Publication details
Ideál panovnické moci v narativních pramenech českého středověku
| Title in English | The ideal of the Ruler's Power in Narrative Sources of Czech Middle Ages |
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| Authors | |
| Year of publication | 2008 |
| Type | Article in Proceedings |
| Conference | Dvory a rezidence ve středověku II. |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Field | History |
| Keywords | ruler's power; ideal; middle ages |
| Description | On examples of passages of Czech medieval chronicles the author shows that ideas about the origin of the monarchic power, reflections on skills and characteristics the ruler should be endowed with, as well as questions on how to rule justly, are contained in narrative sources of the Czech Middle Ages. From Cosmas to Peter of Zittau, chroniclers find the source of the royal power in the sacred dimension of this power. The Czech versions of the Alexandreis or the considerations of Charles IV deal with the same issue too. The so presented royal power legitimizes the unique position of the ruler in the society. On the other hand, though, this closeness to God is binding for the ruler. The act of ruling and tools of the exerecise of power must be in accordance with the laws of God, from which even kings are not exempted. If the king endeavours to be a good ruler, he is obliged to reign in agreement with the divine laws, according to Czech medieval chronicles. To be able to do so, his personal attributes and abilities must correspond with the medieval ethic that is based on the classical doctrine of the four cardinal virtues amplified by some Christian virtues. These elements also appear in Czech sources from the age of Cosmas. The king who approaches his destiny to rule with the help of prudence, temperance and fortitude in all his ruling deeds heads for a just government, which should be his ultimate goal. Otherwise the premise that the king must rule in accordance with the laws of God would not hold true. In the conceptions of the authors of Czech medieval chronicles and other literary works, to rule justly means particularly to be an unbiased judge, peacemaker, brave warrior, merciful victor, and not least a generous donator and protector of the rights of those in need. Only then is the ideal of the ruler attained in all its aspects in the eyes of Czech medieval intellectuals. To decide to what extent this ideal was applied in the real lives of medieval rulers, in what measure their deeds inspired the authors of chronicles and novels, or, in contrast, how these writings influenced the behaviour of Czech dukes and kings, is the task that, if possible, remains to be solved. At this moment it is the gauntlet thrown down in the arena of Czech historical science. |
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