Against the State? Urban government, police, citadinité and political responsibilities in Montpellier during the 18th century.

Abstract

Historiography has for long retained the idea of opposition between cities or municipals and Sate in the 18th century in France. Actually, the study in the idea of police practices in cities reveals the attempts to maintain urban government autonomy from the urban dominants. This implied a delicate choice of persons able to maintain this order and supervise the urban space; this article studies this process of legitimacy starting from the case of Iliers in Montpelliers, who were not professionals and who were chosen among the notables. This legitimacy was based on the notion of citadinity. 

Key words: Montpellier, Police, Urban government, Citadinity, 18th century, police and politics.