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P erm ission is h erew ith granted to the U n iv e r s ity o f C h ica g o to m a k e co p ies o f th e ab o v e title, at its
d iscretion , upon th e request o f individuals o r in stitu tion s and at their ex p en se.
I rregular n u m b e r in g □ O v e r s iz e d sh eets Q
P a id 1 ^ cash. . D
( B y thesis d ep o sit □
D ate b il l e d ________________________________________
THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
BY
CHICAGO, IL LI N O IS
MARCH, 1 9 5 9
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................. . . . 1
C hapter
I. THE CONCEPT OF SOVEREIGNTY IN SIXTEENTH
CENTURY CONSTITUTIONALTHOUGHT ............................................ 4
BIBLIOGRAPHY ............................................................................................................ 15 8
ii
INTRODUCTION
The i n t e n t i o n o f t h e p r e s e n t study is t o p r e p a r e an
Numerous s c h o l a r s h a v e p o i n t e d o u t t h e im portance of
h a s l e d t o an i n a d e q u a t e u n d e r s t a n d i n g b o t h o f t h e theory of
s o v e r e i g n t y w as d e v e l o p e d a n d t h e m a t e r i a l o u t o f w h i c h i t was
1
2
p o rtan t f o r m odern p o l i t i c a l p h i l o s o p h y .
a s p e c i f i c a l l y m odern p o l i t i c a l p h i l o s o p h y . We a r e to ld th at
en ce on B o d i n 's t h o u g h t .
and c l a s s i c a l t o a s p e c i f i c a l l y modern p o l i t i c a l p h i l o s o p h y .
tw o f i e l d s w e r e c o m p l e t e l y u n i t e d in B o d in 's th o u g h t: th a t h is
th e tw o.
4
5
Though in t h e w r i t i n g s o f B o d in p o l i t i c a l p h i l o s o p h y and
in b e in g one o f th e first t o a tt e m p t an u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e
a p p e a re d a book w hich p ro v e s a c o n v e n ie n t s t a r t i n g p o in t fo r
was c o n s i d e r e d by l a t e r a u t h o r s , as w e ll a s by p r e s e n t day
l a t e r t o become d o m in a n t i n t h e p e r i o d o f t h e R e n a i s s a n c e . The
m odest d e s c r i p t i o n o f t h e F re n c h m onarchy t o g e t h e r w i t h c e r t a i n
m erous r e f e r e n c e s to th e c l a s s i c a l a u t h o r s b e t r a y no t r a c e of h is
p ro fessio n .
a r g u m e n ts drawn fro m i d e a l c o n s t r u c t i o n s do n o t c o r r e s p o n d to
■^Claude d e S e y s s e l , La g r a n d e m o m a r c h i e d e F r a n c e (P aris:
Gal l o t d u P r £ , 15^+1 ) , P r o l o g u e .
7
its fu tu re c o n d u ct.1
is th e b e st fo rm o f g o v e rn m e n t and F r a n c e h a s t h e b e s t form o f
2
m onarchy.
Sey ssel reco g n izes th ree form s o f governm ent: popular,
1I b i d . 2I b i d . , Bk. I, pp. 4 ,6 .
a u cu n em en t de la m o n a rc h ie p o u r r a i s o n du due e t p r in c e q u ' I l s
o n t e t ne t l e n s rlen s du p o p u l a i r e . F r a n c e In tu r n Is a
o f a r i s t o c r a c y and p o p u la r g o v ern m en t. S e y s s e l 1s o p i n i o n t h a t
p a r t i c i p a i t des t r o i s p o u r a u ta n t que l e s c o n s u ls a v a ie n t la
s o u v e r a i n e a u t o r i t ^ , d u r a n t l e u r c o n s u l a t en p l u s i e u r s c h o s e s ,
memement q u a n d i l s e t a l e n t h o r s l a c i t £ . E t neam oins l e s e n a t
^ t a i t g a r n i de p e r s o n n a g e s que l ' o n e s t i m a i t l e s p l u s s a g e s e t
l e s p l u s p ru d 'h o m m es du p e u p l e s , t e n a i e n t l e g o u v e r n a l de l a n e f
t o u c h a n t l e s p r i n c i p a u x a f f a i r e s de s o r t e q u 'a p e i n e se p o u v a i t
p a s s e r aucune ch o se de g ran d e Im p o rta n c e , sa n s l ' a u t o r i t e d ' i c e l l u l .
E t s ' i l y a v a i t neam oins l e p e u p le sa p a r t b ie n g ra n d e au g o u v e rn e -
m e n t, t a n t a l ' ^ l e c t i o n d e s o f f i c i e r s q u '£ d e c e r n e r l a p a l x ou la
g u e r r e e t en p l u s i e u r s a u t r e s c h o s e s de g r a n d e I m p o r t a n c e . Et
o u t r e ce a v a i t s e s t r i b u n e s , san s l e s q u e l s l e s e n a t ne p o u v a it
fa Ire decret qui fu t v a lab le." I b i d . . p . 2.
' 1I b l d .
Just foundat io n s . 1
*1
S ey ssel, G rande m o n a r c h ie , Bk. 1, p. 8.
10
is at the s am e t i m e " r e g i m e e t r e f r e n e e p a r b o n n e s l o i s ,
l o n g t e m p s q u e l e s p r i n c e s n 1e n t r e p r e n n e n t p o i n t d ' y d e r o g e r . " ^
les ro ls de F ra n c e etre n e c e s s a i r e u s u r e en e s t i m e e t r e p u t a
du p e u p le e n c o re s q u ’ i l s ne fu s s e n t d ' e u x memes a s s e z e n c l l n s
de f a i r e c h o s e s £norm es e t r e p r e h e n s i b l e s sinon to u jo u r s e t en
5I b id ., p. 11. ^ I b id ., p. 8.
11
"ont 4 t4 i n s t i t u t e p r i n c i p a l e m e n t p o u r c e t t e c a u s e e t a c e t t e
fin de r e f r e n e r la p u issan ce a b s o lu te , dont vou d raien t u s e r le s
1I b i d ., p. 9. 2I b id . , p. 10. ^I b l d . . p. 16.
4
C f . , A n d re L e m a i r e , L e s l o i s f o n d a m e n t a l e s de l a mon
a r c h i c F r a n c a i s e d ' a p r e s l e s t h e o r i c l e n s de l ' a n c i e n re g im e
( P a r i s : A. F o u t e m o i n g , 1 9 0 7 )* p . 7 4 .
12
'th e l a w s S e y s s e l d o e s h a v e I n m i n d when h e m e n t i o n s l a w s w h i c h
to p r o m u l g a t e t h e new l a w s .
co me d i f f i c u l t to argue th a t o u r Supreme C o u rt h a s a j u d i c i a l
of th e p a rlia m e n t.
The t h i r d c h e c k on t h e pow er o f t h e p r i n c e is 11l a p o lice;
and t h e "eham bres des c o m p te s." Second, th e "cham bre d e s com ptes"
2I b i d . . Bk. II, p. 4.
14
1
adv iso ry fu n ctio n . A ll a u th o r ity r e s t s w ith t h e m onarch. The
1I b i d . , pp. 7, 8 .
" E t e n c o r e s s e l o n 1 *i m p o r t a n c e d e s a f f a i r e s y d o i t l ' o n
a p p e lle des p re s id e n ts des cours so u v erain es e t p rin c ip a u x con-
s e il le u r s d 'i c e l l e s , des p r e la ts absens, e t a u tre s n o ta b le s p e r-
sonna.ge s que l ' o m s a l t e t r e s a g e s e t e x p e r i m e n t 's . M ais c e l a
de convoquer t e l s p erso n n ag e s ab se n s ne se f a i t n i d o i t f a i r e
g u eres souvent pour e v i t e r confusion e t d^pense. A in si ta n t
seulem ent i l o ccu re q u elq u e chose q u i n 'a d v ie n t pas souvent e t
e s t d e g r a n d e c o n s e q u e n c e a t o u t l e r o y a u m e , eomme d *e n t r e p r e n d r e
une g u e rre e t conquete n o u v e lle . De f a i r e l o i s e t o r d o n n a n c e s
g e n e r a l e s c o n c e r n a n t la j u s t i c e ou la p o l i c e u n i v e r s e l l e du
royaum e e t a u t r e s c a s s e m b l a b le , a u x q u e ls c a s , i l e s t q u e l q u i f o i s
e x p e d i e n t d ' a p p e l l e r q u e l q u e p e t i t nombre de g e n s d e s c i t £ s e t
v i l l e s c a p i t a l e s du royaum e. E t c e c i n ’e s t pas a p p e lle c o n s e il
o r d i n a i r e , a in s e s t seulem ent assem blee c a s u e l l e . I b i d . , p . 5.
■5
S e y s s e l , A ppian A l e x a n d r l n , E p i t r e d ^ d icato ire.
15
the c o u r t s a r e seldom p o w e rfu l enough t o p u n is h a p r i n c e , still
t h e y can d is s u a d e h i s o f f i c e r s from f o l l o w i n g h i s u n j u s t o r d e r s ,
t h r o u g h t h e f e a r o f t h e i r own s u b s e q u e n t p u n i s h m e n t .
estates in th e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n of th e state t h a t he s e e s t h e r e i n a
1I b i d .
2
S e y s s e l , G rande m o n a r c h i e , Bk. I , p . 13; c f . , i b i d . , p . 1 9 .
*2
^ " C a r b b i e n p r e n d r e l e t o t a l de c e t e m p ire F r a n c a i s e ,
I I p a r t i c i p e de t o u t e s l e s t r o i s v o i e s du g o u v e rn e m e n t p o l i t i q u e . "
S e y s s e l , A pplan A l e x a n d r i n . E p i t r e d e d i c a t o i r e .
16
an e r r o r t o a t t r i b u t e B o d in 's c a r e f u l t h e o r e t i c a l c lassifica
B odin c o u ld o b j e c t .
In t h e F r e n c h m onarchy th e p r i n c e h a s " t o u t e p u i s s a n c e
usurped: "Et s u r to u t s e d o l t l e p r i n c e g a r d e r de d o n n e r t e l
■^See a b o v e , p . 7 .
2
J e a n B o d in , Les s i x l l v r e s de la R ^ p u b lia u e (P aris:
J a c q u e s du P u y s , I 58O ), Bk. V I, c h a p . v i i , p . 707.
Though s o v e r e i g n , t h e a u t h o r i t y o f th e F r e n c h m onarch
expedient."-^ T h e o n l y l i m i t a t i o n m e n t i o n e d b y S e y s s e l on t h e
th o rity t o a b r o g a t e b u t w ould b e p r o t e c t e d by t h e r e s i s t a n c e o f
th e various m a g istra te s.
1S e y s s e l , G r a n d e m o n a r c h l e , B k . II, p. 8.
S e y s s e l , Appian A l e x a n d r i n . E p i t r e d ^ d i c a t o i r e .
b o u n d b y l a w s t h a t t h e y t h e m s e l v e s h a v e ma de i s new w i t h S e y s s e l
a n d w as t o h a v e c a u s e d mu ch d i f f i c u l t y later in th e century.
u s u a l l y m entioned in r e l a t i o n to t h e d u t i e s and o b l i g a t i o n s of
1I b i d .; c f . , A pplan A l e x a n d r i n , E p i t r e d ^ d i c a t o i r e .
