ABSTRACT

While other forms of political authority existed in medieval Europe, particularly in northern Italy, there can be no question that kingship was the preferred model of political structure. The theoretical justification for kingship as described by medieval authors often incorporated a variety of mythological elements conflated with historical events, not unlike American founding myths of cherry trees and tea parties. The classic formulation of the good king, as one who puts his people's good above his own, clearly provides a benchmark for the evaluation of rulers. Before the fourteenth century, the standard view was that the king should conserve the law. The princely virtues of humanity, generosity and liberality are essential to the conventional mirror for princes, since these are aspects of the prince's personality that reflect his noble character and cause his people to love him.