Jeroen Duindam studied history and anthropology at the University of Utrecht, and was appointed to the Utrecht History Department in 1991. While Duindam taught cultural history, Cold War studies, international relations and political history, his research remained focused on the early modern European court and on the connections between rulers and elites. In 2008, he became Chair of Early Modern History at Groningen University, and since 2010 has held the Chair for Early Modern History at the University of Leiden. He is the author of numerous articles and two monographs: Vienna and Versailles: The Court of Europe's Dynastic Rivals (Cambridge, 2003) and Myths of Power: Norbert Elias and the Early Modern European Court (1995). Duindam recently edited a number of global comparative volumes and is editor of the book series Rulers and Elites. In 2011, he was awarded a prestigious Dutch research grant (NWO Horizon) on 'Eurasian Empires', a project with eight researchers based at three universities.
Introduction
1. Rulers: position versus person
2. Dynasty: reproduction and succession
3. At court: spaces, groups, balances
4. Realm: connections and interactions
Conclusion
Glossary
Bibliography
Index.