O
S e y s s e l , G rande m o n a r c h i e . Bk. I , p . 11.
success is in p re s e r v in g th e s e same i n s t i t u t i o n s . ^
law a p p e a r a l r e a d y in t h e work o f S e y s s e l . A ll o f th e la te r
sib le t o a c c e p t h i s work a s a w h o le . H is s u c c e s s o r s e ac h c h o se
he v ie w e d t h e F r e n c h m o n a rc h y a s a m ixed c o n s t i t u t i o n and y e t
*1
" J e f a i s u n e maxime q u e t o u t e s c h o s e s n a t u r e l l e s , s e
c o n s e r v e n t p a r l e s memes c a u s e s e t m o y e n s , q u ' e l l e s o n t e t e
fa ite s et in tro d u ites. P a rq u o i a b ie n c o n s id e r e r ce que j ' a i
d i t a u commencement de ce t r a i t e , p a r l a n t d e s f o r m e s e t m o y e n s,
p a r l e s q u e l s c e t t e m onarch! a e te i n t r o d u i t e s , c o n s e rv e e , e t
augm entee p a r l e p a s s e , a i s e e chose s e r a i t la c o n s e rv e r e t
a c c r o l t r e d e p l u s e n p l u s , t e n a n t l e s : memes m o y e n s . " Ib id . ,
p. 10; c f ., i b id ., p. 16.
20
and m o d e ra te g o v e rn m e n t. N e v e rth e le ss, a cen tu ry l a t e r most
ment a t t h e b e g in n in g o f t h e c e n t u r y no l o n g e r f i t t e d the a c tu a l
tak in g p lace.
In th e t r a d i t i o n a l d o c tr in e th e king is not so v ereign,
Modern s c h o l a r s h a v e f o r t h e m o st p a r t v ie w e d t h i s conception of
u n d e r w hich he f i n d s h im s e lf .
p o l e m i c s o f t h e Wars o f R e l i g i o n .
h i s power i t s e l f w as b a s e d , w e r e b e y o n d h i s p o w e r t o change. A ll
Y et more i m p o r t a n t t h a n t h e c o n c e p t i o n o f t h e p r e c i s e
c o n t e n t s o f t h e r o y a l p o w e r w as t h e e x a l t a t i o n of h is m ajesty.
t h e most im p o r ta n t o f t h e s e a u t h o r s , a n d o n e who p r e s e n t e d p e r
en p r u d e n c e , s i e m in e n t en n o b l e s s e , si im bus de j u s t i c e , et
C o n t r a r y t o S e y s s e l a n d B o d i n , who s e e t h e n e c e s s i t y f o r m o n a r c h y
2I b id .
23
a u t h o r i t y t o m a i n t a i n p e a c e , Bude p r e t e n d s t o b a s e it upon th e
S u c h a t h e o r y o f an o r i g i n a l co n tract is in terestin g in
so f a r a s i t attem p ts to base l e g i t i m a c y on s o m e t h i n g o t h e r t h a n
The p e o p l e h a v i n g c ed e d a l l r i g h t s and l i b e r t i e s , in e f f e c t th e
^I b i d . , chap. v, p. l 8v.
p
" S i p a r l e j o u r d ' h u l n o u s v o y o n s l e monde r e g i p a r a u t r e
m a n i e r e , q u e c e l l e q u i f u t i n s t i t u t e a n c i e n n e m e n t ,• c ' e s t p a r a b u s ,
q u i re g n e e t a v ig e u r en t r o i s e t a t s p l u s que r a i s o n , e t d r o i t
d ' e q u i t d , q u e j a m a i s n e s e c o n s e n t i r e n t a I 1e x c e p t i o n d e s s u s d i t s
i m p e t r e e s , ou p r e s c r i p t e s p a r n e g l i g e n c e , ou dem em brem ent, e t
e c c lis s e m e n t des p a r t i e s p r i n c l p a l e s de m o n a rc h ie , s o i t te m p o ra l
s o i t s p i r i t u e l , d e s q u e l l e s e l l e n i p e u t a b d i q u e r n i p r l v e r en
r e te n a n t le g itim e e t p u r em p ire." Ib id .
h is need f o r c o u n s e l.
•^I b i d . , c h a p . lii, p. l? r.
2 /-
I b id ., chap. x x i, p. o O v.
26
Though t o som e e x t e n t B u d e r e c o g n i z e d t h e p r i n c i p l e s of
e n c e on l a t e r w r i t e r s . I f Bud£ ha d w r i t t e n In th e b e g in n in g o f
^I b i d . . chap. ix , p. 27v .
p
I b i d . , chap. ill, p. H r; chap. x x x x v i, p. Il4 v .
^ " C a r e t s t a t u t s e t t o u t e s o r d o n n a n c e s de p r i n c e , p o s e
q u ‘ i l s p o r t e n t c l a u s e de l e u r v o u l o i r , e t p l a i s i r d e r o g a t i f p o u r
u n e f o i s , n e a n m o in s s i s e t i r e n t i l en c o n s e q u e n c e a u c u n e m e n t
d e s d i t s g e n e r a u x , e t p a r on o u d e u x commandements' f a i t s a p l a i s i r ,
p a s s e s p a r la c h a n c e l l e r i e de p l e i n p u is s a n c e , e t a u t o r i t e a b -
s o l u e , l e p r i n c e en d e r o g a n t s a n s c a u s e de g r a n d e i m p o r t a n c e a
s e s p r o p r e s o rd o n n a n c e s , ou a e q u i t y , e t r a i s o n e c r l t e ^ n i p e u t
f a i r e , n i o b v ie r q u ' i l ne se c h arg e aucunem ent, quand a l ' e s t i m e
d e s hommes, de c r i m e , o u de c o u l p e de l e s e m a j e s t ^ R o y a l e . "
I b i d ., chap. xxx, p . 86v .
27
m ean i n B u d e ' s t i m e w h a t t h e y came t o m ean l a t e r . Bude d i d n o t
own b y l a t e r a u t h o r s . He d i d n o t d e v e l o p a c o m p l e t e a n d c o n
d e l i c a t e l y b a l a n c e d b e tw ee n r o y a l pow er and l e g a l r e s t r a i n t s
t h a t m e r e l y an o v e r - e m p h a s i s o ne s i d e o r t h e o t h e r was en o u g h
~*~I b i d . , c h a p . lii, p. H r.
28
l a t e r a u t h o r s * La P e r r i e r e * ex p licitly rejected th e in te rp re ta
" A u c u n s o n t v o u l u d i r e * q u e l e R o y au m e d e F r a n c e n ' e s t
p as seu lem en t gouverne p a r m onarchie d 'u n s e u l R oi, a in s e s t
a u s s i g o u v e r n ^ p a r 1 1a r i s t o c r a t i e d e P a r l e m e n t * l e s q u e l s * i l s
co m p aren t aux E p h o res des L acedem onians: m ais c e t t e co m p araiso n
e s t mal p r o p o r t i o n ^ . Et p o u r m ieux l e d o n n e r a c o n n a i t r e * f a u t
p r e s u p p o s e r q u e l e s E p h o r e s d t a i e n t en S p a r t e ou Lacedemone*
m a g i s t r a t s de suprem e a u t o r i t ^ , v o i r e t e l l e q u ' i l s r e f r e n a i e n t
e t b r i d a l e n t l e u r s R o is, quand i l s v o u la ie n t e x c e d e r l e s b o rn e s
d e r a i s o n * comme on p e u t l i r e e n A r i s t o t e * a u s e p t i e m e d u s e c o n d
l i v r e d e s P o l i t i q u e s * e t en P l u t a r q u e en l a v i e d ' A r i s t i d e s .
Q u a n t a l a s u p r e m e a u t o r i t e d e s E p h o r e s * d e s q u e l s on n e p o u v a i t
a p p e l l e r * l a c o m p a ra is o n d e s P a r le m e n ts de F r a n c e e s t bonne*
d 'a u t a n t que l e s p r e s id e s e t c o n s e i l l e u r s d 'ic e u x * so n t le s
s u p r e m e s m a g i s t r a t s d u Royaume; e t i c e u x q u i s o n t e s t i m ^ s l e s p l u s
g ra v e s* d o c te s e t o c u le s de to u s a u tre s * j o i n t que de l e u r s a r r e t s
n ' y a au cu n r e f u g e d ' a p p e l , non p l u s que j a d i s d e s E p h o r e s . M ais
q u a n t a ce que l e s d i t s E p h o re s b r i d a l e n t l e u r s R ois* l a c o m p a r a i
son d 'e u x a n os P a r le m e n ts c lo c h e de ce p le d * e t n ' e s t p a s bonne;
c a r . l e s p a r l e m e n t s n e b r i d e n t p a s n o s R o is * a i n s Nos R o i s l e s
b r i d e n t * r e f o r m e n t * e t en c a s de c o u l p e , p u n i s s e n t * c a s s e n t e t
a n n u l l e n t l e u r s a r r e t s quand bon l e u r sem ble* e t p a r l e u r s e d i t s
e t ordonnances le s r e g l e n t . Ce q u e j ' e n ^ c r i s , n ' e s t p a s p o u r
m e p r is d 'i c e u x * a u x q u e ls de t o u t tem ps j e d o i s l e t r i b u t
d ' h o n n e u r e t d e r e v e r e n c e * m a i s c ' e s t p o u r p r o u v e r q u e l a com
p a ra iso n s u s d itn 'e s t pas bonne. R e to u rn a n t au propos pretendu*
M a c h a i v e l l i * s e c r e t a i r e de la R e p u b l iq u e d e F lo r e n c e * en son
prem ier d is c o u rs, d it: Que l e s p r e m i e r s R o i s d e F r a n c e * f o n d a n t s
s i b e l l e m o n a r c h i e * e u r e n t un g r a n d e t bon a v i s * c ' e s t q u ' i l s
n e s e r e s e r v e r e n t en l e u r R e p u b liq u e * que l a p u i s s a n c e d e s g u e r r e s
e t de l e u r s d e n i e r s (que nous a p p e lo n s f i n a n c e s ) e t q u ' i l s r e m ir e n t
1 'a d m i n is tr a ti o n dela j u s t i c e aux P a rle m e n ts. Ce q u i d e n o t e *
q u 'e n n o t r e R ep u b liq u e* a y a n t e g a r d a nos R ois* vous v iv o n s sous
1 'esp fece de m o n a r c h i e : ^ e t a y a n t £ g a rd a u f a i t de l a j u s t i c e ,
n o u s v iv o n s so u s l ' e s p e c e d ' a r i s t o c r a t i e . M ais (q u an d j ' a i b i e n
l e to u t c a l c u l i ) c o n s id e ra n t que l e s P arlem ents* v o ir e to u s s e ig e s
d e j u d i c a t u r e d e F r a n c e * s o n t comme r u i s s e a u x p r o c e d a n t s d e l a
f o n t a i n e de R o y a u td , e t l e R oi e s t c h e f u n i q u e s u r t o u s * e t que
d e l u i s e u l p r o c e d e t o u t e l e u r a u t o r i t d , comme t o u t e s a r t e r e s d u
co eu r* to u te s . v e i n e s du f o i e , e t t o u s n e r f s du c e r v e a u : j e c o n -
c l u s * que n o u s v i v o n s so u s u n e s e u l e e s p e c e de R e p u b liq u e * c ' e s t
s o u s l a m o n a r c h i e d ' u n t r e s c h r e t i e n e t t r e s p u i s s a n t Roi* a u q u e l
D ie u p a r sa g r a c e d o i e n t p r o s p e r e r de b i e n en m ie u x . Je n 'lg n o re
p a s que l e t r a d u c t e u r de l ' h i s t o i r e d 'A p p ia n A l e x a n d r i n en
F r a n c a i s [ S e y s s e l ] , en so n e p i s t r e l i m i n a i r e d i r i g ^ e a u R o is
L o u is douziem e* n ' a i t f a i t d e s e f f o r t s de p ro u v e r que l a R ep ub -
au th o rs shows t h a t t h e r e was a l m o s t no d i s a g r e e m e n t b e t w e e n th e m
th ere is a g ro u p o f more m o d e r a te a u t h o r s w o r th y o f a t t e n t i o n .
