Smithsonian Seminar

SMITHSONIAN RESIDENT ASSOCIATE PROGRAM
COURSES & SERIES

Twilight of the Kings: The Dramatic Story of the 20th-Century European Monarchies

ALL-DAY SEMINAR: Sat., Feb. 5, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

At the dawn of the 20th century, royal families still ruled most of Europe; by century’s end, the map and the political systems of the Continent were utterly transformed.

What happened to the monarchies during the century is a fascinating story. From Britain to Russia and Norway to Greece, the royal families played key diplomatic, moral, and symbolic roles in the 20th century.

In this seminar, Arturo Beéche, editor and publisher of the European Royal History Journal, and Glenn Steinberg, professor of English at the College of New Jersey with a specialty in European history and literature, illustrate the transformation that occurred as the Continent was beset by wars and revolutions, and as royalty took on new roles and responsibilities.

The morning session starts with a snapshot of Europe’s ancient and complex system of Catholic and Protestant alliances and illuminates the chessboard of royal maneuvers as Europe slides into the chaos of World War I.

In the afternoon sessions, the drama of World War II unfolds, the web of alliances centered around Germany’s royal “marriage market” is sundered, and roles are once more redefined in post-war Europe’s democracies and dictatorships.

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