The year 2014 sees the 200 ^th anniversary of Napoleon's downfall - and the restauration of the French monarchy under the house of Bourbon. With this as a starting point, Volker Sellin shows how the European monarchies restored and prolonged their reigns by giving their countries constitutions. This new angle results in an astonishing history of the 19 ^th century in Europe from Spain to Russia.

Volker Sellin, Heidelberg.