T h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t w o r k s on c o n s t i t u t i o n a l law a f t e r t h e
c o n t e n t and a u t h o r i t y o f t h e la w s w e re b a s e d l a r g e l y on c u s to m ,
l i q u e c r a t i q u e : e t en p a r t i e D e m o c r a ti q u e : m a is l e s r a i s o n s
d e s q u e l l e s i l se s e r t , ne s o n t c e r t a i n e s n i b ie n f o n d e e s , v o i r e
s o n t s i f r o i d e s > q u ' e l l e s ne p e u v e n t e c h a u f f e r son o p in io n :
c a r a t o u t homme q u i a s u c c e d e b o n l a i t , e s t a p p a r e n t q u e n o u s
v iv o n s so u s Em pire M o n arch iq u e: e t ne f a i t r i e n de d i r e , que
le s V e n itie n s sont c o n d u its sous l e s d i t e s t r o i s e sp e c es e t so n t
p l u s f l o r l s s a n t s q u e ' j a m a i s : c a r l ' a u t o r i t e d e l e u r Due e s t
b r i d e e , m ais c e l l e de n o s R o is ne l ' e s t p a s : s i ce n ' e s t l e u r
n a t u r e l l e b e n i g n i t y q u i l e s re n d e n c l i n s a t o u t e x e r c i c e de
v e rtu ." G u i l l a u m e d e La P e r r i e r e , Le m i r o l r p o l i t i q u e ( P a r i s ,
1555 [ f i r s t p u b l i s h e d 15551)> PP. 7 r - 8 r .
50
c i s e d b y Roman law.'*'
Two o f t h e m o st I m p o r t a n t h i s t o r i a n s o f t h e p e r i o d w e r e
E t i e n n e P a s q u i e r a n d Du H a i l l a n .
P a s q u ie r 's conception of the
2
F r e n c h governm ent i s e s s e n t i a l l y t h a t o f Claude de S e y s s e l .
I f h e was m o r e c a u t i o u s t h a n S e y s s e l i n j u d g i n g t h e im portance
th a n th o s e m entioned by S e y s s e l.
S ey ssel, w h i l e r e c o g n i z i n g t h a t t h e P a r l i a m e n t w as I n
o v e r In s i l e n c e t h e most im p o r ta n t a s p e c t s o f t h i s restrain t.
who a d v i s e d t h e k i n g on m a t t e r s o f s t a t e and ju d g e d d i s p u t e s .
The l a t t e r a c t i v i t y d e v e lo p e d t o t h e e x t e n t t h a t judging of
low er c o u r t s , left no t i m e f o r t h e c o u n s e l t o h a n d l e a f f a i r s of
attach ed t o t h e c o u r t o f t h e k i n g , was fo rm ed t o f u l f i l l t h e
w as made u p o f p r o f e s s i o n a l l a w y e r s a p p o i n t e d b y t h e k i n g a n d
w ay r e p r e s e n t t h e n a t i o n . The s t a t e m e n t o f G a s t o n Z e l l e r is
however m is le a d in g : " E n t r e l e s P a r l e m e n t s de F r a n c e e t l e
P a r l e m e n t A n g l a i s - - C h a m b r e d e L o r d s e t C h a m b r e s d e s Communes—
G a s t o n Z e l l e r , L e s i n s t i t u t i o n s d e l a F r a n c e a u XVI
slecle ( P a r i s : P r e s s e s U n i v e r s i t a i r e s , 1 9 4 8 ), p . 147.
32
met in 1483, 1560, 1576, and 1593- A lthough t h e c o m p o sitio n o f
t h e t w o P a r l i a m e n t s was d i f f e r e n t , t h e i r f u n c t i o n s were v e r y
and c o n t r o l o f f i n a n c e s , w ere a l s o h a n d le d by th e F re n c h P a r l i a
P a r l i a m e n t , was o r i g i n a l l y a p a r t o f i t a n d w as a l w a y s c l o s e l y
Royaume q u e l ' o n n e f i t a s s e m b le e e t de P r e l a t s e t de B a r o n s ,
The k i n g c o u ld f i n a l l y f o r c e P a r l i a m e n t t o r e g i s t e r h i s
o f the i n f l u e n c e o f P a r l i a m e n t on t h e o p i n i o n o f t h e n a t i o n .
seemed t o r e p r e s e n t t h e l a w s , and t h u s s e r v e d a s a s o r t o f m e d ia
W hile a c c e p t i n g th e p r e t e n t i o n s o f P a r l i a m e n t , P asquier
c a l l e d by th e a n c ie n t k in g s a re g u i l t y o f a b l a t a n t e r r o r . What
2Z e l l e r , p. 155.
• ^ P a s q u i e r , B k. I I , chap. iv , p. 83.
c a u s e s c i v i l e s e t c r i m i n e l l e s en d e r n i e r s r e s s o r t s a n s a p p e l ,
l e s d i t e s do l^an ces, p la i n t e s e t rem onstrances p u b liq u es f u re n t
1I b i d . , p . 110.
2 "Au c o n t r a i r e , J a m a i s on n e f i t A s s e m b l e e g e n e r a l e d e s
t r o l s E t a t s en c e t t e F r a n c e , s a n s a c c r o i t r e l e s f i n a n c e s d e n o s
R o is h l a d i m i n u t i o n de c e l l e s du p e u p l e . " Ib id .
35
re m ise s a une assem blee qui fut lo rs erig ee, b ap tisee d 'u n nouveau
t o have i n t e n t i o n a l l y avoided th e q u e s ti o n , i n s o f a r a s he s t a t e s
t h o u g h b a s e d on a n c i e n t c u s t o m . W h i l e Du H a i l l a n m a k e s t h e r e
h as been g r e a t l y exaggerated.
n o t t h a t Du H a i l l a n is o b l i v i o u s t o t h e c h an g e s w hich had t a k e n
borrow ed d i r e c t l y from S e y s s e l . S e y s s e l 1s d e s c r i p t i o n no l o n g e r
q u 'ils sen ten t l'a n tiq u ite ) nous n 'a v o n s voulu changer: to u tefo is
on v o i t b i e n q u e c e b e l o r d r e in stitu e en n o t r e M o n a r c h i e , est
*i
"C ar b ie n que ce s o i t une M o n arch ie, s i e s t - c e que p a r
1 1i n s t i t u t i o n d ' u n e i n f i n i t e d e b e l l e s c h o s e p o l i t l q u e s , q u i l a
r e n d e n t f l o r i s a n t e , i l sem b le q u ' e l l e s o i t composee d e s t r o i s
f a c o n s de g o u v e r n e m e n t." I b i d . , p. 78v.
2I b i d ., p. 82r .
37
j e n e s a l s comment c e s c o u t u m e s s e s o n t p a r t r a i t t e de t e m p s
s l n o n du t o u t a n n i h i l l ^ e s , p o u r l e m o l n s no n s i e t r o i t e m e n t
observes comme n o s a n c i e n s a v a i e n t f a i t . 1' 1 Du H a i l l a n g o e s
even f u r t h e r , to see a s o rt o f u n iv e r s a l r u le : th e law s o f F r a n c e ,
"comme t o u t e s c h o s e s b i e n e t a b l i e s e t i n s t i t u t e s , sont co r-
r o m p u e s p a r l a m a l i c e du t e m p t s . "
Du H a i l l a n p u b l i s h e d L ' E t a t d e F r a n c e i n 1570] ju st six
years la te r, in th e same y e a r B o d i n p u b l i s h e d h i s R e p u b l i c , he
k in g holds h is o f f ic e by h e r e d i t a r y r i g h t and h a s p o s s e s s i o n of
f i n d s a n o c c a s i o n t o p r e s e n t a g r a n d d e b a t e on t h e b e s t f o r m o f
w i t h him , p l e d g i n g a l l e g i a n c e t o him f o r so l o n g a s he f u l f i l l s
%)u H a i l l a n , p. 91v.
^ nS 1i l s e l i c e n c i e r t a n t q u ' i l n e v o u l u t t e n i r l e s con
d itio n s a u x q u e lle s nous le c o n s tItu e ro n s su r nous, i l sera en
38
r e m o v e t h e k i n g was a c t u a l l y e x e r c i s e d , a c c o r d i n g t o Du H a i l l a n ,
i n t h e c a s e o f C h i l d e r i c , who w a s f o u n d u n a b l e t o f u l f i l l h i s
fu n ctio n s.
Du H a i l l a n c l a i m s t h a t a l l t h e k in g s o f F r a n c e up t o
t h e t i m e o f Hugue C a p e t w e r e e l e c t e d to th e o f f ic e . T h i s seems
be e l e c t e d king, o r a s i m p l e - m i n d e d m a n. He c o u l d n o t d e n y t h a t
freres, ce n ' a 6t e p a r d r o i t h e r e d i t a i r e , a i n s p a r l 1E l e c t i o n e t
consentem ent des F r a n c a is , qui se tro u v a n ts bien d 'u n R oi, ont
c h a sse r le u rs R o is."
T h e a s s e m b l y w h i c h e l e c t e d a n d d i s c h a r g e d k i n g s was t h e
" tr o is - E ta ts . "2 I n t h e e a r l y w o r k , Du H a i l l a n h a d s a i d t h a t t h e
t h a t t h e a n c i e n t P a r l i a m e n t w as " u n e a s s e m b l e g e n ^ r a l e d e s
n o t r e p u i s s a n c e de l a d e b o u t e r de son s i e g e : c a r p u i s q u e nous
l u i d o n n e r o n s l a R o y a u t £ , n o u s a u r o n s b i e n p a r c o n s e q u e n t moyen
d e l a l u i o t e r , s ' i l n e s e c o m p o r t e e t g o u v e r n e comme i l d o i t .
L e s p e u p l e s j 3on.t d e v a n t l e s R o i s e t l e s o n t f a i t s e t j a d l s i l s
pouvaient le s d e s f a ir e ." B e r n a r d Du H a i l l a n , L ' H l s t o l r e d e F r a n c e
( P a r i s , 1576), p. 5.
1I b i d . , p. 19. 2 I b i d . . pp. 1 2 8 - 2 9 .
39
church.
in tu rn t h a t t h e r e was a c o n t i n u a t i o n o f t h e o l d e r c u s t o m o f
electio n : " e s t d e m e u r ^ e u n e f o r m e d 1E l e c t i o n q u i s e f a i t a
1 1a n c i e n n e . 1,2
It is d i f f i c u l t to s e e e x a c t l y w h a t Du H a i l l a n h a d i n
n e v e r t h e l e s s , Du H a i l l a n is extrem ely d is c r e e t in r e f e r r i n g to
atin g t h e two w o rk s ; t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t o f t h e s e w as t h e a p p e a r
a n c e o f t h e F r a n c o - G a l l i a . a r a d i c a l new w o r k on F r e n c h g o v e r n
ment by F r a n c o i s Hotman.
1I b l d ., p. 151. 2I b i d . , p. 123.
