«Legittimità» e legittimismo tra Rivoluzione e Restaurazione

During the years of the Restoration, the term ‘legitimacy’ referred primarily to the return of the old sovereigns / of the Monarchy and to the divine origin of power. Above all, this interpretation was championed by reactionaries and counter-revolutionaries, but was also shared by authors which were liberal and moderate. With different nuances, the latter tried to establish a compromise between ‘legitimacy’ and some of the ideals and interests arising from the Revolution. The two schools of thought also shared doubts and concerns regarding the actual power of legitimation of democratic principles and popular sovereignty. In this sense, the debate on legitimacy entailed tackling the issue of the ultimate foundations of power and political authority.