John of Salisbury: an early theorist of national monarchy

Abstract

In the Prologue to the fifth book of the Policraticus John of Salisbury exclaims: Quid autem in humanis rebus maius est principatu, cuius officium quodammodo omnia circuit implet et penetrat et quasi robore uirtutis suae totius rei publicae molem portat? Eius itaque contemplatio tractum habet et moram exigit tum prae magnitudine sui tum prae uenustate quam in capite rei publicae iocundum est omnibus contemplari. It is the purpose of the present study to examine some of the main respects in which this exalted view of the dignity and purpose of civil government is sustained in the Policraticus and made meaningful by Salisbury in his precepts for princely rule and in his prescriptions for the needs of the English State.