40
H otm an d i d n o t s h a r e t h e r e t i c e n c e o f Du H a i l l a n . H is
In th e E p i s t l e D e d ic a to r y , Hotman e x p l a i n s t h a t h e w as
de c e s e x t r e m e s c a l a m i t e s e t m i s e r e s communes." The e v i l s o f
v e r t u s de c es g ra n d e s p e r s o n n a g e s l a : e t de r e d u i r e n o t r e e t a t
F r a n c o i s H o t m a n , La G a u l e f r a n c o l s e [French t r a n s l a t i o n
o f F r a n c o - G a l l i a 1 (C o lo g n e , 1 5 7 4 ) , Ep. Ded.
41
d e u x r ^ p u b l l q u e s a u c u n e m e n t s e m b l a b l e . 1,1
To w h a t e x t e n t i s H o t m a n 1s I n t e r p r e t a t i o n of French
G allia . He w as l a t e r w i l l i n g t o make a l t e r a t i o n s on t h e t h e o r y
m ent. We n e e d n o t a t t e m p t t o a n s w e r t h e s e q u e s t i o n s in t h e case
o f H o t m a n , b u t we s h o u l d k e e p t h e m i n m in d when we l a t e r come t o
w ritin g s o f Bod i n .
Ho tm a n s o u g h t t h e o r i g i n o f t h e F r e n c h m onarchy in th e
v e r ’y e a r l i e s t a c c o u n t s o f t h e F r a n k s a n d t h e G a u l s . From t h e
v e ry e a r l i e s t u n t i l th e most r e c e n t tim e s he f i n d s t h a t th e
F r a n c o i s Hotman, A n f c i t r l b o n l a n , ou D l s c o u r s d ' u n g r a n d
e t ren om m^ .-juf1i s c o n s u i t e d e n o s t r e t e m p s s u r l ' ^ s t u d e d e s l o l x
( P a r i s , 1603 L f i r s t p u b l i s h e d 157& J).
2
Hotman, G a u le f r a n y o i s e , c h a p . v ii, p. 72.
42
q u estio n the S a lic law g o v e r n i n g t h e r o y a l s u c c e s s i o n , it does
A l t h o u g h t h e k i n g i n t h e t r a d i t i o n a l d o c t r i n e was a l s o l i m i t e d by
n
Ib id ,., chap. v i, p. 68. 2I b i d ., p. 66.
^I b ld ., chap. i, p. 11.
43
come t o s u c h a c o n c l u s i o n I n t h e c a s e o f t h e F r e n c h k i n g .
Hotm an w as n o t c o n t e n t t o r e s e r v e o n l y t h e f i n a l word
s y s te m would c o n s t i t u t e an a lm o s t p e r p e t u a l bod y , or at l e a s t an
fallu q u e l e s r o i s memes, q u i d o n n e n t l o i a u x a u t r e s se l a i s s a s s e n t
^ I b i d . , c h a p . x v i i , 1 7 2 ; c f . , ^l b i d . , c h a p . x v , p . 1 5 5 :
"La c o n n a l s s a n c e , l e j u g e m e n t e t l a d e c i s i o n f i n a l e d e s a f f a i r s ,
c o n c e r n a n t I ' ^ t a t p o l i t i q u e e t u n i v e r s e l de c e Royaume, a p -
p a r t e n a i t a l a c o n g r e g a t i o n g £ n £ r a l e d u p e u p l e , e t (comme n o u s
p a rlo n s a u jo u r d 'h u i) a l'a s s e m b le e des £ t a t s ."
44
on t h e E n g l i s h g o v e r n m e n t w h i l e a m b a s s a d o r t o F r a n c e i n 1 5 ^ 5 .
I 2
Ib id ., chap. xix , p. 183. Ib id ., chap. xv, p. 151.
"5 4
Ib id ., chap. x, p. 108. Ib id .. p. 109.
b e l o o k e d on a s a n e n t i t y . N e i t h e r S m i t h n o r Hotman h a d a
a s b e i n g g o v e r n e d by a m ixed c o n s t i t u t i o n . The h i g h e s t a u t h o r i t y
of th e people.
Ho tm an w r o t e a s s t r o n g l y a g a i n s t t h e p o w e r s o f P a r l i a
P a r l i a m e n t h a v e e v e n g ro w n s o p o w e r f u l t h a t t h e y h a v e " c o n t r a i n t
d i f f e r e n c e s Ho tma n m i g h t h a v e h a d w i t h t h e a c t u a l d e c i s i o n s o f
j u s t l y oppose th e w i l l o f th e m onarch, b u t in th e f i n a l d e c is io n
i s ta k e n t o be e v e r i e m a n 's c o n s e n t . " S i r T h o m a s S m i t h , De
R e p u b lic s A nglorum , ed . L. A ls to n (C am bridge, E n g la n d , 1 9 0 5 ),
p . 1 9 ; c f . , my M a s t e r ' s t h e s i s , c h a p . i v .
tio n s. H o t m a n , on t h e o t h e r h a n d , w a n t e d an a s s e m b l y w i t h an
a c h i e v e t h e r e s u l t Homan d e s i r e d , t h e o n l y r e c o u r s e w as t o a b o d y
l a p e r s o n n e du P e u p le , l e q u e l d e s commet a c e l a , e t l e u r donne
c e t t e p u i s s a n c e . 1,1
Such i s th e s y s t e m o f g o v e r n m e n t Homan c l a i m e d t o h a v e
continued to e x i s t , he p r e t e n d e d , u n t i l , " i l y a c e n t a n s ou
was n o t , h o w e v e r , c o n t e n t t o b a s e h i s d o c t r i n e on t h e a n c i e n t
i n g s w h i c h s c a r c e l y a p p e a r e d among F r e n c h a u t h o r s b e f o r e t h e W ar s
can t a x o n l y w i t h t h e c o n s e n t o f t h e p e o p le : a n y k i n g who d o e s
2
otherw ise is a ty r a n t. On t h e q u e s t i o n o f t h e r i g h t o f t h e
p e o p le t o a ss e m b le and t o g i v e c o u n s e l - - e s p e c i a l l y s i n c e Hotman
ta n t b elle de t e n i r a s s e m b l i e s g e n e r a l e s de c o n s e i l , e s t une
p artie d u d r o i t d e s g e n s , m a i s memes q u e l e s R o i s q u i p a r m a u v a i s e s
n e d o i v e n t p l u s § t r e t e n u s en q u a l i t y de R o i s , m a is de t y r a n s ,
H otm an r e g a r d s t h i s r i g h t a s s o f u n d a m e n t a l t h a t its d e n i a l by
e t opprim £ p a r l e c ru a u td d 'u n ty r a n , va d e m a n d e r s e c o u r s a
* O
to u te la co n gregation des cito y en s legitim em ent assem b lee."
lio n : a r e b e l l i o n would f o r c e t h e k i n g t o c a l l an a s s e m b ly o f
tu r n th e a u t h o r i t y t o depose th e k in g .
on t h e a u t h o r i t y o f t h e c la s s ic a l au th o rs, in su p p o rt o f h i s
x
t h e o r y o f a m ixed c o n s t i t u t i o n .
Th e c l a s s i c a l t h e o r y o f t h e m i x e d c o n s t i t u t i o n was
r e g u l a r l y a c c e p te d by s i x t e e n t h c e n t u r y a u t h o r s and q u o te d in
1 2
Ib id ., chap. x, p. 106. I b id ., chap. x v il, p. 175.
u n d e r a n y t h i n g b u t a p u r e m o n a r c h y , n e v e r t h e l e s s a c c e p t e d and
seemed t o show r e s p e c t f o r t h e t h e o r y o f t h e m ix e d c o n s t i t u t i o n .
T h e d o c t r i n e h ad a v e r y g r e a t a u t h o r i t y a t t h e t i m e . Bodin r e
m a r k e d i n t h e M e th o d , w h i c h was w r i t t e n b e f o r e H o t m a n ' s F r a n c o -
G allia, th at, " p le riq u e hujus a e t a t i s , graves eru d iti v iri, ,
optim atum s t a t u s ; n o n n u l l i e tia m p o p u la r e s magis p r o b a n t . " 1 The
a u t h o r i t y o f t h e c l a s s i c a l d o c t r i n e was s u c h t h a t when B o d i n
d i r e c t e d h i s a t t a c k a g a i n s t t h e t h e o r y o f t h e m ixed c o n s t i t u t i o n
he went d i r e c t l y to i t s supposed s o u rc e , t o A r i s t o t l e . He d i d
not a tte m p t o n ly to prove t h a t th e system did n o t e x i s t in F ra n c e ,
but t h a t t h e e n t i r e i d e a i s an e r r o r , a n d t h a t s u c h a s y s t e m did
not and c o u ld n e v e r e x i s t .
We. h a v e t h u s f a r e x a m i n e d i n t h i s c h a p t e r t h e m a j o r
i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s o f t h e F r e n c h c o n s t i t u t i o n up t o t h e tim e of
Bodin. I t m i g h t b e w e l l , b e f o r e p r o c e e d i n g t o B o d i n t o sum
m arize th e v a rio u s t h e o r i e s . A l l o f t h e a u t h o r s may b e g r o u p e d ,
w i t h o u t t o o g r e a t v i o l e n c e do ne t o t h e m , in to th ree c la sse s.
in g t h e t o t a l a u t h o r i t y o f t h e s t a t e and t h e c o n t r o l o v e r t h e
ad m in istratio n , i s l i m i t e d b y t h e f u n d a m e n t a l l a w s and c u s t o m s .
There I s , h o w e v e r , no one t o o p p o s e h i s f i n a l d e c i s i o n . Secondly,
t h e r e d e v e l o p e d among t h e h u m a n i s t s a n d "Roman l a w y e r s " a s o r t o f
w i t h Ho tm an t h e r e a l d o c t r i n e o f t h e m i x e d c o n s t i t u t i o n : th e king
s h a r e h i s a u t h o r i t y o v e r b o th th e f i n a l d e c i s i o n s and t h e o r d i n a r y
not ag ain st leg ists. Though t h e la tte r are c e rta in ly not ou tsid e
h is thought, it is i n w r i t i n g s much o l d e r a n d r e s p e c t e d t h a t
t i m e o n e o f t h e m o s t r e s p e c t e d a u t h o r s on g o v e r n m e n t a n d t h e
p o litical theory.
B o d i n i s b y some s c h o l a r s r e g a r d e d a s o n e o f t h e o r i g i
m ust be n o te d t h a t it is n o t t h a t o f Bodin h i m s e l f . H is a r g u
E t e n i m P l a t o cum n u l l a m R e i p u b l i c a e g e r e n d a e s c i e n t i a m
e s s e p u t a r e t , a u t i t a d i f f i c i l e m a d i n t e l l l g e n d u m , u t earn nemo
c a p e r e t : legum tr a d e n d a r u m ac c l v i t a t i s b e n e i n s t i t u e n d a e
50
51
A ris to tle 's s t u d y t h a t Bodin b r i n g s in to questio n . To c o n t r a s t
v a g u e e n o u g h t h a t a l l members o f t h e c l a s s w ould b e e q u a l l y w e l l
c l a s s w h i c h b a r e l y c o n t a i n s a common n a t u r e . 1 In t h i s c a s e he
tio n i s ’u s e d . At t h e same t i m e , it is n o t so g e n e r a l a s t o be
void o f s i g n i f i c a n c e . B o d i n on t h e o t h e r h a n d r e j e c t e d such a
fo r o ffice is c e r t a i n l y no s u c h c h a r a c t e r i s t i c ; it is f a r from
only to s a y t h a t he i s n o t a s l a v e .
2A r i s t o t l e P o l i t i c s 1279a 30.
55
i s no s o v e r e i g n t y t h e r e i s no s t a t e ; t h e r e a r e no c i t i z e n s ;
1
th e re is only anarchy.
