Benjamin Constant

Portrait by Hercule de Roche, c. 1820 Henri-Benjamin Constant de Rebecque (; 25 October 1767 – 8 December 1830), or simply Benjamin Constant, was a Swiss political thinker, activist and writer on political theory and religion.

A committed republican from 1795, he backed the coup d'état of 18 Fructidor (4 September 1797) and the following one on 18 Brumaire (9 November 1799). During the Consulat, in 1800 he became the leader of the Liberal Opposition. Having upset Napoleon and left France to go to Switzerland then to the Kingdom of Saxony, Constant nonetheless sided with him during the Hundred Days and became politically active again during the French Restoration. He was elected Député in 1818 and remained in post until his death in 1830. Head of the Liberal opposition, known as ''Indépendants'', he was one of the most notable orators of the Chamber of Deputies of France, as a proponent of the parliamentary system. During the July Revolution, he was a supporter of Louis Philippe I ascending the throne.

Besides his numerous essays on political and religious themes, Constant also wrote on romantic love. His autobiographical ''Le Cahier rouge'' (1807) gives an account of his love for Madame de Staël, whose protégé and collaborator he became, especially in the Coppet circle, and a successful novella, ''Adolphe'' (1816), are good examples of his work on this topic.

He was a fervent classical liberal of the early 19th century. He refined the concept of liberty, defining it as a condition of existence that allowed the individual to turn away interference from the state or society. His ideas influenced the Trienio Liberal movement in Spain, the Liberal Revolution of 1820 in Portugal, the Greek War of Independence, the November uprising in Poland, the Belgian Revolution, and liberalism in Brazil and Mexico. Provided by Wikipedia
Showing 1 - 20 results of 20 for search 'Constant, Benjamin', query time: 0.02s Refine Results
  1. 1

    Principios de política aplicables a todos los gobiernos / by Constant, Benjamin

    Published 2010
    Book
  2. 2

    Curso de política constitucional / by Constant, Benjamín

    Published 1968
    Book
  3. 3

    Liberalismo y democracia / by Constant, Benjamín

    Published 1963
    Book
  4. 4

    Filosofia Política 2 / by Constant, Benjamín

    Published 1985
    Book
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    Adolfo / by Constant, Benjamin, 1767-1830

    Published 1924
    Book
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    Diario íntimo / by Constant, Benjamin, 1767-1830

    Published 2006
    Book
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  10. 10

    Adolphe ; suivi de Cécile / by Constant, Benjamin, 1767-1830

    Published 1961
    Book
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    Adolphe : texte intégral / by Constant, Benjamin, 1767-1830

    Published 1937
    Book
  13. 13

    Comentario sobre la ciencia de la legislación de Filangeri / by Constant, Benjamin, 1767-1830

    Published 1825
    Book
  14. 14

    Adolphe / by Constant, Benjamin, 1767-1830

    Published 1946
    Book
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    Principios de política / by Constant, Benjamin, 1767-1830

    Published 1890
    Book
  17. 17

    Escritos políticos / by Constant, Benjamin, 1767-1830

    Published 1989
    Book
  18. 18

    Adolfo : relato encontrado entre los papeles de un desconocido / by Constant, Benjamin, 1767-1830

    Published 1983
    Book
  19. 19

    Adolfo / by Constant, Benjamín, 1767-1830

    Published 1950
    Book
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