Le duc de Broglie - Le Secret du Roi - 1878

2 卷 in-8 半皮革装订 460; 617 页 - 外观略有磨损，内里清新 - 品相良好。
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《国王的秘密》是阿尔贝·德·布鲁里（1821-1901）最重要的历史著作之一。本书致力于路易十五的外交秘密——一套在官方外交之外由国王组织的平行通信与间谍体系。布鲁里特别依靠当时的信函与外交文件来论证。

什么是《国王的秘密》？

在路易十五时期，法国拥有由外交部长主持的官方外交。但国王同时建立了一个机密网络：“秘密”。

其特工直接向国王领取指示，有时甚至在外交部长不知情的情况下行动。

目的是让路易十五能够实现自己的外交目标，有时与政府的目标不同。

埃昂骑士的角色

书中最著名的人物之一是查尔斯·德·博蒙特，国王的外交官兼特工埃昂骑士。

《秘密》尤其介入与俄罗斯、普鲁士、英格兰和波兰的关系。路易十五希望同时保留多种外交可能性，并在极为秘密的情况下，为某些欧洲项目做准备。

这个网络还包括分布在各大欧洲首都的外交官、特工和通信员。

路易十五与腓特烈二世

本书的一个重要部分涉及路易十五与普鲁士的复杂关系。

路易十五视普鲁士为一个重要但危险的力量。因此，法王试图监督腓特烈二世，了解其意图并影响欧洲局势。

因此，《秘密》成为国王进行个人外交的工具，尤其在七年战争前后尤为活跃。

体制的问题

然而，布鲁里指出了国王秘密的矛盾与弱点。

主要问题在于存在两种并存的法国外交：
- 官方外交 → 由部长领导；
- 秘密外交 → 以国王之名直接进行。

这种局面导致矛盾、误解，甚至有时采取的行动有损法国的官方政策。

路易十五希望保持对外交事务的个人掌控，但其体制最终变得难以控制。

秘密的终局

在欧洲政治动荡、尤其是七年战争（1756-1763）之后，这一体制逐渐失去效力。路易十五于1774年去世，正式标志着这一个人身外交的终结。

布鲁里因此展示了一个试图加强个人权力的国王，最终却创建了一个复杂、代价高昂且时常自相矛盾的外交体系。

《国王的秘密》讲述了路易十五在官方外交之外建立的 clandestine 外交存在，以及这个秘密特工网络如何使国王追求自身的欧洲野心，同时在法国对外政策中引发了许多矛盾。

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2 volumes in-8 demi chagrin 460; 617 pages - Light wear on the outside, fresh inside - Good copy.
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Le Secret du Roi is one of the most important historical works by Albert de Broglie (1821-1901). The book is devoted to the diplomatic secret of Louis XV, a parallel system of correspondence and espionage that the king had organized on the sidelines of official diplomacy. Broglie relies in particular on correspondence and diplomatic documents of the time.

What is "the King’s Secret"?

Under Louis XV, France has an official diplomacy headed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs. But the king also sets up a confidential network: "the Secret".

Its agents receive their instructions directly from the king and may sometimes act without the knowledge of the foreign minister.

The aim was to allow Louis XV to pursue his own diplomatic objectives, sometimes different from those of his government.

The role of the knight of Eon

One of the most famous characters in the book is Charles de Beaumont, knight of Eon, diplomat and secret agent of the king.

Le Secret intervenes notably in relations with Russia, Prussia, England and Poland. Louis XV sought to maintain several diplomatic possibilities at the same time and to prepare, in the greatest secrecy, certain European projects.

The network also includes diplomats, agents and correspondents in different European capitals.

Louis XV and Frédéric II

An important part of the work concerns the complex relations between Louis XV and Frederick II of Prussia.

Louis XV considered Prussia an important but dangerous power. The French king therefore sought to keep an eye on Frederick II, to know his intentions and to influence European events.

The Secret thus becomes an instrument allowing the king to conduct a personal diplomacy, particularly active in the years before and after the Seven Years' War.

The system problem

Broglie, however, shows the contradictions and weaknesses of the King’s Secret.

The main problem is the coexistence of two French diplomacies:
- official diplomacy → led by ministers;
- the secret diplomacy → conducted directly in the name of the king.

This situation leads to contradictions, misunderstandings and sometimes initiatives that harm the official policy of France.

Louis XV wanted to retain personal control over foreign affairs, but his system eventually became difficult to control.

The End of the Secret

After the upheavals of European politics, particularly the Seven Years' War (1756-1763), the system gradually lost its effectiveness. The death of Louis XV in 1774 definitively marked the end of this personal diplomacy.

Broglie thus shows how a king who wanted to strengthen his personal power ended up creating a complex, costly and sometimes contradictory diplomatic system.

Le Secret du Roi recounts the existence of a clandestine diplomacy set up by Louis XV alongside official diplomacy, and shows how this network of secret agents allowed the king to pursue his own European ambitions while provoking many contradictions in French foreign policy.