In s e e k in g t o a r r i v e a t u n i v e r s a l d e f i n i t i o n s , Bodin
b e s e e n in modern l e g a l p o s i t i v i s m , o r in any o f th e d e f i n i t i o n s
2I b i d . , pp. 172-175.
54
s tu d y o f pow er.
I t would be a m i s t a k e t o c o n c l u d e t h a t B odin h e l d - - e v e n
lem; t h e y a r e a p p a r e n t and e v e ry w h e re p u r s u e d i n a c t u a l p r a c
tice; it may b e t a k e n f o r g r a n t e d t h a t e v e r y g o v e r n m e n t s e e k s
*1
"Nam q u o d T u l l i u s R e m p u b l i c a m d e f i n i t , h o m in u m m u l t i -
tudinem bene v iv e n d i causa so ciatam : f i n e m q u id e m optimum
s i g n i f l c a t , non R e i p u b l i c a e vim & n a t u r a m . " Ib id ., p. 169.
55
t h e u n i v e r s a l and n e c e s s a r y p a t t e r n s o f power in th e s t a t e . We
regim e" a s t h e c e n t r a l c o n c e p t o f p o l i t i c a l p h i l o s o p h y w he n t h e
the state.
^ " N e q u e e n i m d e o p t i m a R e p u b l i c s , sed. d e o p t i m o i m p e r i i
s t a t u h ie agim us." I b i d . t p . 223.
2
B o d in was u n a b l e t o c o n s i s t e n t l y m a i n t a i n t h i s s e p a r a
tio n . In th e R e p u b liq u e , he to o d e f in e s th e s t a t e by i t s end,
by j u s t i c e .
56
H e r e o n e ma y s e e t h e im p o r t a n c e o f B odin In th e h i s t o r y
2I b i d . , p . 174. ^Ib ld .
57
absurd to c l a i m t h a t he had o v e r l o o k e d t h e v e r y f o u n d a t i o n of
judiciary. Th e s o v e r e i g n p o w e r m u s t l i e i n o n e o r i n a co m
th e sis t h a t b e lo n g s t o t h e d e l i b e r a t i v e a ss e m b ly , w h ich , he
claim s, e x e r c i s e s no a u t h o r i t y w h a t s o e v e r .
B o d i n ' s a r g u m e n t i s b a s e d on a m i s u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e
m eaning o f A r i s t o t l e s term , "d elib erativ e assem bly ." A risto tle
a n d command. He w a n t e d t o make c l e a r t h e d i f f e r e n c e b e t w e e n t h e
lated A risto tle s "d elib eratio n " in to French as "av is e t c o n se il"
p o w e r , B o d i n t h o u g h t t h a t A r i s t o t l e w as a t t r i b u t i n g the sovereign
2B o d i n , O euvres, p. 120.
•^ B odin , R e p u b l l q u e ( P a r i s : G a b r i e l C a r t i e r , 1 6 0 8 ) , Bk. I,
chap. v i i i , p . 212; O e u v r e s . p p . 168, 152.
60
h e l d t h e p o w e r o f co mma nd, n o t s i m p l y o f c o u n s e l . 1
by th e S e n a te .2 T h is Bodin d e n ie d : "Quia S e n a t u s n u l l u m im -
In r e a d i n g A r i s t o t l e , B odin to o k t h e d e l i b e r a t i v e a ss e m b ly t o
1A r i s t o t l e , P o litics 1297b f f .
b ility . It i s a n a t t a c k b r o u g h t f o r t h n o t on t h e f i e l d of
of a co ndition of c i v i l w a r).
th e p e o p le choose d e le g a te s t o r e p r e s e n t them in t h e a s s e m b ly
p r o b l e m o f s o v e r e i g n t y was e s p e c i a l l y a c u t e i n B o d in * s t i m e
p ecially b itte r in t h e s i x t e e n t h c e n t u r y . Th e t h e o r y o f s o v
c r e a t i o n e . 111
t h r o u g h some n e c e s s i t y t h e y a r e e x e r c i s e d b y a m a g i s t r a t e , th e ir
g r e a t e s t r i s k be e x e r c is e d by a n o th e r th an th e sovereign. W hile
^B odin, O e u v re s , p . 168.
O
" V i d e o summam R e i p u b l i c a e i n q u i n q u e p a r t i b u s v e r s a r i .
u n a e s t a c p r a e c i p u a , i n su m m is m a g i s t r a t i b u s c r e a n d i s , & o f f i c i o
c u ju sq u e d e fin ie n d o : a l t e r a in le g lb u s ju b e n d is a u t a b ro g a n d is:
t e r t i a in b e l l o in d ic e n d o ac f in i e n d o : q u a rta in extrem e p ro -
v o c a t i o n e ab om nibus m a g i s t r a t i b u s : p o stre m a in p o t e s t a t e v i t a e
8c n e c i s , cum l e x i p s a n e c f a c i l i t a t i s u l l u m , n e c c l e m e n t i a e
locum r e l i n q u i t . " I b i d . , pp. 17^-175.
64
t h e fo rm er a r e o n ly pow ers o r d i n a r i l y e x e r c i s e d by t h e s o v e r e ig n ,
a ll i n t h e s e two p r i n c i p a l a t t r i b u t e s .
Of t h e s e t w o p o w e r s , B o d i n s a y s h e r e i n t h e M e t h o d t h a t
2B o d i n , R e p u b l i q u e , B k . I, chap. x, p. 155.
65
s o l v e d t h e p r o b l e m i n h i s own m i n d .
There a re s e v e r a l w a y s i n w h i c h a k i n g may b e s a i d to
1B o d i n , O e u v r e s , p . 186. 2I b i d . , p. 187.
66
of h is m ag istrates; y e t t h e s e a r e l a w s w h i c h h a v e no c o n t r o l
a n d a c c e p t e d b y a common a c c o r d , c a n n o t b e b o u n d b y t h e l a w h e
2
h i m s e l f h a s made. I n t h i s way t h e k i n g i s b o u n d b y t h e l a w ,
1I b i d . 2I b i d .
^"Gum i g i t u r s u a l e g e p o p u l u s t a n t i s p e r t e n e r e t u r , dum
a b r o g a r i a e q u iu s e s s e t ; consequens e s t P r in c i p e s quopue t e n e r l . "
Ib id .
67
su sp e c t to be v o lu n ta ry .
s t i t u t i o n a l monarchy; on t h e co n trary , he p a s s e s o v e r th e p r o b
t h o s e who c o n f o r m t o t h e l a w s a n d t h o s e who d o n o t . We h a v e
t h e k in g i s bound by t h e l a w s i n q u i t e a d i f f e r e n t way t h a n
1I b i d . 2I b id . , p. 188.
68
own l a w s o n l y s o l o n g a s it w as n o t t h o u g h t d e s i r a b l e to change
by th e law s. He c a n n o t c h a n g e t h e m b y h i s own a u t h o r i t y ; he i s
d e p e n d e n t upon t h e consent of th e E s ta te s . By t h e l o g i c of
B o d i n 1s own a r g u m e n t , h o w e v e r , h e w o u l d h a v e t o conclude t h a t
ity , o r t h a t h e was n o t s o v e r e i g n .
T h e r e a r e o n l y two s t a t e m e n t s i n t h e Method w h ic h
p r e s e n t a n o t i o n o f c o n s t i t u t i o n a l m onarchy; th e y a re b oth
1I b i d . 2I b i d . , p. 208.
69
fact, t h a t a k in g , " s 'in c lin e devant le s lo is et les a rre ts de
l o n g a s h e may c h a n g e t h e l a w s s o l e l y u p o n h i s own a u t h o r i t y .
h a v e B o d i n s u p p o r t a t y p e o f m i x e d c o n s t i t u t i o n when h i s express
2
purpose i n t h e M e t h o d was t o d i s p r o v e such a n o tio n . It is even
more s t r a n g e s i n c e s u c h an i n t e r p r e t a t i o n n e c e s s a r i l y l e d them
u n p o l e m i c a l w o r k s , w h i c h c o i n c i d e s more w i t h t h e t o n e o f t h e
s i n e g r a v i s s i m o R e i p u b l i c a e p e r i c u l o m u t a r i non p t o e s t . Haec
quae d iu f l o r u i t in eo de m s t a t u . "
a r e b r o u g h t more i n t o a c c o r d w i t h B o d i n ' s t h e o r y o f s o v e r e i g n t y .
o r t h a t he th o u g h t b e t t e r n o t to m ention i t . The f i r s t p o s
r e a d y i n 1566 t h a t t h e F re n c h c o n s t i t u t i o n a s u n d e rs to o d i n g e n
e r a l d i d n o t a c c o r d w i t h h i s own i d e a s . The d i f f e r e n c e b e tw e e n
■^Bodln, O e u v r e s , p . 214.
71
h o w e v e r , h e h a s p a s s e d o v e r w i t h o u t comment c e r t a i n in stitu
m o n a r c h y , h e h a s a l s o made r e m a r k s w h i c h s u g g e s t a n o t h e r i n t e r
t h a t he has r e f u te d t h o s e who w o u l d s e e i n F r a n c e a g o v e r n
ment a p p r o a c h i n g an a r i s t o c r a c y o r d e m o crac y b u t a l s o , by
t h a t t o d i v i d e t h e a u t h o r i t y b e t w e e n t h e m o n a rc h and t h e n o
A m o r e c o m p l e t e a n a l y s i s o f B o d i n 1s v i e w o f t h e F r e n c h
d e s c r i p t i o n g i v e n i n t h e R e p u b l i c w i l l b e e x a m i n e d a n d com
p a r e d w i t h t h a t o f t h e M ethod. Though d i f f e r e n c e s do e x i s t
b e t w e e n t h e two w o r k s , t h e s e d i f f e r e n c e s h a v e b e e n e x a g g e r a t e d
by modern s c h o l a r s , and an e s s e n t i a l a g re e m e n t e x i s t s be tw ee n
t h e two w o rk s i n r e g a r d b o t h t o B o d i n ' s t h e o r y a n d h i s v ie w o f
Much o f t h e m i s u n d e r s t a n d i n g a r i s e s from a c o n fu s io n
w ould c e r t a i n l y be f a l s e t o a s c r i b e t o B odin a p r e f e r e n c e f o r
a b s o l u t e m onarchy, b u t th e a l t e r n a t i v e , l i m i t e d m onarchy, is
n o t n e c e s s a r i l y w h a t we t h i n k o f a s c o n s t i t u t i o n a l m o n a r c h y .
/•
B o d i n u s e s t h e w o r d " a b s o l u t e ” t o d e s c r i b e a m o n a r c h who d o e s
f a v o r s a monarchy in w hich th e k in g i s h i m s e l f o b e d i e n t t o t h e
e r e i g n a u t h o r i t y a n d a t t h e s ame t i m e l i m i t t h i s a u th o rity to
on t h e p a r t o f t h e k i n g w i t h o u t f a l l i n g p r e y t o t h e a n a r c h y h e
fe lt ex isted i n a m ixed c o n s t i t u t i o n .
s u b t l e th a n h as g e n e r a l l y been se e n . He r e c o g n i s e d t h a t in
t h e n o r m a l w o r k i n g o f g o v e r n m e n t s t h e r e a r e c h e c k s and b a l a n c e s
•^ I b l d c , p . 209.
I b i d . , pp. 208-209; R e p u b l i c , Bk. I, chap. x, p. 154.
