Franco-Gallia

work by Hotman

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June 17, 2026

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Franco-Gallia is a significant work by François Hotman, a French jurist and scholar. Published in 1573, the book argued that the historical basis for royal absolutism in France was weak and not rooted in ancient French customs, but rather in the interpretations of Roman lawyers. Hotman used this argument to counter the growing power of the French monarchy, which he believed was being used to suppress religious reform. His work contributed to the political and religious debates of his time, advocating for government by consent and religious freedom.1

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François Hotman
In Franco-Gallia (1573), which became his most influential work, Hotman showed that there was no historical foundation, other than the absolutist tendency of Roman lawyers, for the growth of royal absolutism in France, which was used to prevent religious reform. In these and numerous other writings,…
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In Franco-Gallia (1573), which became his most influential work, Hotman showed that there was no historical foundation, other than the absolutist tendency of Roman lawyers, for the growth of royal absolutism in France, which was used to prevent religious reform. In these and numerous other writings,…
Read More