Mirror-of-princes writing
Encyclopedia
The mirrors for princes refer to a genre
– in the loose sense of the word – of political writing during the Early Middle Ages
, Middle Ages
and the Renaissance
. They are best known in the form of textbooks which directly instruct kings or lesser rulers on certain aspects of rule and behaviour, but in a broader sense, the term is also used to cover histories or literary works aimed at creating images of kings for imitation or avoidance. They were often composed at the accession of a new king, when a young and inexperienced ruler was about to come to power. They could be viewed as a species of self-help
book. Possibly the best known (European) "mirror" is Il Principe
(c. 1513) by Machiavelli
, although this was not a typical example. Some further examples are listed below:
Eusebius of Caesarea's Life of Constantine may be a mirror for princes. This text's precise genre, audience, and aims has, however, been a subject of scholarly controversy.
Carolingian texts. Notable examples of Carolingian textbooks for kings, counts and other laymen include:
Irish texts
(1512-1521),'The teachings of Neagoe Basarab to his son Theodosie', one of the earliest literary works of Wallachia
Genre
Genre , Greek: genos, γένος) is the term for any category of literature or other forms of art or culture, e.g. music, and in general, any type of discourse, whether written or spoken, audial or visual, based on some set of stylistic criteria. Genres are formed by conventions that change over time...
– in the loose sense of the word – of political writing during the Early Middle Ages
Early Middle Ages
The Early Middle Ages was the period of European history lasting from the 5th century to approximately 1000. The Early Middle Ages followed the decline of the Western Roman Empire and preceded the High Middle Ages...
, Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
and the Renaissance
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
. They are best known in the form of textbooks which directly instruct kings or lesser rulers on certain aspects of rule and behaviour, but in a broader sense, the term is also used to cover histories or literary works aimed at creating images of kings for imitation or avoidance. They were often composed at the accession of a new king, when a young and inexperienced ruler was about to come to power. They could be viewed as a species of self-help
Self-help
Self-help, or self-improvement, is a self-guided improvement—economically, intellectually, or emotionally—often with a substantial psychological basis. There are many different self-help movements and each has its own focus, techniques, associated beliefs, proponents and in some cases, leaders...
book. Possibly the best known (European) "mirror" is Il Principe
The Prince
The Prince is a political treatise by the Italian diplomat, historian and political theorist Niccolò Machiavelli. From correspondence a version appears to have been distributed in 1513, using a Latin title, De Principatibus . But the printed version was not published until 1532, five years after...
(c. 1513) by Machiavelli
Niccolò Machiavelli
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli was an Italian historian, philosopher, humanist, and writer based in Florence during the Renaissance. He is one of the main founders of modern political science. He was a diplomat, political philosopher, playwright, and a civil servant of the Florentine Republic...
, although this was not a typical example. Some further examples are listed below:
Greek and Roman
- XenophonXenophonXenophon , son of Gryllus, of the deme Erchia of Athens, also known as Xenophon of Athens, was a Greek historian, soldier, mercenary, philosopher and a contemporary and admirer of Socrates...
, The Education of Cyrus - IsocratesIsocratesIsocrates , an ancient Greek rhetorician, was one of the ten Attic orators. In his time, he was probably the most influential rhetorician in Greece and made many contributions to rhetoric and education through his teaching and written works....
, To Nicocles and Evagoras - SenecaSeneca the YoungerLucius Annaeus Seneca was a Roman Stoic philosopher, statesman, dramatist, and in one work humorist, of the Silver Age of Latin literature. He was tutor and later advisor to emperor Nero...
, De clementia
Eusebius of Caesarea's Life of Constantine may be a mirror for princes. This text's precise genre, audience, and aims has, however, been a subject of scholarly controversy.
Early Middle Ages
- Gregory of ToursGregory of ToursSaint Gregory of Tours was a Gallo-Roman historian and Bishop of Tours, which made him a leading prelate of Gaul. He was born Georgius Florentius, later adding the name Gregorius in honour of his maternal great-grandfather...
' History of the Franks which warns against internal strife. - De duodecim abusivis saeculiDuodecim abusivis saeculiDe duodecim abusivis saeculi "On the Twelve Abuses of the World" is a treatise on social and political morality written by an anonymous Irish author between 630 and 700. During the Middle Ages the work was very popular throughout Europe.-Background:...
