Five-minute digest
De Monarchia (with R. W. Church's essay on Dante)
Summary
De Monarchia is Dante's Latin treatise on universal temporal government, written in exile and generally dated between Henry VII's expedition into Italy (1310-1313) and the years when Dante was finishing the Paradiso. In three books it asks three questions: whether a single temporal monarchy is necessary for the well-being of the world, whether the Roman people acquired the office of empire by right, and whether the emperor's authority comes directly from God or through the pope. The library text is the volume published by Macmillan in 1878 (dated 1879 on its title page): Dean R. W. Church's essay on Dante, first printed in the Christian Remembrancer in 1850, followed by his son F. J. Church's translation of De Monarchia from Karl Witte's 1874 Latin text, with Witte's notes. Book I argues from Aristotle that the proper work of the human race as a whole is to bring into act the full power of the human intellect, in thought and then in action, and that this work requires universal peace. Where many things are ordered to one end, one must rule, so mankind, like a household, city or kingdom, needs one supreme ruler who can judge between quarrelling princes. Such a monarch, having nothing left to desire, would be most free from greed and so most just, and under him men would be most free, since freedom of the will is God's greatest gift. Dante ends the book by recalling that Christ chose to be born under Augustus, when the whole world was at peace. Book II argues that the Roman people won their empire by right, not force alone: they were the noblest people, descended from Aeneas; their empire was helped by miracles; their heroes, such as Cincinnatus, Fabricius, Camillus and Cato, sacrificed private good to the common good; nature fitted them to rule; and God's judgment gave them victory in the contest for empire. Christ confirmed the empire's authority by being enrolled under Augustus' edict and by suffering under Pilate, Tiberius' deputy. Book III answers the arguments of those who make the emperor depend on the pope: the sun and moon, Levi and Judah, Samuel and Saul, the Magi's gifts, the keys given to Peter, the two swords, the Donation of Constantine and Charlemagne's coronation. Constantine, Dante replies, could not alienate the empire, nor could the Church receive it. Man has two ends, happiness in this life and eternal life, and so needs two guides, the emperor leading by philosophy and the pope by revelation. Dante closes by asking Caesar to show Peter the reverence a first-born son owes his father. Church's essay, which fills more than half the volume, describes the factions of Florence, Dante's life and exile, and the design, language and spirit of the Divine Comedy.
Top Lessons
Peace as the condition of human flourishing
Dante argues that mankind as a whole has a work to do, the full use of the intellect in thought and action, and that this work requires peace. He grounds his political argument in the angels' song at Bethlehem and Christ's greeting, so that civil order serves the highest human goods.
Freedom of will and freedom under law
Dante defines freedom as judgment that is not forestalled by appetite and calls it God's greatest gift. He argues that citizens under a just monarch are free because the ruler exists for their sake, not they for his. Political freedom, on this account, depends on right order rather than the absence of rule.
Two ends, two guides
Book III teaches that man is ordered both to happiness in this life and to eternal life, and that God has provided two authorities for these ends. The emperor rules by philosophy and the moral virtues; the pope leads by revelation and the theological virtues. Each receives authority from God, and neither should absorb the other.
Reading history as providence
In Book II Dante reads Roman history as the working of divine providence, through miracles, the virtue of Roman heroes, and the birth and death of Christ under Roman authority. The book invites students to consider how a Christian may see God's hand in the rise of nations.
Verified Quotes
“Whence it is manifest that of all things that are ordered to secure blessings to men, peace is the best.”
“the first principle of our freedom is freedom of will, which many have in their mouth, but few indeed understand.”
“this liberty, or this principle of all our liberty, is the greatest gift bestowed by God on mankind”
“Oh, race of mankind! what storms must toss thee, what losses must thou endure, what shipwrecks must buffet thee, as long as thou, a beast of many heads, strivest after contrary things.”
“For the dignity of the Empire was what Constantine could not alienate, nor the Church receive.”
“Two ends, therefore, have been laid down by the ineffable providence of God for man to aim at”
“Let, therefore, Cæsar be reverent to Peter, as the first-born son should be reverent to his father”
“It is to stamp a deep impression on the mind, of the issues of good and ill doing here--of the real worlds of pain and joy.”
Medical Lens
A political and theological treatise with a literary essay; it has no medical content beyond figures of speech, such as Dante's description of mankind as sick in understanding and affection.