Guy Fawkes and his gunpowder plot, the 'Man in the Iron Mask' and the 'Devils of Loudun' have offered some of the most compelling images of the early modern period. Conspiracies, real or imagined, were an essential feature of early modern life, offering a seemingly rational and convincing explanation for patterns of political and social behaviour. Conspiracies and Conspiracy Theory in Early Modern Europe examines conspiracies and conspiracy theories from an interdisciplinary perspective, by combining the theoretical approach of the history of ideas with specific examples from the period. Each contribution addresses a number of common themes through a series of original case studies, examining why certain groups were perceived in conspiratorial terms, and how far, if at all, these attitudes were challenged or redefined by the enlightenment.

Nigel Aston teaches at the University of Leicester Wolfgang Behringer is Professor of History at the Saarland University, Saarbrucken Dr Peter Campbell is Senior Lecturer in History at the University of Sussex Stuart Carroll, Senior Lecturer in Early Modern History at the University of York Barry Coward is Professor of History at Birkbeck College, University of London Colin Haydon is Reader in Early Modern History at King Alfred's College, Winchester Mark Knights teaches early modern history at the University of East Anglia Peter Lake is professor of history at Princeton University Marisa Linton is a senior lecturer at Kingston University Kate Lowe is Professor of Renaissance History at Goldsmiths College, University of London Dr Jason Peacey is Senior Research Fellow at the History of Parliament Trust, London Munro Price is Reader in Modern European History at Bradford University Penny Roberts is Senior Lecturer in History at the University of Warwick Malina Stefanovska is professor of French and Francophone studies at U.C.L.A. Julian Swann is Lecturer in early modern European history at Birkbeck College, University of London