, 'On the twelve abuses of the world' (seventh century), a Hiberno-Irish treatise by an anonymous author sometimes referred to as Pseudo-Cyprian. This work, though not a 'mirror for princes' per se, was to be of great influence on the development of the 'genre' as it took place on the Continent. - BedeBedeBede , also referred to as Saint Bede or the Venerable Bede , was a monk at the Northumbrian monastery of Saint Peter at Monkwearmouth, today part of Sunderland, England, and of its companion monastery, Saint Paul's, in modern Jarrow , both in the Kingdom of Northumbria...
's Ecclesiastical History of the English People specifically states that the purpose of the study of history is to present examples for either imitation or avoidance.
Carolingian texts. Notable examples of Carolingian textbooks for kings, counts and other laymen include:
- Smaragdus of Saint-MihielSmaragdus of Saint-MihielSmaragdus of Saint-Mihiel was a Benedictine monk of St Mihiel Abbey, near Verdun. He was a significant writer of homilies, and on the Rule of St Benedict.-Life:...
, Via regia (813), arguably the first true European mirror for princes, dedicated to Louis the PiousLouis the PiousLouis the Pious , also called the Fair, and the Debonaire, was the King of Aquitaine from 781. He was also King of the Franks and co-Emperor with his father, Charlemagne, from 813...
, when king of Aquitania. - EinhardEinhardEinhard was a Frankish scholar and courtier. Einhard was a dedicated servant of Charlemagne and his son Louis the Pious; his main work is a biography of Charlemagne, the Vita Karoli Magni, "one of the most precious literary bequests of the early Middle Ages."-Public life:Einhard was from the eastern...
's Vita Karoli which idolises CharlemagneCharlemagneCharlemagne was King of the Franks from 768 and Emperor of the Romans from 800 to his death in 814. He expanded the Frankish kingdom into an empire that incorporated much of Western and Central Europe. During his reign, he conquered Italy and was crowned by Pope Leo III on 25 December 800...
's reign as something for other rulers to aspire to. - Jonas of OrléansJonas of OrléansJonas was Bishop of Orléans and played a major political role during the reign of Emperor Louis the Pious.Jonas was born in Aquitaine. Probably a cleric by the 780s, he served at the court of Louis the Pious, who ruled as King of Aquitaine during the reign of his father, Charlemagne. In 817,...
, De Institutione Regia (c. 831), written for Pepin I of AquitainePepin I of AquitainePepin I was King of Aquitaine.-Biography:He was the second son of Emperor Louis the Pious and his first wife, Ermengarde of Hesbaye....
, apparently on the basis of a council at Orléans. - AgobardAgobardAgobard of Lyon was a Spanish-born priest and archbishop of Lyon, during the Carolingian Renaissance. The author of multiple treatises, ranging in subject matter from the iconoclast controversy to Spanish Adoptionism to critiques of the Carolingian royal family, Agobard is best known for his...
of Lyons, his letters. - Sedulius ScottusSedulius ScottusSedulius Scottus was an Irish teacher, Latin grammarian and Scriptural commentator, who lived in the ninth century.Sedulius is sometimes called Sedulius the Younger, to distinguish him from Coelius Sedulius . The Irish form of the name is Siadhal.Sedulius the Younger flourished from 840 to 860...
, De rectoribus christianis 'On Christian rulers' (c. 855-9), addressed to King Lothar II of Lotharingia. - Hincmar of Reims, De regis persona 'The Person of the King'
- Hincmar of Reims, De Ordine Palatii 'On the management of the palace' (882), which sets out the moral duties of a king and includes an account of the organisation of the palace.
- Jonas of OrléansJonas of OrléansJonas was Bishop of Orléans and played a major political role during the reign of Emperor Louis the Pious.Jonas was born in Aquitaine. Probably a cleric by the 780s, he served at the court of Louis the Pious, who ruled as King of Aquitaine during the reign of his father, Charlemagne. In 817,...
, De Institutione Laicali (818 x 828), (originally) written for Count Matfrid of OrléansMatfrid of OrléansMatfrid was Count of Orléans in the reign of Emperor Louis the Pious. Historians presume that he was the first of Frankish noble clan known as the Matfridings, Matfridinger or Matfriede.-Matfrid:...
