Rites protestataires et tensions démocratiques en France à l'âge romantique (1820 - 1848)

Abstract This article deals with the constitution of an " oppositionnal public space " before the advent of democracy, during the French constitutional monarchy. In the light of recent works, it shows how traditional usual rites (banquets, funerals, rough music) are performed as political forums which subvert the standards of the representation. As the official public space was restrained, they become rites of civic control and explicit protest against the powers. By mixing different social groups, by awarding public honors, by celebrating explicitly or implicitly the sovereign people, they re...