The Problem of Sovereignty in the Later Middle Ages
The Papal Monarchy with Augustinus Triumphus and the Publicists

Sovereignty has always been an important concept in political thought, and at no time in European history was it more important than during the perplexed conditions of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries.

Michael Wilks (Author)

9780521070188, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 31 July 2008

636 pages
23.2 x 15.6 x 1.6 cm, 2.42 kg

Sovereignty has always been an important concept in political thought, and at no time in European history was it more important than during the perplexed conditions of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. Universal government was a fading dream, giving way to the new conception of the national state and the whole basis of political thought was being reorientated by the influx of Aristotelian ideas. Dr Wilks's book is an attempt to clarify the more important problems in the political outlook of the period. He shows that at this time the theologians and literary writers, especially Augustinus Triumphus of Ancona, had built up a complete theory of sovereignty in favour of the papal monarchy, based on a neo-Platonic, Augustinian view of the church as a universal and totalitarian state.

Part I. The Universal Society: 1. Societas Christiana
2. Divide et Impera
3. Societas Humana
4. Via Media
Part II. The Origin of Political Authority: 5. The Sovereign Prince
6. Princely Liberty and the Vox Populi
7. The Development of Limited Monarchy
Part III. God and Caesar: 8. The Struggle for Independence
9. Papa est Verus Imperator
10. To Have and Have Not
Part IV. Vicarius Christi: 11. The Problem of Episcopal Government
12. The Supreme Governor
Part V. Changing Conceptions of Universal Authority: 13. The New World Order
14. The Universal Caretaker
Part VI. The Conciliar Theory: 15. Papa a Nemine Iudicatur
16. Root and Branch Conciliarism
17. Ecclesia in Papa, Papa in Ecclesia
Conclusion.

Subject Areas: History [HB]