Co-ratification in practice

Summary This contribution examines the role of the city of Rouen in the co-ratification of the Treaty of the More in 1525. On looking into the deliberations of Rouen’s city council, this article provides a local perspective into the participation of cities in treaty processes, challenging the traditional view that such affairs were solely the domain of monarchs and their courts. This contribution analyses the correspondence of the Regent of France, Louise of Savoy, and the council of Rouen. The findings reveal how Rouen’s City Council balanced loyalty to the French crown with efforts to preserve local interests, using diplomatic channels and delaying tactics. This case-study illustrates the complexity of power politics in 16th-century France, where cities like Rouen played a significant, yet often overlooked, role in shaping international agreements. The article contributes to broader historiographical debates on the development of modern diplomacy and the agency of cities.