. - Paulinus of Aquileia, Liber exhortationis (795), for Count Heiric of Friuli.
- AlcuinAlcuinAlcuin of York or Ealhwine, nicknamed Albinus or Flaccus was an English scholar, ecclesiastic, poet and teacher from York, Northumbria. He was born around 735 and became the student of Archbishop Ecgbert at York...
, De virtutibus et vitiis (c. 799–800), written for Count Wido of Brittany. - DhuodaDhuodaDhuoda was the author of the Liber Manualis, a handbook written for her son. Her date of birth and death are unknown but it is circa 803-843.-Life:...
, Liber manualis, written for her son William.
Irish texts
- see De duodecim abusivis saeculi above. The vernacular mirrors differ from most texts mentioned here in that the ones who are described as giving and receiving advice are commonly legendary figures.
- Audacht Morainn ('The Testament of Morand'), written c. 700, an Old Irish text which has been called a forerunner of the 'mirrors for princes'. The legendary wise judge Morand is said to have sent advice to Feradach Find FechtnachFeradach FinnfechtnachFeradach Finnfechtnach , son of Crimthann Nia Náir, was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland...
when the latter was about to be made King of Tara. - Tecosca Cormaic, 'The Instructions of Cormac', in which the speaker Cormac mac AirtCormac mac AirtCormac mac Airt , also known as Cormac ua Cuinn or Cormac Ulfada , was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland...
is made to instruct his son Cairbre LifechairCairbre LifechairCairbre Lifechair , son of Cormac mac Airt, was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland. He came to the throne after the death of Eochaid Gonnat...
about a variety of matters. - Bríatharthecosc Con Culainn 'The precept-instruction of CúchulainnCúchulainnCú Chulainn or Cúchulainn , and sometimes known in English as Cuhullin , is an Irish mythological hero who appears in the stories of the Ulster Cycle, as well as in Scottish and Manx folklore...
' (interpolated in Serglige Con CulainnSerglige Con CulainnSerglige Con Culainn , also known as Oenét Emire is a narrative from the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. It originated in the 10th and 11th centuries, and survives in the Book of the Dun Cow, which combines two earlier versions. It tells of a curse of illness inflicted upon the hero Cú Chulainn...
), addressed to Lugaid Réoderg. - Tecosc Cuscraid 'The instruction of Cuscraid'
- Senbríathra Fithail 'The ancient precepts of Fíthal'
- Briathra Flainn Fína 'The Sayings of Flann FínaAldfrith of NorthumbriaAldfrith sometimes Aldfrid, Aldfridus , or Flann Fína mac Ossu , was king of Northumbria from 685 until his death. He is described by early writers such as Bede, Alcuin and Stephen of Ripon as a man of great learning, and some of his works, as well as letters written to him, survive...
'
High and Late Middle Ages
- John of SalisburyJohn of SalisburyJohn of Salisbury , who described himself as Johannes Parvus , was an English author, educationalist, diplomat and bishop of Chartres, and was born at Salisbury.-Early life and education:...
, Policraticus 'Statesman's Book' (1159). - Pseudo-PlutarchPseudo-PlutarchPseudo-Plutarch is the conventional name given to the unknown authors of a number of pseudepigrapha attributed to Plutarch.Some of these works were included in some editions of Plutarch's Moralia...
, Institutio Traiani (first quoted in John of Salisbury's Policraticus) - Gerald of Wales, Liber de Principis instructione (c. 1193) and De instructione principisDe instructione principisDe instructione principis is a Latin work by the 12th-13th century author Gerald of Wales. It is divided into three "Distinctions"...
. - Konungs skuggsjáKonungs skuggsjáKonungs skuggsjá is a Norwegian educational text from around 1250, an example of speculum literature that deals with politics and morality...
or Speculum regale, Norwegian thirteenth-century treatise originally written for King Magnus Lagabøte. - Vincent of BeauvaisVincent of BeauvaisThe Dominican friar Vincent of Beauvais wrote the Speculum Maius, the main encyclopedia that was used in the Middle Ages.-Early life:...
