Mirrors for Princes
Roberto Lambertini
“Mirrors for Princes” designates a literary genre in which political ideas are expressed the form of advice to ruler. This has its roots Antiquity and especially Late Antiquity. The first medieval flourishing works this kind dates back so-called Carolingian Renaissance, when image ideal ruler is strongly influenced by monastic background most authors writing on topic. After long decline, John Salisbury gave renewed impulse genre, exerting long-lasting influence with his Policraticus. In cultural context twelfth century, Mirrors Princes opened not only patristic heritage, but also classical authors. Many mirrors date second half thirteenth they mostly took compilations. following period, great thinkers such as Aquinas Giles Rome tried insert newly rediscovered Aristotelian ethical language into tradition. Giles’ De regimine principum was successful influential result effort. rise potestate papae treatises fourteenth century reduced role carriers could completely supersede them. On contrary, heyday over, regained at least part their function. present article does cover Quattrocento: it well known, however, that tradition continued Renaissance centuries.
Springer eBooks|U-PAD Unimc - Open Digital Publications (University of Macerata)