73
u p s e t th e b a la n c e developed by t r a d i t i o n a l p r a c t i c e s ; h e was a
Bodin r e l i e d on t h e p o w e r s o f r e s t r a i n t e x e r c is e d by
n e s s i n an a n e c d o t e c o n c e r n i n g t h e F r e n c h m o n a r c h y .1 L ouis XI
w as t h a t t h e y p r e f e r r e d t o d i e r a t h e r t h a n t o r e g i s t e r s u c h u n
ju st law s. T h e i r a d m ir a b le f i r m n e s s b o t h im p r e s se d and f r i g h t
ened t h e k in g t o t h e p o i n t t h a t he a c c e p te d t h e i r r e f u s a l . Th e
m a g i s t r a t e s B o d in b o t h a d m i r e d and f e l t t o b e o f e x t r e m e im
o f t h e m a g i s t r a t e s and removed t h e f e a r o f l o s i n g t h e i r p o s i -
^I b i d .. pp. 208-209.
7^
t i o n s and b e i n g a f t e r w a r d s u b je c t to th e rev en g e o f th e pow er
p ow erful, even t h e k in g h i m s e l f .
t o o n e a n o t h e r w o u l d o f t e n b e m o t i v a t e d b y t h e i r own i n t e r e s t s .
He c l e a r l y r e c o g n i z e d t h e im portance o f p a r t i e s , b u t he f e l t
t h a t t h e y m u s t o p e r a t e w i t h i n t h e g o v e r n m e n t r a t h e r t h a n on
B o d i n may p e r h a p s b e c r i t i c i z e d fo r having r e l i e d on
h e sa w i n t h e m , o n e m u s t r e j e c t the in t e r p r e t a t i o n s o f those
s c h o l a r s who a s c r i b e t o h i m a b e l i e f i n an a b s o l u t i s m w i t h o u t
in th e l e g a l i s t i c term s o f c o n s t i t u t i o n a l m onarchy.
I t may s e e m a s i f B o d i n 1s s y s t e m o f m o n a r c h y d e p e n d s
upon a g r e a t d e a l o f f a i t h in th e m o r a lity o f th e p r in c e . On
t h a n o t h e r men t o v i o l e n t p a s s i o n s a n d v i c e s . B o d i n w a s no l e s s
s k e p t i c a l t h a n M a c h i a v e l l i a b o u t t h e g o o d n e s s o f man. Like
1I b i d . , p. 207..
75
Men m u s t b e made t o a c t v i r t u o u s l y f o r r e a s o n s o t h e r t h a n a
love of v i r t u e . As f o r t h e o t h e r c i t i z e n s , it is the fe a r of
ac s p e c t a t o r e m Deum e s s e . " ^
The f e a r o f r e l i g i o n is at the s am e t i m e t h e b e s t m e a n s
to t h i s m u s t b e a d d e d t h e m o r e i m m e d i a t e f e a r o f t, h e m a g i s t r a t e s ,
m ore p o w e r f u l m o t i v a t i o n s o f an a p p e t i t e fo r g lo ry .
1I b i d .. p. 225. 2l b i d . 3I b i d .
4 ^
I b i d .; cf., R e p u b l l q u e . Bk. IV, chap. iv , p. 510.
76
m onarch. H is p a s s i o n s w i l l b e s t be c o n t r o l l e d - - n o t by e x
p u n i s h m e n t - - b u t b y t h e d e v e lo p m e n t o f an even more p o w e r f u l
p assio n . For th is r e a s o n B o d i n p l a c e d r a d i c a l i m p o r t a n c e on
shows t h a t t h e y h a v e l i t t l e i n f l u e n c e on t h e a c t i o n s o f men a n d
p e n d e d on t h e v i r t u e s o f m e n , is in adequate.
M a c h i a v e l l i had a l s o s e e n t h e p o w e r o f g l o r y a n d how
th e common b e n e f i t . I n t h i s B o d i n a g r e e d , b u t h e a l s o sa w t h a t
an a u t h o r i t y , a m o n a r c h , who w o u l d b e a b o v e , a n d a b l e t o r e g u l a t e
a n d l i k e H o b b e s h e w as p r o f o u n d l y a f f e c t e d b y t h e m i s e r i e s w h i c h
sovereig n ty . He e x a m i n e d t h e h i s t o r y a n d w o r k i n g s o f c i v i l
s o v e r e i g n t y i s b a s e d on t h e p r e m i s e t h a t m e n ' s t h i r s t f o r power
■^Bodin, O e u v r e s , p . 215.
^I b i d .. p. 186.
78
th is, and, lik e M ach iav elli, is w illin g to excuse o th erw ise
4
c o n d e m n a b l e a c t i o n s wh en t h e y a r e n e c e s s a r y t o a c h i e v e i t .
n o tes, h e w as a l m o s t a l w a y s c o n c e r n e d w i t h t h e lo w er. 1
Th e f u n d a m e n t a l a i m o f p o l i t i c s is peace,and o t h e r
2
ends must be s a c r i f i c e d when t h e y m i g h t j e o p a r d i z e i t . Though
Th e M e t h o d c o n t a i n s alread y th e e s s e n t i a l p a r t o f B o d in 's
In th e D e d ic a to ry E p is tle * B odin r e f e r s t o an a l r e a d y c o m p l e t e d
f o r e h im on o n e h a d d e f i n e d t h e c o n t e n t and t h e method o f
■''The l a t t e r w o r k i s u n d o u b t e d l y w h a t a p p e a r e d i n 1 5 7 6
a s t h e R e p u b l i c ; t h e f o r m e r w a s p u b l i s h e d i n 1 5 8 0 a s 11J u r i s
U niversi d i s t r i b u t i o . "
2I b i d . . p. 114.
80
81
who w r o t e t r e a t i s e s on h i s t o r y h e r e m a r k s t h a t t h e y w o u l d h a v e
t h e p u r p o s e o f t h e M ethod.
co n tain in g a l l t h e k n o w l e d g e t h a t men h a v e a c q u i r e d a f t e r mu ch
c o g i t a t i o n e s ."
Bodin re m a rk s t h a t P l a t o had r e c o u r s e to
com parative
A
law b e c a u s e h e d i d n o t b e l i e v e in a s c ie n c e o f g o v ern m en t.
^ I b i d . , p. 107. ^I b i d . . p . 167.
d e n ce and s c i e n c e each have a p a r t in th e s t u d y o f huma n i n s t i
o f law s. H i s t o r y i s mu ch m o r e t h a n a d e p o s i t o r y o f l a w s ; B odin
ex itu s ab ea d e r i v a n t u r . In quo p r a e c ip u u m e s t h u j u s m e th o d l
in g what i s governed by n a tu re a n d w h a t b y h um a n i n s t i t u t i o n s - -
1I b i d ., p. 109.
" Q u a n q u i d e m a d p r u d e n t i a m c o m p a r a n d a m cum n i h i l s i t
m a ju s , a u t m ag is n e c e s s a r i u m h i s t o r i a , p r o p t e r humanos c a s u s
q u i v e l u t i n orbem s u i s i m i l e s a l i q u a n d o r e c u r r u n t . " Ib id .,
P. 115.
3 I b i d . , p . 140 .
83
th ese n a tu ra l i n f l u e n c e s w as t h a t o f c l i m a t e a n d g e o g r a p h y on
c l a s s i c a l p o l i t i c a l p h ilosophy. Bodin t u r n e d to h is to ry in o r d e r
1 I b i d . , pp. l 4 0 f f . 2I b i d ., p. 112.
■3
^B od in, R e p u b l i q u e . Bk. I , chap. v , p p . 3 5 - 3 6 .
84
v e r u m e t i a m q u a e omnino s u n t e x p e c t e n d a , q u a e f u g i e n d a , q u i d
act c a n n o t b e d e d u c e d f r o m t h e w ay men do a c t .
H is to ry cannot by i t s e l f do a w a y w i t h t h e n e e d f o r
a c h ie v e t h e i r aim s; It can a l s o sh ow w h e t h e r o r n o t t h e s e a i m s
sought a f t e r : it c a n sho w o t h e r t y p e s o f b e h a v i o r t o b e n e c e s
o f the p r a c t i c a b l e .
or in te re s t.
Bodin d o es n o t seem t o be c o n s i s t e n t In r e g a r d to th e
2I b i d . , p. 94.
86
h a v io r in d ependently of a l l o th e r sc ie n c e s, it follow s th at
it mean t h a t t h e g o o d m u s t b e i d e n t i f i e d - w i t h t h e s u c c e s s f u l
b y h i s t o r y w o u l d t h e n d e p e n d u p o n some p r i o r g o o d n e s s e x i s t i n g
Yet i t w as e x a c t l y t h i s t h a t Bodin f e l t to be th e
^Bodin, O e u v r e s , p . 113.
2A r i s t o t l e E t h i c s 1095a .
87
a c t i o n s by a p p e a lin g to o th e r d e s i r e s . It is in a p p e a lin g to
h i s t o r i a r u m f r u c t u s e s t v e l m a x i m u s , u t a l i i w u id e m a d v i r t u t e m
H i s t o r y can t e a c h norms o f b e h a v i o r i n d e p e n d e n t l y o f a l l
other sciences; it n e e d n o t e v e n p r e s u p p o s e a l o v e o f v i r t u e on
e q u a t e good w i t h s u c c e s s f u l - - a n d bad w i t h u n s u c c e s s f u l — a c t i o n s .
However, it c a n now b e s e e n w h a t s u c c e s s m e a n s f o r B o d i n . It
i s n o t r i c h e s o r pow er, b u t g l o r y . Th e e q u a t i o n o f g o o d w i t h
d u c t d i r e c t e d to w a rd t h e good o f s o c i e t y , for i t is o n l y by
su ch co n d u ct t h a t one can a t t a i n g lo ry .
Though h i s t o r y n e ed p r e s u p p o s e no l o v e o f v i r t u e on t h e
^B odin, O e u v re s , p . 112.
it r e q u i r e s no o t h e r t r a i n i n g on t h e p a r t o f t h e stu d en t. A ll
them t o m a s t e r an y o f th em . H i s t o r y i s a l s o th e most p l e a s a n t
states; h i s t o r y on t h e o t h e r h a n d i s s u b j e c t t o no s u c h l i m i t a
tio n s.
In c o n s id e r in g th e s e f i n a l a d v a n t a g e s o f h i s t o r y one
n o t e s a n i m p l i c i t d i s t i n c t i o n ma de b y B o d i n b e t w e e n h i m s e l f
h i s t o r y and p h i l o s o p h y was n o t m e a n t t o d i s c r e d i t p h i l o s o p h y .
B o d in d id n o t c l a i m t h a t p h i l o s o p h y was i n c a p a b l e o f
arriv in g at tru th . He d i d n o t c o n t e n d t h a t t h e n o r m s e s t a b
l i s h e d by p h i l o s o p h y w ere in th e m s e lv e s f a l s e . He q u e s t i o n e d
o n ly th e p r a c t i c a b i l i t y o f t h e s e norm s, a r g u i n g t h a t t h e y w ere
and s a c r e d - - a n d argued t h a t
t h e k n o w l e d g e o f human a f f a i r s could
1
be a tta in e d w ith o u t re fe re n c e to p h ilo so p h y o r th e o lo g y . T his
w it h q u e s t i o n s o f m o r a l i t y and p o l i t i c s . B odin r e c o g n iz e d t h a t
l n I t a q u e e t r i b u s h i s t o r i a r u m g e n e r i b u s , d iv in u m quidem
t h e o l o g i s ; n a t u r a l e p h i l o s o p h i s t a n t i s p e r o m i t t a m u s , dum i n h u m a n i s
a c t i o n i b u s earum que p r a e c e p t i s , d l u multum que f u e r i m u s e x e r c i t a t i . "
B o d in , O e u v r e s , p . 115; c f . , i b i d . , p . 114.
