ABSTRACT
Christian princes have always argued for their excellence by referring to their God-given potestas and to their uncontested auctoritas. Roman law, which had already made some impact in earlier centuries, took over the political debate. If people believe the propagandist statements formulated by the many authors in the king's service, there is not only a formal link between the nation and the prince, but also an emotional one: the people love their king, and the king loves his people. This chapter discusses the impact of political reality in some works written during the reigns of Louis XII and Francis I by authors who, in one way or another, had to deal with that reality. It examines the procedures exploited in the works of Lemaire, Seyssel and Marot. The king wishes to see himself as the tutor or as the custos of a society where everybody is a subject.
