicanism in the face of persecution and political adversity. Their ideas and beliefs continued to influence political thought and activism in England and abroad, and their exile networks played a crucial role in spreading republicanism and promoting political change.

In conclusion, the Restoration of the Stuart monarchy in 1660 marked a significant turning point in the lives of English republicans. Despite the challenges and persecution they faced, their ideas and beliefs persisted and continued to influence political thought and activism in England and abroad. This study highlights the lives, ideas, and networks of three seventeenth-century English republicans who left England for the European continent after the Restoration, offering a transnational perspective on early modern English republicanism.

Weight: 468g
Dimension: 151 x 229 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781108794985