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PRESENTATION: new PhD student Hugo BRETHENOUX VON VIETINGHOFF

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Hugo A. Brethenoux von Vietinghoff joins CORE as PhD student under the supervision of Prof. dr. Dave De ruysscher. He will work on FWO Senior Fundamental Research Project G0ACT25N,  Cities as Breeding Grounds: Legal Change in Financial Law (c. 1620–c. 1750). Hugo presents himself as follows: Trained in legal theory and analysis (ENS, EHESS, Paris Nanterre) and completing an intensive B.A. in Art History at the Sorbonne, I work at the intersection of law, culture, and historical research. My academic and professional path leads me to study how legal norms change through social and institutional interactions, particularly in European transnational settings. I focus on the development of financial and commercial law and judicial practices from the seventeenth to the twentieth century, with regular engagement in archival research. He studied a dual BA in French and Russian Law (Université Paris Nanterre, 2020-2023), and obtained a Master's degree in legal theory and analysis at the Éc...

BOOK LAUNCH: Stefano CATTELAN, Mare Clausum: The Formation of the Law of the Sea in Pre-modern State Practice and Legal Doctrine (c. 1350–1650) [Legal History Library/Studies in the History of International Law] (Leiden/Boston: Martinus Nijhoff/Brill, 2025) [ESIL IG History of International Law] (Zoom: 22 JAN 2026)

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(image source: ESIL IGHIL ) dr. Stefano Cattelan will present his recent monograph online for the ESIL Interest Group History of International Law , with replies by Guillaume Calafat (Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne), Monica García Salmones-Rovira (Maastricht) and Sze Hong Lam (NUS). More information here .

ARTICLE: Frederik DHONDT, "Outsider and Insider Views of Philip V's Monarchy: Réal de Curban and Abbé de Montgon" [Special issue "El acceso de Felipe V al trono español. Reacciones ante una reformulación en las relaciones de poder", eds. María LUZ GONZÁLEZ MEZQUITA & Christopher STORRS] (Magallánica : revista de historia moderna XII (2025), nr. 23, 256-286) [OPEN ACCESS]

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  (image source: magallánica ) Prof. Frederik Dhondt published an article in the special issue "El acceso de Felipe V al trono español. Reacciones ante una reformulación en las relaciones de poder" (edited by María Luz González Mezquita and Christopher Storrs) of the journal Magallánica . Abstract: This article examines two French printed sources that reflect on the Spanish monarchy under Philip V (1700–1746): Gaspard Réal de Curban’s  La Science du Gouvernement  (1760–1764) and the  Mémoires  of the abbé de Montgon (1748–1753). The former seeks to label and classify Philip V’s realm through a broad comparative approach encompassing public law, the law of nations, and what would today be described as political science. The latter, by contrast, offers a detailed (subjective and lively)  ex post  narrative of court intrigues and secret diplomacy between Versailles and San Ildefonso. While the former situates well-known episodes -such as Ripperda’s extra...

JOURNAL: Handelingen/Bulletin LIX (2025) (Koninklijke Commissie voor de Uitgave van Oude Wetten en Verordeningen van België/Commission Royale pour la Publication des Anciennes Lois et Ordonnances de Belgique) [OPEN ACCESS]

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  (image source: KCOWV/CRALO ) Prof. Dave De ruysscher and prof. Frederik Dhondt contributed to vol. LIX of the Handelingen/Bulletin  of the Royal Commission for the Publication of Old Laws and Ordinances of Belgium (ISBN 9782960272451). The fulltext of their contributions can be read in open access on rechtsreeks.be .

CHAPTER: Raphaël CAHEN, "Prosopographie des diplomates littérateurs au sein du Comité consultatif du contentieux du Ministère des Affaires étrangères" in: Christine BARON, Adrien LAUBA & Damien SALLES (dir.), Les diplomates littérateurs [Droit & Science Politique - Histoire du droit; Actes & Colloques] (Poitiers: Université de Poitiers, 2025), ISBN 9782381943336

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  (image source: Decitre ) Dr. Raphaël Cahen contributed a chapter to the collective volume Les diplomates littérateurs , published in the series Law and Political Science - Legal History of the University of Poitiers's press. Book abstract: Diplomates littérateurs. L’association de ces deux termes peut sans nul doute laisser quelque peu perplexe, les deux « professions » paraissant bien différentes voire antinomiques. Et pourtant à bien y regarder, le diplomate n’est pas qu’un homme du « voyage », du « relationnel », de la « représentation », de la « négociation » et du « compromis » ; il est aussi celui du texte. Il passe en effet une grande partie de sa carrière à rédiger des rapports, à consigner des notes à destination de son ministère de tutelle, à entretenir une correspondance officielle (et parfois moins officielle) avec ses homologues étrangers et les grands de ce monde. Il y a donc un lien étroit entre ces deux métiers (diplomate et littérateur). Sans doute le présent co...

JOURNAL: Grotiana XLVI (2025), Nr. 1

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  (image source: Brill ) dr. Stefano Cattelan (with Prof. Louis Sicking/VU Amsterdam-Leiden) and Prof. Frederik Dhondt published articles in the first issue of Grotiana 's volume XLVI. Read the articles here : DOI 10.1163/18760759-46010013  and DOI 10.1163/18760759-46010011.

HOLIDAYS: Winter Break until 4 JAN 2026

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We are taking some time off with the end of the teaching Semester. Enjoy the holidays to slow down and relax. Back on 5 January 2026 .