, De Eruditione Filiorum Nobilium 'The Education of Noble Children' (c. 1250) - Guibert of Tournai, De Modo Addiscendi 'The Method of Learning' (c.1260)
- William Peraldus, De Eruditione Principum 'On the Education of Princes' (c. 1265), formerly attributed to Thomas AquinasThomas AquinasThomas Aquinas, O.P. , also Thomas of Aquin or Aquino, was an Italian Dominican priest of the Catholic Church, and an immensely influential philosopher and theologian in the tradition of scholasticism, known as Doctor Angelicus, Doctor Communis, or Doctor Universalis...
. - Brunetto LatiniBrunetto LatiniBrunetto Latini was an Italian philosopher, scholar and statesman.-Life:...
, Li Livres dou Tresor (1266), written for Charles of Anjou. - Giles of RomeGiles of RomeGiles of Rome , was an archbishop of Bourges who was famed for his logician commentary on the Organon by Aristotle. Giles was styled Doctor Fundatissimus by Pope Benedict XIV...
, De Regimine Principum 'On the Rule of Princes' (1277 x 1279), written for Philip the FairPhilip IV of FrancePhilip the Fair was, as Philip IV, King of France from 1285 until his death. He was the husband of Joan I of Navarre, by virtue of which he was, as Philip I, King of Navarre and Count of Champagne from 1284 to 1305.-Youth:A member of the House of Capet, Philip was born at the Palace of...
. - William of PagulaWilliam of PagulaWilliam of Pagula , also known as William Paull or William Poull, was a 14th-century English canon lawyer and theologian best known for his written works, particularly his manual for priests entitled the Oculus Sacerdotis...
, Speculum regis, written for Edward III of EnglandEdward III of EnglandEdward III was King of England from 1327 until his death and is noted for his military success. Restoring royal authority after the disastrous reign of his father, Edward II, Edward III went on to transform the Kingdom of England into one of the most formidable military powers in Europe...
(c. 1331) - Don Juan Manuel, Tales of Count Lucanor (1335)
- Alvarus PelagiusAlvarus PelagiusÁlvaro Pelayo was a celebrated Spanish canonist.-Life:Alvarus studied Canon law at Bologna, but in 1304 resigned his benefices, and entered the Franciscan Order. He is said to have been a pupil of Duns Scotus and to have been tutor to the children of Don Pedro, Regent of Portugal...
, Speculum regum (1340s), written for Alfonso XI of CastileAlfonso XI of CastileAlfonso XI was the king of Castile, León and Galicia.He was the son of Ferdinand IV of Castile and his wife Constance of Portugal. Upon his father's death in 1312, several disputes ensued over who would hold regency, which were resolved in 1313...
. - The III Consideracions Right Necesserye to the Good Governaunce of a Prince (c. 1350), a translation of a French treatise from 1347, intended for King John II of FranceJohn II of FranceJohn II , called John the Good , was the King of France from 1350 until his death. He was the second sovereign of the House of Valois and is perhaps best remembered as the king who was vanquished at the Battle of Poitiers and taken as a captive to England.The son of Philip VI and Joan the Lame,...
. - Christine de PizanChristine de PizanChristine de Pizan was a Venetian-born late medieval author who challenged misogyny and stereotypes prevalent in the male-dominated medieval culture. As a poet, she was well known and highly regarded in her own day; she completed 41 works during her 30 year career , and can be regarded as...
, Livre du corps de policie (1407). - Thomas OccleveThomas OccleveThomas Hoccleve or Occleve was an English poet and clerk.-Biography:Hoccleve is thought to have been born in 1368/9 as he states when writing in 1421/2 Thomas Hoccleve or Occleve (c. 1368–1426) was an English poet and clerk.-Biography:Hoccleve is thought to have been born in 1368/9 as he...
, De Regimine Principum (early 1410s) written for Henry V of EnglandHenry V of EnglandHenry V was King of England from 1413 until his death at the age of 35 in 1422. He was the second monarch belonging to the House of Lancaster....
. - John of IrelandJohn of IrelandJohn of Ireland, or Johannis de Irlandia was a Scottish or Irish writer, resident for thirty years in Paris and later a professor of theology...
