Why did James Fenimore Cooper criticize European oligarchies in The Bravo?

In his 1831 novel The Bravo, James Fenimore Cooper criticized European oligarchies as a direct expression of his commitment to political democracy.1

During a lengthy stay in Europe (1826–1833), Cooper witnessed a period of significant revolutionary ferment. Influenced by his close friendship with the American Revolutionary War hero Marquis de Lafayette, Cooper became deeply informed about the continent's political climate. He used The Bravo as a vehicle to attack what he perceived as the inherent corruption and tyranny of oligarchical regimes.1

While Cooper was a staunch champion of democratic principles, it is important to note that his political views did not extend to social egalitarianism. His public defense of these ideals ultimately contributed to a decline in his literary popularity in America, as he believed the propertied classes to which he belonged were losing their democratic spirit.1