90
t h e n a t u r e a n d t h e e n d s o f man c o u l d n o t b e l e a r n e d from h i s t o r y
h i s t o r y can e s t a b l i s h norms i n d e p e n d e n t l y o f p h i l o s o p h y .
B odin d id n o t r e j e c t t h e norms o f c l a s s i c a l p o l i t i c a l
sh o u ld a c t u n d e r th e u n f a v o r a b l e c o n d i t i o n s w hich form th e n o rm al
t h e t h e o r y o f s o v e r e i g n t y a s s u r e s him a p l a c e o f i m p o r t a n c e in
91
92
R e p u b l i c , B odin no l o n g e r f i n d s t h i s necessary. He b e g i n s w i t h
as "un d r o i t g o u v e rn e m en t de p l u s i e u r s m esnages e t de ce q u i
*1
l e u r e s t commun, a v e c p u i s s a n c e s o u v e r a i n e . " T his d e f in itio n
fondee, t o u t ce q u i s e r a b a t i s u r i c e l l e se r u in e r a bien to t
a t t h e same t i m e t h e m o s t o r i g i n a l a n d i m p o r t a n t p a r t o f B o d i n ' s
^ I b i d . , Bk. I, chap. i, p. 1. 2I b i d .
•^Ibld. , chap. v i i i , p . 8 5 .
4
B o d in , M ethod. p . 1 6 9 .
hit
Tout a i n s i que l e n a v i r e n ' e s t p l u s que b o i s san s forme
de v a i s s e a u , quand l a q u i l l e , q u i s o u t i e n t l e s c o a s t e s , la
p ro u e , la poupe e t l e t i l l a c sont o s td s : a u s s i la R epublique
s a n s p u i s s a n c e s o u v e r a i n e q u i u n i s t t o u s l e s memhres e t p a r t i e s
d ' i c e l l e e t t o u s l e s m e s n a g e s e t c o l l e g e s en un c o r p s , n ' e s t
p lu s R ep u b liq u e." B o d in , R e p u b l i q u e , Bk. I , c h a p . i , p . 1.
93
a city , a n a t i o n — e a c h may e q u a l l y w e l l b e a n i n d e p e n d e n t s t a t e .
ereig n ty .
p erp etu elle d 'u n e R e p u b liq u e . "^ That is to say, "la souverainete
n ’e s t l i m i t e e n y en p u i s s a n c e , n y en c h a r g e , ny a c e r t a i n tem p s.
S ov ereig n ty , lik e the state itse lf, is p erp etu al. B or a democ
^I b i d ., p. 86.
94
h e r e d i t a r y m onarchy, on t h e o t h e r h a n d , c o u l d b e c o n s i d e r e d in
the f u l l sense p e rp e tu al; a t the death of the p rin ce, the sov
The s o v e r e i g n t y r e t u r n s a g a in to th e p e o p l e - - e i t h e r to a group
be re g a rd ed as th e "property" o f t h e m o n a r c h w he n h e h a s no p o w e r
B odin n e v e r t h e l e s s a c c e p t s th e s y s t e m o f e l e c t i v e m o n a r c h y a nd
B o d in 's r e s o l u t i o n o f th e problem c r e a te d by e l e c t i v e
1 I b i d . , pp. 8 6 - 8 7 . 2I b i d . , p . 8 8 . 3Ib ld .
95
of p o litic a l th e o r y be t e s t e d by h i s t o r y and t h u s r e s u l t in a
p r a c t i c a l and u n i v e r s a l p o l i t i c a l t h e o r y . To t h i s l a t t e r goal
avoid it a s much a s p o s s i b l e .
two f o u n d a t i o n s o f p h i l o s o p h y and h i s t o r y l e d - - p e r h a p s n e c e s s a r i l y -
n o t n e c e s s a r i l y f o l l o w t h a t B o d in h i m s e l f was u n a w a r e o f t h e s e
t i o n s a r e n e c e s s a r i l y unknown t o t h e a u t h o r i s a g e n e ra l cause
s y s t e m on t h e b a s i s of th e p rin c ip le o f th e a b so lu te n e ss of
s o v e r e i g n t y would h a v e c a s t d o u b t u p o n a common f o r m o f g o v e r n
m e n t , a n d p e r h a p s on t h e t h e o r y o f s o v e r e i g n t y i t s e l f . ' 1' He w a s ,
■^"Qu'on e n t e n d i s t l e m o t p e r p e t u a l e n u n M o n a r q u e , p o u r
l u i & s e s h e r i t i e r s , 11 y a u r a i t p e u d e M o n a r q u e s s o u v e r a i n s ,
a t t e n d u q u ' i l y en a f o r t p e u q u i s o y e n t h e r e d i t a i r e s : e t mesme-
m e n t c e u x q u i v l e n n e n t a l a c o u r o n n e p a r d r o i t d 1e l e c t i o n , n e
seroyent pas so u v erain s." Ib id .
96
d ictio n in B o d in ’s th o u g h t r e l a t e d to th a t concerning e l e c t i v e
was e v e r c o m p l e t e l y a w a r e o f i t .
"car le p e u p l e s ’e s t d e s s a i s i e t d e s p o u i l l e de sa p u i s s a n c e
Th e s o v e r e i g n p o s s e s s e s h i s p o w e r a s h i s own p r o p e r t y ,
1I b i d ., p. 8 9 . 2I b i d ., p. 8 8 .
3
^That th e system o f h e r e d i t a r y s u c c e s s io n sh o u ld p ro p -
p e r l y h a v e b e e n c o n s i d e r e d a l i m i t a t i o n on t h e p o w e r o f t h e
s o v e r e i g n i s shown b y B o d i n ' s s t a t e m e n t t h a t t h e s u c c e s s o r t o
t h e p r i n c e r e c e i v e s h i s r i g h t t o t h e o f f i c e b y t h e l a w s a nd
c u s to m s o f t h e c o u n t r y , n o t a s an h e i r . I b i d . , p p . 110-111;
c f . , Hobbes, L e v ia th a n , chap. x ix .
97
It is d iffic u lt to d e c i d e w h e t h e r B o d in was h i m s e l f
and th e system of h e r e d i t a r y s u c c e s s io n . He d o e s a t l e a s t o n c e
s o v e r e ig n c an n o t be bound by t h e system o f h e r e d i t a r y s u c c e s s io n ,
in co n sisten cies s e e m t o d e r i v e f r o m m or e t h a n a s i m p l e r e t i c e n c e
on t h e p a r t o f B o d i n .
B o d i n ' s t h e o r y o f s o v e r e i g n t y i s b a s e d on t h e idea t h a t ,
state.
a s a c o n ti n u o u s p o l i t i c a l com m unity, o f w h ic h t h e s o v e r e i g n is
lem a s h i s p r e d e c e s s o r s . L i k e C l a u d e d e S e y s s e l a n d S i r Th o m as
s o lv e th e problem . It o n l y ma de t h e p r o b l e m m o r e a p p a r e n t .
w orks o f B o d i n 's p r e d e c e s s o r s . I n t h e w o r k s on F r e n c h c o n s t i
list i n c l u d e s t h e p o w e r t o m a ke l a w s , d e c id e q u e s t i o n s o f war
1C f . , Du H a i l l a n , L 'E ta t, p. 82v.
lo n g n a t u r a l l y to th e so v ereig n.1
cannot lo se h is t i t l e t o one o f t h e s e p r e r o g a t i v e s t h r o u g h a
or, at least, no o n e c a n c l a i m a - r i g h t t o o n e o f t h e s e p r e r o g a t i v e s
t o a n o t h e r w o u l d mean t h a t h e w o u l d i n e f f e c t t r a n s f e r t h e sov
t h e p o w e r s , o r t h a t he would d i v i d e t h e s o v e r e i g n t y and s h a r e
it w i t h a n o t h e r - - i n w h ic h c a s e n e i t h e r one w ould be s o v e r e i g n .
d e c i s i o n on some o f t h e s e m a t t e r s may b e d e l e g a t e d t o o t h e r s .
v e r s a r i . 1,1
t h e p e o p l e i n a d e m o crac y and by t h e b o d y o f t h e n o b l e s i n an
e ig n ty .^
In t h e R e p u b l i c , t h e power o f l e g i s l a t i o n i s view ed as
4
t h e f i r s t mark o f s o v e r e i g n t y . I t i s f i r s t o f a l l t h e power
a s o v e r e i g n must n e c e s s a r i l y p o s s e s s . Bodin h e r e a l s o s t a t e s
There a re s e v e r a l c o n s i d e r a t i o n s w hich m ig h t a c c o u n t
. 1I b i d . , p . 177. 2I b i d .
p e o p l e may w e l l h a v e t h e p o w e r o f e l e c t i n g t h e o f f i c e r s o f the
p r i n c i p a l s o v e r e i g n p o w e r c o r r e s p o n d s much b e t t e r t o t h e a c t u a l
I n t h e R e p u b l i c , B o d in no l o n g e r r e g a r d s t h e p o w er o f
p
e le c tin g m a g istra te s as a b so lu te ly n ecessary to so v ereig n ty .
he h as r e v e r s e d t h i s relatio n sh ip : h e who m a k e s t h e l a w s t h e r e b y
^B odin, O e u v re s , p . 117.
th e fo rm e r, m a g i s t r a t e s e l e c t e d by th e s o v e re ig n could in f a c t - -
if n o t i n t h e o r y - - m a k e la w s w h ic h would ch an g e t h e system of
electio n . In th e l a t t e r , m a g i s t r a t e s a p p o in te d by o t h e r s could
sovereign.
B o d in 's c h a n g e o f o p i n i o n a s t o w h ic h o f t h e two p o w e rs
is the f i r s t mark o f s o v e r e i g n t y i s p e r h a p s t h e r e s u l t o f l o g i c a l
1I b i d . . p. 155.
2I b i d . , Bk. I , chap. iv , p. 20; chap. v iii, p. 108, Bk.
Ill, chap. v , p. 299.
103
th is p r i n c i p a l pow er.
The d i f f e r e n c e b e t w e e n t h e M e t h o d a n d t h e R e p u b l i c i n
only d eleg ated a u th o rity . Such a body could n o t , how ever, change
b e more c l e a r l y t h e p o s i t i o n o f t h e R e p u b l i c , and i n d i c a t e s a
R e p u b l i c , B o d i n was m o re I n c l i n e d t o p l a c e t h e s o v e r e i g n power
a n a l y s i s o f t h i s problem w i l l be g iv e n in th e sectio n on t h e
s e v e r a l marks o f s o v e r e i g n t y a r e c o n c e i v e d a s f o r m i n g an i n d i
v is ib le u n ity .
T h e p o w e r t o make l a w s i s t h e n e c e s s a r y a n d s u f f i c i e n t
power o f s o v e r e i g n t y ; a l l t h e o t h e r m arks o f s o v e r e i g n t y a r e
When t h e y a r e d i v i d e d , s o v e r e i g n t y i s d e s t r o y e d , and w i t h i t
S ov ereig n ty is n o t s im p ly an a b s t r a c t o r l o g i c a l u n i t y .
