S207987840000234-6-1

Article

Published

Volume 2 Issue 8

The correspondence between Braulio, a bishop of Saragossa in Visigothic Spain from 631 to 651, and Visigothic king Chindasvinth (642–653) is a very important historical source of political thought. It represents an image of the ideal ruler. Justice (iustitia) is one of the main qualities of exemplary king. First of all it means that a sovereign must obey the God’s power, second that he is law-abiding, and finally, he has to reward everyone according to his deserts. These three principal meanings of the world iustitia were formulated in the works of Isidore of Seville (about 560–636), especially in “Etymologiae”, “Sententiae” and “Differentiae”. The isidorian concept of just ruler is founded on the legal tradition of Ancient Rome and on the Biblical texts. Although Chindasvinth in his letter proclaimed himself as a just and sage ruler, his contemporaries took him as unfair, and pinned their hopes on his sun Reccesvinth.

26.11.2011

30.12.2011

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