The investiture of Emperor Charles VI in Brabant and Flanders: a test case for the authority of the new Austrian government

This article focuses upon the investitures of Emperor Charles VI in 1717 in Brabant and Flanders. The purpose of this analysis is to demonstrate that, contrary to what some historians have claimed, the element of direct communication between prince and subjects remained significant at least until the beginning of the eighteenth century. Despite Charles' assertive attitude, the ceremonies were preceded by a period of intense negotiation, in which the Estates made clear demands. Eventually, however, he acquiesced to some of their requests. These concessions can be placed within a long tradition of modus vivendi between princely centralism and local autonomy in the Southern Netherlands. The sovereign was financially dependent on the Estates, which therefore had a great deal of leverage at their disposal. This vulnerability was compounded by the fact that Charles stood at the head of a dynasty, the Austrian Habsburgs, which had no tradition of authority in these regions upon which to draw. Furthermore, the Barrier Treaty's provisions restricted his sovereignty. His bargaining position influenced the organisation of the investitures, thus illustrating that in the early eighteenth century, the sovereign and provincial Estates of the Southern Netherlands were still engaged in a contractual relationship.     

Plausibly deniable: mercenaries in US covert interventions during the Cold War, 1964–1987

This article examines the role and the significance of professional mercenaries as an instrument of US covert action programmes during the Cold War. Arguing that even small groups of these ‘career mercenaries’ used as advisors and so-called force multipliers could potentially make a difference in small-scale proxy wars in the Global South, the author asserts a process of institutional learning in which mercenaries became a possible substitute for official military advisors. While western mercenaries were rewarding targets for communist propaganda and caused discord on the foreign policy level, the greater danger were unintended side effects on the domestic level, including the formation of a paramilitary subculture within the USA.     

A New Demosthenes Fragment From Kellis

This article presents the first edition of a fourth-century CE papyrus from Ismant el-Kharab (ancient Kellis) presenting Demosthenes’ De Corona 82-83 and 84-85.     

Βλήμενος ἦν (Iliad 4.211): Lexical or Periphrastic?

In this article, we consider whether the form Βλ?μενο? ?ν in Il. 4.211 should be considered lexical or periphrastic. Based on a discussion of the context, an analysis of the usage of the verb β?λλω elsewhere in the Iliad, and an application of some generally accepted criteria of periphrasticity, we conclude that both interpretations are in fact possible. We connect this to the diachronic development of periphrastic constructions, which, in an early stage of grammaticalization, are often ambiguous.     

Minor Complementation Patterns in Post-classical Greek (I–VI AD): A Socio-historical Analysis of a Corpus of Documentary Papyri

Classical Greek (V–IV BC) is known for the complexity of its complementation system, involving infinitival, participial, and finite verb forms. In Post-classical Greek (III BC–VI AD), a simplification of this system takes place, whereby finite complementation becomes much more frequent, and ?τι is used as a “generic” complementizer. This article analyses to what extent complementation patterns other than ?τι with a finite verb form and the accusative with the infinitive are still used in the Post-classical period (I–VI AD), focusing on documentary sources (i.e. letters and petitions). I show that various “minor” complementation patterns are (still) attested; some of them are known from Classical Greek, while others are entirely new formations. I furthermore argue that “factivity” and “formality” are two key factors in explaining the distribution of these patterns.