On the question of continuity of ideas of Jean Bodin in a treatise by Degory Wheare

The aim of the article is to identify the mechanisms by which the political situation of different countries formed the historiography of early modern times. In particular, the article attempts to show how the political debate influenced the concept of history of Degory Whear. The article presents a comparative analysis of some subjects raised in the works of French jurist Jean Bodin and English Antiquaries Degori Whear. The main sources of the research are two treatises of Jean Bodin "Methodus ad facilem historiarum cognitionem" (1566) and "Les six livres de la Republique" (1576) and a treatise of Degory Whear "De ratione et methodo legendi historias (The Method and Order for Reading both Civil and Ecclesiastic Histories)" (1623). During the formation of national states in Europe it was especially important to study and analyze historical works. The intellectual contribution to this discussion has made Degory Whear. The treatise "The method and order of reading both civil and ecclesiastical histories" provides a rationale independence history as a discipline that has its own method and using rational ways of knowing. This treatise was written in a period of political instability and the regular discussions on the law. It is interesting to see how it affected the political situation. In this article the author would like to draw attention to two of the subjects, in which Whear gives links to treatises of Bodin. The first subject is related to the Whear's attitude towards the theory of the four monarchies. The second subject contains a recommendation what authors should be addressed during the study of Roman history. Both subjects unite the question of the Roman past and how to represent it. Most likely, the task of these storylines is the formation of historical memory. During this period, many works appeared in which the authors were aiming to create a national history. Mythological tradition of English authors assumed that the laws of England are more ancient than any of the constitutions and laws of the Roman emperors. Thus, the British national claims were turned into "competition" with the Roman Empire. Processes occurring in the formation of historical science in England and on the continent were similar. Political writers were well aware of that power cannot be stored for a long time without creating and strengthening the powerful symbolic bases of their regime. The above stories are typical for British intellectuals, but the inconsistency of surviving evidence of the past allows everyone to interpret them in their own way. Degory Whear acknowledged the greatness of the Roman Empire. This could be perceived as a symbol of submission to the Roman domination and as a blow to national pride of Englishmen. But Whear's recognition of continuity of the Roman and British "empires" on the one hand, and the establishment of parallels between them, on the other hand, was not an opposition to the official historiography, but rather aimed to contribute to raising the authority of the royal power.

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