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Why did Thomas Hobbes return from Paris to England in 1651?
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Thomas Hobbes
Thomas Hobbes, detail of an oil painting by John Michael Wright; in the National Portrait Gallery, London.
Thomas Hobbes returned to England from Paris at the end of 1651 because his position in France had become untenable.1
His situation in Paris deteriorated for several reasons:
- Offense to Royalists: Hobbes had presented a copy of his work Leviathan to Prince Charles (the future Charles II), who was then in exile. However, the book contained a suggestion that a subject had the right to abandon a ruler who could no longer provide protection. This idea deeply offended the princeâs advisers, leading to Hobbes being barred from the exiled court.1
- Suspicion by Authorities: Hobbes also faced suspicion from French authorities due to his criticisms of the papacy within his writings.1
Finding his environment increasingly hostile, Hobbes returned to England, where he submitted to the authority of the new regime led by Oliver Cromwell.1