, The Meroure of Wysedome, (1490) written for James IV of ScotlandJames IV of ScotlandJames IV was King of Scots from 11 June 1488 to his death. He is generally regarded as the most successful of the Stewart monarchs of Scotland, but his reign ended with the disastrous defeat at the Battle of Flodden Field, where he became the last monarch from not only Scotland, but also from all...
.
Renaissance
- Baldassare CastiglioneBaldassare CastiglioneBaldassare Castiglione, count of was an Italian courtier, diplomat, soldier and a prominent Renaissance author.-Biography:Castiglione was born into an illustrious Lombard family at Casatico, near Mantua, where his family had constructed an impressive palazzo...
's The Book of the CourtierThe Book of the CourtierThe Book of the Courtier is a courtesy book. It was written by Baldassare Castiglione over the course of many years, beginning in 1508, and published in 1528 by the Aldine Press just before his death...
. - Machiavelli, Il Principe (c. 1513, published in 1532).
- Erasmus, Institutio principis ChristianiThe Education of a Christian PrinceThe Education of a Christian Prince is a Renaissance "how-to" book for princes, advising them on how to be a "good Christian" prince. The book was dedicated to Prince Charles, who would later become Habsburg Emperor Charles V...
'Education of a Christian Prince' (1516), written as advice to King Charles of Spain (the later Charles VCharles V, Holy Roman EmperorCharles V was ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 and, as Charles I, of the Spanish Empire from 1516 until his voluntary retirement and abdication in favor of his younger brother Ferdinand I and his son Philip II in 1556.As...
). - John SkeltonJohn SkeltonJohn Skelton, also known as John Shelton , possibly born in Diss, Norfolk, was an English poet.-Education:...
, Speculum principis, lost work written for the then future Henry VIIIHenry VIII of EnglandHenry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
. A copy of this treatise, which may not be entirely the same as that presented to Henry, resides with the British Museum. - Johann Damgaard, Alithia (1597), written for the young King Christian IV.
- James I of EnglandJames I of EnglandJames VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
, wrote Basilikon DoronBasilikon DoronThe Basilikon Doron is a treatise on government written by King James VI of Scotland, later King James I of England, in 1599. Basilikon Doron in the Greek language means royal gift. It was written in the form of a private and confidential letter to the King's eldest son, Henry, Duke of...
as a gift to his eldest son.
Byzantine texts
- Synesius, Bishop of Cyrene, speech delivered to emperor Arcadius.
- Agapetus the deaconAgapetus (deacon)Agapetus was a deacon of the church of Hagia Sophia at Constantinople , reputed tutor of Justinian, and author of a series of exhortations in seventy-two short chapters addressed to that emperor...
, speech delivered to emperor Justinian I. - Patriarch Photios I of Constantinople, letter addressed to Boris I of BulgariaBoris I of BulgariaBoris I, also known as Boris-Mihail and Bogoris was the Knyaz of First Bulgarian Empire in 852–889. At the time of his baptism in 864, Boris was named Michael after his godfather, Emperor Michael III...
. - Basil I Macedon, Admonitory chapters I and II to his son emperor Leo VI the wise
- KekaumenosKekaumenosKekaumenos is the family name of the otherwise anonymous Byzantine author of the Strategikon, a manual on military and household affairs composed c. 1078. He was apparently of Graeco-Armenian origin and the grandson of the doux of Hellas...
, StrategikonStrategikon of KekaumenosThe Strategikon of Kekaumenos is a late 11th century Byzantine manual offering advice on warfare and the handling of public and domestic affairs.The book was composed between 1075 and 1078 by its author, a Byzantine general of partly Armenian descent...
(1075 x 1078), in particular the last two sections. - Archbishop Theophylact of Ohrid, Paideia Basilike (Lat. Institutio Regia) (c. 1088), addressed to his pupil Constantine DoukasConstantine DoukasConstantine Doukas or Ducas , was Byzantine co-emperor from c. 1074 to 1078 and from 1081 to 1087. He was the son of Emperor Michael VII Doukas and his Georgian wife Maria of Alania....
, son of Emperor Michael VIIMichael VIIMichael VII Doukas or Ducas , nicknamed Parapinakēs , was Byzantine emperor from 1071 to 1078.- Life :...
