GOYAU (Georges). - Lot 129

GOYAU (Georges). (Orléans, 1869 – Paris, 1939) French historian, member of the Académie française (elected in 1939), specialist in religious history and the relationship between Catholicism and the modern world. Regular contributor to the *Revue des Deux Mondes*. Signed autograph manuscript, “Georges Goyau.” 6 pages, in-4 format. A Political and Ideological Analysis of Wilhelm II An important manuscript in which Georges Goyau offers an in-depth reflection on the personality and role of the German Emperor Wilhelm II, drawing a subtle distinction between the King of Prussia and the Emperor of Germany. The author contrasts two figures: - on the one hand, the Prussian sovereign, heir to a realist and military tradition - on the other hand, the emperor, the bearer of an ideological framework nourished by historical memory and imperial ambitions. Goyau develops a nuanced analysis, showing how German imperialism stems from a dual legacy: that of Prussian military power and that of a historical and religious imagination rooted in the Holy Roman Empire. In particular, he discusses this “myriad of memories” and “dreams” that fueled the idea of German expansion, both political and commercial. The text also highlights the religious and diplomatic dimensions of the reign, discussing Wilhelm II’s protective role toward Catholic missions in China, thereby revealing the intertwining of spiritual and geopolitical issues.