Le Prince, son peuple et le bien commun de l’Antiquité tardive à la fin du Moyen Âge, ed. Hervé Oudart, Jean-Michel Picard and Joêlle Quaghebeure
Jean Dunbabin
Anglophone readers should be warned that this is not the book which title might lead them to expect. This yet another updating of Carlyles’ great six-volume History Mediaeval Political Theory in West. There very little about impact Roman law (as opposed history), just one mention Aristotelian political ideas, and only barest references thinkers such as Aquinas, Bartolus, Dante or Marsilius Padua. Three chapters fit into an Carlyles, but even they easily; are Yves Sassier’s reinterpretation John Salisbury’s Policraticus, IV, 1–2; Alain Dubreucq’s discussion Carolingian mirror-of-princes literature; and, a lesser extent, Élizabeth Crouzet-Pavan’s interesting survey Italian fifteenth-century moral justifications for princely regimes. The other essays focus on doers. aim was shed light ideas subjects rather than those rulers, by deducing from chronicles, charters, illuminations sources. Contributors were then encouraged attempt assess role people medieval politics. highly laudable made more difficult editors’ additional brief: also investigate whether ideological foundations principate, established Augustus paid lip-service emperors late antiquity, survived influence rulers their critics later middle ages. Hervé Oudart introduces volume offering snapshot these alleged foundations: prince man whom rallied account his virtues, because perceived own good served following him. principate reinforced oath ruler taken all people. Jean-Pierre Martin adds picture demonstrating prince’s providing security cornerstone common good.
The English Historical Review