Introduction

This part, ‘Exercising authority and exerting influence’, adopts a longue dureé approach to shed light upon the activity of a multiplicity of actors within the wider framework of monarchy. Applying cross-disciplinary thinking and methodologies, the chapters in this part combine to scrutinize the mechanisms of sovereignty and legitimacy. In tackling the ways in which monarchies across time have sought to exercise authority and exert influence, the contributors to this part confront, problematize and elaborate upon pivotal themes raised across the entirety of this collection – themes such as power, law, religion, the use of ceremony, display and representation, and dynasties, courts and realms.