Political Education in the Middle Ages: The Tractatus de morali principis institutione by Vincent of Beauvais (c. 1263)

Abstract

This paper analyses political education in the late Middle Ages, centring on the Latin work Tractatus de morali principis institutione, written in 1263 by the Dominican Vincent of Beauvais to provide guidance for princes on political affairs. Although there have been a few sporadic studies of this subject, it can be said that this work remains largely unknown. Its central thesis is built around two fundamental ideas. First, the prince is regarded as a pedagogical model in literary and religious terms. The second principle is the subordination of the temporal to the spiritual power. In this, the prince's education is crucial: he must be endowed with a markedly moral, even Messianic character, his ultimate purpose being to cooperate with the Church in its coredemptive mission.