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Vindiciae, Contra Tyrannos: Or, Concerning the Legitimate Power of a Prince Over the People, and of the People Over a Prince
The Vindiciae, contra tyrannos was the most infamous of the monarchomach treatises produced during the French wars of religion. This edition presents the first complete and accurate English translation of the work, a comprehensive apparatus, and an introduction that provides the first detailed analysis of the argument and also reconsiders the much-disputed question of authorship. It will be of interest to a wide range of scholars working on the history of political thought and early modern Europe.
- GenresNonfictionHistory
312 pages, Paperback
First published September 30, 1994
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
September 5, 2020
A historically significant work from the 16th century. It is an important work in order to understand Reformed ethics and views of civil government and civil resistance. The anonymous French Huguenot author makes a case for the lawful resistance to tyrants on the basis of biblical precedent and historical examples.
October 18, 2010
Brutus, almost thou persuadest me to be a rebel!
A densely-woven, fantastically-learned, brazen and brilliant bundle of non-sequiturs, whose mystique is only enhanced by the continuing tantalizing mystery of its authorship. This is one of the most important texts of early modern political theory, at times compelling, at times shocking, at times more than a little absurd, but rarely boring.
The thing that jumped out at me most: the almost complete reliance (when using Scripture) on the Old Testament to the almost complete exclusion of the New, even when the New would've suited his point better. Odd people, these 16th-century folks.
A densely-woven, fantastically-learned, brazen and brilliant bundle of non-sequiturs, whose mystique is only enhanced by the continuing tantalizing mystery of its authorship. This is one of the most important texts of early modern political theory, at times compelling, at times shocking, at times more than a little absurd, but rarely boring.
The thing that jumped out at me most: the almost complete reliance (when using Scripture) on the Old Testament to the almost complete exclusion of the New, even when the New would've suited his point better. Odd people, these 16th-century folks.
October 22, 2009
Read this in Janelle Greenberg's "Reform and Revolution" seminar at Pittsburgh. An interesting primary source, as such things go, but I've little insightful to say about it. Go talk to Quentin Skinner about this one.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews