Monarchism—The Only Love That Dare Not Speak Its Name
By Charles A. Coulombe, European Conservative.
Throne and altar- a contemporary look at the complex institution of monarchy.
The recent death of Queen Elizabeth II and accession and coronation of King Charles III—and, to some degree, the death of Constantine II of Greece—have once again sparked some popular interest in the world’s oldest institution (although not profession). The recent publication of three very excellent and very different books (The Habsburg Way, by the Archduke Eduard von Habsburg; Jacobitism in Britain and the United States, 1880–1910, by Michael Connolly; and The Enduring Crown Commonwealth: The Past, Present, and Future of the UK-Canada-ANZ Alliance and Why It Matters, by Michael J. Smith and Stephen Klimczuk-Massion) dealing with very different aspects of monarchy, are indications that although continually attacked, monarchy is not merely fascinating for moderns, but continues to be objectively important.
The first book I mentioned not only chronicles how one of Europe’s most venerable dynasties managed to stay in power for so long, but how any family might use some of their skills for its own success. The second book explores how a group of late-19th century intellectuals on both sides of the Atlantic used a supposedly dead and irrelevant ideology to trenchantly critique modernity, in ways that remain relevant today. The final work shows how the British monarchy remains key to effectively animating a power grouping that for the authors is essential if Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand are to survive in the long run. These extremely varied topics are themselves indicative of the complex nature of monarchy.
European heirs
Indeed, monarchy itself is not so easy to define. Mention the word, and the modern mind—fresh from being ordered to its room in masks by our freely elected masters, whilst the same impose their racial, gender, and hormonal views on a more or less unwilling society—immediately exclaims “tyranny.” Images of Nero, Henry VIII, and a wildly distorted George III are summoned up before said mind, subjected to an obligatory two minutes of hatred, and then once again sent triumphantly back to the mental recesses from whence they came. That task accomplished, one is able to return to the weary world one actually inhabits, feeling that at least one is ‘free.’
And yet, and yet, there are still people who openly call themselves monarchists. If the ‘M’ word is uttered, the malefactor’s hearers often reply: “So, you want to be a lord or something? If we had a monarchy again, you’d be nothing!” My favourite response to this was made by an American lady living in Germany, who answered “What makes you think I’m something now? Do you think the chancellor cares if you or I live or die?” There was no answer to that. At any rate, let us put that argument aside, as well as those who do indeed look for titles or orders of knighthood as social accessories, and concentrate on those who are serious about holding this unpopular view.
Related Posts
Tags
Share This
