Abstract: The use of juridical concepts in history. How legitimate is the use by historians of juridical concepts ? The author examines this question in the context of François Furets' hypothesis that the king of France had already been entirely removed from power by the end of 1789. This hypothesis is based on two arguments : first, the French Assembly applied the dogma according to which the unity of sovereignty could only reside in the Assembly itself; second, the right to suspensive veto did not make him into partial legislative organ. Neither of th...
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