Doukas. - The 12th-c. poem Spaneas or Didaskalia Parainetike, modeled on the Isocratean Ad Demonicum
- Nicephorus BlemmydesNicephorus BlemmydesNikephoros Blemmydes was 13th-century Byzantine literary figure.He was born in 1197 in Constantinople as the second child of a physician. After the conquest of Constantinople by the forces of the Fourth Crusade in 1204, he migrated to Asia Minor. There, he received a liberal education in Prusa,...
, Andrias Basilikos (Lat. Regia statua) 'Statue of a King', written for pupil Theodore II Lascaris, the emperor who lived in exile at Nicaea. - Thomas Magistros, La regalita.
- Manuell II Palaiologus, Paideia Regia.
- Patriarch Anthony IV, letter to Vasily I of Moscow (1393).
- Poucheniye (Instruction) of Vladmir MonomakhVladimir II MonomakhVladimir II Monomakh |Basileios]]) was a Velikiy Kniaz of Kievan Rus'.- Family :He was the son of Vsevolod I and Anastasia of Byzantium Vladimir II Monomakh |Basileios]]) (1053 – May 19, 1125) was a Velikiy Kniaz (Grand Prince) of Kievan Rus'.- Family :He was the son of Vsevolod I (married in...
to his children (1120s).
Slavonic texts
Neagoe BasarabNeagoe Basarab
Neagoe Basarab was the Voivode of Wallachia between 1512 and 1521. Born into the boyar family of the Craioveşti as the son of Pârvu Craiovescu or Basarab Ţepeluş cel Tânăr, Neagoe Basarab, who replaced Vlad cel Tânăr after the latter rejected Craioveşti tutelage, was noted for his abilities and...
(1512-1521),'The teachings of Neagoe Basarab to his son Theodosie', one of the earliest literary works of Wallachia
Wallachia
Wallachia or Walachia is a historical and geographical region of Romania. It is situated north of the Danube and south of the Southern Carpathians...
Islamic texts
- Abd al-Hamid al-KatibAbd al-Hamid al-KatibAbd al-Hamid ibn Yahya al-Katib was an Umayyad official and Islamic scholar, a master of Arabic prose.Quote:-References:...
, letter to Abdallah son of the Umayyad caliph Marwan IIMarwan IIMarwan ibn Muhammad ibn Marwan or Marwan II was an Umayyad caliph who ruled from 744 until 750 when he was killed. He was the last Umayyad ruler to rule from Damascus.In A.H. 114 Caliph Hisham appointed Marwan governor of Armenia and Azerbaijan. In A.H...
(c. 750) - Ibn al-MuqaffaIbn al-MuqaffaIbn al-Muqaffa may refer to:*Abdullah Ibn al-Muqaffaʿ , Medieval Persian thinker and Arabic language author and translator*Severus Ibn al-Muqaffaʿ , Egyptian Copt Bishop, author and historian...
, Kalila wa Dimna (c. 750) - Al-FarabiAl-Farabi' known in the West as Alpharabius , was a scientist and philosopher of the Islamic world...
(c. 872–950), Fusul al-Madani 'Aphorisms of a Statesman' - Qabus namaQabus namaQabus nama or Qabus nameh [variations: Qabusnamah, Qabousnameh, Ghabousnameh, or Ghaboosnameh, in Persian: قابوسنامه, book of Qabus] is a major work of Persian literature from the eleventh century Qabus nama or Qabus nameh [variations: Qabusnamah, Qabousnameh, Ghabousnameh, or Ghaboosnameh, in...
(1082) – a Persian example of the genre - Nizam al-MulkNizam al-MulkAbu Ali al-Hasan al-Tusi Nizam al-Mulk, better known as Khwaja Nizam al-Mulk Tusi ; born in 1018 – 14 October 1092) was a Persian scholar and vizier of the Seljuq Empire...
, Siyāset-nāmehSiyasatnamaSiyāsatnāma , also known as Siyar al-muluk , is the most famous work by Nizam al-Mulk, the founder of Nizamiyyah schools in medieval Persia and vizier to the Seljuq sultans Alp Arslan and Malik Shah...
'Book of Government' (c. 1090) (Persian) - Al-GhazaliAl-GhazaliAbu Hāmed Mohammad ibn Mohammad al-Ghazzālī , known as Algazel to the western medieval world, born and died in Tus, in the Khorasan province of Persia was a Persian Muslim theologian, jurist, philosopher, and mystic....
(1058–1111), Nasihat al-muluk 'Counsel to Princes' (Persian) - Yusuf Balasaghuni, Kutadgu BiligKutadgu BiligThe Kutadgu Bilig, or Qutadğu Bilig , is a Karakhanid work from the 11th century written by an Uyghur author of Balasagun for the prince of Kashgar. Translated, the title means something like "The Wisdom which brings Happiness" or "The Wisdom that Conduces to Royal Glory or Fortune" , but has...
(eleventh century) - Bahr Al-Fava'id 'Sea of (Precious) Virtues', compiled in the twelfth century.
- SaadiSaadi (poet)Abū-Muḥammad Muṣliḥ al-Dīn bin Abdallāh Shīrāzī better known by his pen-name as Saʿdī or, simply, Saadi, was one of the major Persian poets of the medieval period. He is not only famous in Persian-speaking countries, but he has also been quoted in western sources...
's GulistanGulistan of Sa'diThe Gulistan is a landmark literary work in Persian literature, perhaps its single most influential work of prose. Written in 1259 CE, it is one of two major works of the Persian poet Sa'di, considered one of the greatest medieval Persian poets. It is also one of his most popular books, and...
, with first chapter on "The manners of kings" (thirteenth century, Persian) - Muhammad al-Baqir Najm-I Sani, Mau‘izah-i Jahangiri 'Admonition of Jahāngír' or 'Advice on the art of governance' (1612 x 1613).
See also
- Speculum literatureSpeculum literatureThe medieval genre of speculum literature, popular from the twelfth through the sixteenth centuries, was inspired by the urge to encompass encyclopedic knowledge within a single work. The modern equivalent is a summary survey, in the sense of a survey article in a scholarly journal that summarizes...
- Conduct bookConduct bookConduct books are a genre of books that attempt to educate the reader on social norms. As a genre, they began in the mid-to-late Middle Ages, although antecedents such as The Maxims of Ptahhotep are among the earliest surviving works...
- Wisdom literatureWisdom literatureWisdom literature is the genre of literature common in the Ancient Near East. This genre is characterized by sayings of wisdom intended to teach about divinity and about virtue...
- EnsenhamenEnsenhamenAn ensenhamen was an Occitan didactic poem associated with the troubadours. As a genre of Occitan literature, its limits have been open to debate since it was first defined in the 19th century...
(Occitan) - PanchatantraPanchatantraThe Panchatantra is an ancient Indian inter-related collection of animal fables in verse and prose, in a frame story format. The original Sanskrit work, which some scholars believe was composed in the 3rd century BCE, is attributed to Vishnu Sharma...
- Teaching storiesTeaching storiesTeaching stories is a term used by the writer Idries Shah to describe narratives that have been deliberately created as vehicles for the transmission of wisdom...
- PhronesisPhronesisPhronēsis is an Ancient Greek word for wisdom or intelligence which is a common topic of discussion in philosophy. In Aristotelian Ethics, for example in the Nicomachean Ethics it is distinguished from other words for wisdom as the virtue of practical thought, and is usually translated "practical...
Further reading
- Anton, H.H. Fürstenspiegel und Herrscherethos in der Karolingerzeit. Bonner Historische Forschungen 32. Bonn, 1968.
- Anton, H.H. "Fürstenspiegel (Königsspiegel) des frühen und hohen Mittelalters: Ein Editionsprojekt an der Universität Trier"
- Konstantinos D.S. Paidas, He thematike ton byzantinon "katoptron hegemonos" tes proimes kai meses byzantines periodoy(398-1085). Symbole sten politike theoria ton Byzantinon, Athens 2005.
- Konstantinos D.S. Paidas, Ta byzantina "katoptra hegemonos" tes ysteres periodoy (1254-1403). Ekfraseis toy byzantinoy basilikou ideodous, Athens 2006.
- Lambton, Ann K.S. "Islamic Mirrors for Princes." In: eadem, Theory and Practice in Medieval Persian Government. London. 1980. VI: 419–442.
- Smith, Roland M. "The Speculum Principum in Early Irish Literature." Speculum 2 (1927): 411–45.