T h e r e w i l l b e no c o o p e r a t i o n b e t w e e n t h e g r o u p s h o l d i n g p o w e r ,
o v er o th e rs ', a n d when t h e y a r e n o l o n g e r f o r c i b l y p r e v e n t e d ,
so ciety . W ithout t h i s , a l l o th er r e s tr a in ts on t h e p a s s i o n s
" L e s m a rq u e s de s o u v e r a i n e t e s o n t i n d i v i s i b l e s : c a r
c e l u y q u i a u r a p u i s s a n c e d e d o n n e r l o y a t o u s , c ' e s t a d i r e co m
m a n d e r o u d e f e n d r e c e q u ' i l v o u d r a , s a n s q u ' o n en p u i s s e a p p e l l e r ,
n i me sm es s ' o p p o s e r a s e s m a n d e m e n t s , i l d e f e n d r a a u x a u t r e s d e
f a i r e n i p a ix n i q u e rre , n i le v e r t a l l i e s , n i ren d re la f o i e t
hommage, s a n s s o n c o p g e: e t c e l u i a q u i sera deu la foy e t
hommage l i g e , o b l i g e r a l a N o b l e s s e e t l e p e u p l e d e n e p r e s t e r
o b e iss a n c e a a u tr e q u 'a l u i ; t e n e m e n t q u ' i l fau d ra to u jo u r s
v e n i r aux a rm e s, ju s q u e s a ce que la s o u v e r a i n e t e dem eure a
un P r i n c e , ou a m o in d r e p a r t i e du p e u p l e , o u a t o u t l e p e u p l e . "
B o d i n , R e p u b l i q u e (1 6 0 8 e d i t i o n ) , B k . I I , c h a p . i , p . 2 6 6 .
105
and Hobbes.
re g im e had n e v e r e x i s t e d , and he s t i l l m a k e s t h e s am e s t a t e m e n t
•3
in th e R ep u b lic . H ere, how ever, h i s argum ent becomes c l e a r .
c i v i l e s , j u s q u ' a ce que la s o u v e r a i n e t e s o i t a u x u n s ou au x
,,4
au tres. B odin r e c o g n i z e s t h a t t h e r e a r e t im e s i n w h ich th e
so v ereig n ty of a s ta te is in t h e p r o c e s s o f c h a n g in g and th e
ty p e of s t a t e ; it is only a t r a n s i t i o n b e tw e e n two o f t h e r e c o g
nized ty p e s . Such a s i t u a t i o n s h o u ld b e t t e r be d e s c r i b e d as
thus r e s t s on t h e b e l i e f t h a t a m i x e d r e g i m e c a n n e v e r b e p e a c e
f u l o r en d uring.
1
B o d in , O e u v r e s , p. l 8 l .
P
B o d in , R e p u b l i q u e , Bk. I I , chap. i , p. 185.
^Ibld. ^I b i d . , p. 1 8 6 .
106
Bodin a t t r i b u t e s th e c la s s ic s t a t e m e n t o f t h e m ixed c o n
B odin i s u n c e r t a i n t o what e x te n t A r i s t o t l e h im s e lf r e c o g n iz e d
1I b i d ., p. 176.
2B o d i n , O e u v r e s , p . 1 7 7 ; c f . , R e* p u b l i q u e . B k . I , c h a p . x ,
pp. l4 8 ff.
•^"Quod a d L a c e d a e m o n i o s a t t i n e t , v i d e t u r A r i s t o t e l e s
i i s e r r a n d i occaslonem p r a e b u i s s e , q u i tem peratum r e i p u b l i c a e
g en u s e s s e p u t a r u n t : p r o p t e r e a quod a l l o r u m s e n t e n t l a s r e t u l i t ,
q u i p a r t i m p o p u la re m , p a r t i m re g ia m , p a r t i m optim aturn e s s e
d l c e r e n t ; q uos non r e f e l l i t . S e d cum s u b l a t a d i s p u t a t i o n e t r i a
107
A risto tle d id r e c o g n iz e a n o th e r ty p e o f re g im e , w hich
C .
he c a l l e d s i m p l y t h e " c o n s t i t u t i o n a l r e g i m e " ( /y JTo } \ kT £ oi )•
tin g u ish "d ifferen ces e ssen tielles et fo rm elles" from " a c c i d e n t s , "
on w h e t h e r t h e s o v e r e i g n p o w e r I s h e l d b y t h e may o r t h e few .
1 I b i d . , p. 175.
108
tio n --at le a s t p rim arily --b ecau se i t accepted the p a r tic ip a tio n
common p e o p l e - - b u t d i v i d e d a m ong s e v e r a l g r o u p s w i t h i n t h a t
1I b l d ., p. 177.
109
and c o r r e c t e d by th e evidence o f h i s t o r y .
I n o r d e r t o d i s p r o v e t h e t h e o r y o f t h e m ixed c o n s t i t u
most a u t h o r i t a t i v e w r i t e r s on p o l i t i c a l a f f a i r s , bo th a n c ie n t
e l a b o r a t e d b y P o l y b i u s a n d C i c e r o i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h e Roman
was a p u r e d e m o c r a c y and n o t a c o m b i n a t i o n o f t h e t h r e e t y p e s o f
g i v e n b y t h e Roman h i s t o r i a n s - - a n d b y P o l y b i u s a n d C i c e r o t h e m -
o f th e people. Th e S e n a t e a n d C o n s u l s e x e r c i s e d o n l y a d e l e g a t e d ,
sion o f t h e s e tw o p o w e rs s u f f i c e s to show t h a t t h e p e o p l e a l o n e
, 1
was s o v e r e i g n .
I n a s i m i l a r f a s h i o n , B o d i n g o e s on t o r e f u t e the o pin-
•'■"Tenemus i g l t u r o m n i a S e n a t u s & m a g i s t r a t u u m i m p e r i a ,
in a r b i t r i o & v o lu n ta te p o p u li f u i s s e . Quod s a t i s e s s e t a r g u
m e n t ! ad ju d ic a n d u m s t a t u m f u i s s e omnlno p o p u l a r e m . " B odin,
O e u v re s , p . 178.
11 0
and F ra n c e a r e p u re m o n a rc h ie s.
i n r e f u t i n g t h e t h e o r y o f t h e m ixed c o n s t i t u t i o n . B o d i n w as
th is c o n t e n t i o n have been d e n ie d by th e a u t h o r s he s e t o u t t o
tio n s o f t h e Roman r e p u b l i c a r e t h e c h i e f e v i d e n c e g i v e n b y
B odin in d e m o n s tr a tin g t h a t th e s o v e r e i g n t y b e lo n g ed t o th e
p eo p le.
t h a t he to o b e l i e v e d t h e S e n a te t o be s u b o r d i n a t e t o t h e p e o p l e . 1
^ C i c e r o De L e g i b u s , c h a p . ill, p. 13.
Ill
d iv isio n of so v ereig n ty . In e f f e c t , P o ly b iu s on ly s t a t e d th at
p o litic a l scie n tist does not norm ally ask about th e lo catio n of
in a s t a t e w h ic h was n o t f u n c t i o n i n g n o r m a l l y and i n w h ic h th e
t h e more u l t i m a t e q u e s t i o n s a b o u t p o l i t i c a l p o w e r. The a u t h o r
th e q u estio n of so v ereig n ty .
B odin does n o t r e a l l y argue th a t in a c c e p tin g the idea
o f t h e m ixed c o n s t i t u t i o n P o ly b iu s r e je c te d the p r in c ip le o f an
th e fo u n d atio n o f B o d in 's th e o ry o f s o v e r e ig n ty . He b e l i e v e d
p
h im s e lf to have been th e first t o m a ke t h i s d istin c tio n .
^Ib id ., p. 359.
113
B o d i n sa w t h e fundam ental e r r o r o f h i s p re d e c e s s o rs in
aw ard o f f i c e s a n d h o n o r s o n l y on t h e b a s i s o f p r e - e m i n e n t v i r t u e
1,1 i l d i t q u e s i l a p l u s p a r t d u p e u p l e a y a n t l a s o u v e r -
a l n e t ^ d o n n o i t l e s o f f i c e s aux p l u s b e a u x , ou a u p l u s g r a n d s ,
l ' e s t a t , d i t - i l , ne s e r a i t pas p o p u la ire , a in s a r i s t o c r a t i q u e :
q u i e s t une e r r e u en m a t i e r e d ' e s t a t , a t t e n d u q u ’ i l n ' e s t p a s
q u e s t i o n p o u r j u g e r un e s t a t de s a v o i r q u i a l e s m a g i s t r a t s e t
o f f i c e s a in s seulem ent q u i a la s o u v e r a in e te , e t t o u t e p u is sa n c e
d ' i n s t l t u e r ou d e s t i t u e r l e s o f f i c l e r s , e t donner l o l a chacun.
T o u t e s s e s a b s u r d i t e z s u s d i t e s r e s u l t e n t de ce q u ’A r l s t o t e a
p r i s la form e de g o u v e rn e r p o u r l ' e s t a t d 'u n e R e p u b liq u e ."
I b i d . , p . 337.
114
i n t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f a new m ovement i n p o l i t i c a l t h e o r y .
W h ile r e j e c t i n g t h e t h e o r y o f t h e mixed c o n s t i t u t i o n ,
1I b i d ., p. 559.
115
o n e man, a f e w , o r t h e m a j o r i t y . Thus t h e r e a r e t h r e e t y p e s
of sta te : m onarchy, a r i s t o c r a c y , and d e m o c r a c y . In th e case
o f a r i s t o c r a c y an d d e m o c r a c y , so v e re ig n ty is undivided in th a t
o f s o v e r e i g n t y i s n o t so c l e a r as in t h e c a s e o f m onarchy. The
W h i l e a n a g r e e m e n t a m on g t h e r u l i n g class is e a s ie r to m aintain
T h e same r e a s o n s w h ic h l e d B o d i n t o r e j e c t t h e d i v i s i o n
^ o d i n , O eu v res, p . 214.
O
B o d i n , R e p u b l i q u e , Bk. IV, chap. iv , p. 656.
aristo cracy are not "co rru p tio n s" lik e t h e m ixed c o n s t i t u t i o n ,
l i c e b i t ." 5
W hile B odin em p h asized t h e need f o r c o m p le te u n i t y of
th e s o v e r e i g n p o w e r , h e di d - n o t r e j e c t a d iv ersity in th e
^I b i d ., p. 66l .
2 " Q u id e s t a l i u d f a m i l i a , quam v e r a R e i p u b l i c a e im a g o ?
Haec tam en u n i u s im p e r io c o n t i n e t u r , q u i non f i c t a m , u t V e n e-
to ru m d u x , sed veram R e g i s im aginem r e f e r t , " . B odin, O e u v re s.
p. 216.
^I b id . , p . 215 .
118
n o b les, wh en d i s s a t i s f i e d w ith th e ir lo t, w i l l be in a p o s i t i o n
an o th er.
1I b i d ., p. 753.
th e d e fe c ts of each.
P o l i t i c a l t h e o r y h a s a l w a y s b e e n f a c e d w i t h tw o b a s i c
problem s: the c r e a tio n of a s tro n g , u n if ie d a u t h o r it y ab le
t o m a i n t a i n p e a c e and o r d e r , and t h e d e .v isln g o f r e s t r a i n t s
upon t h i s a u t h o r i t y t o a s s u r e a g r e a t e r d e g r e e o f j u s t i c e and
lib erty . Few a u t h o r s h a v e e v e r r e j e c t e d e i t h e r o f t h e s e aim s
as unnecessary. Yet i n t h e w orks o f a l m o s t e v e r y p o l i t i c a l
t h e o r i s t may b e s e e n a p r e o c c u p a t i o n w i t h , an e m p h a s i s u p o n ,
t h e one p ro b le m o r t h e o t h e r . C e r t a i n l y B o d i n saw t h e c r e a
tio n of a stro n g p o l i t i c a l a u th o r ity as th e f i r s t n ecessity ,
H i s c h o i c e o f t h e b e s t r e g i m e was a m o n a r c h y t e m p e r e d b y a m i x e d
governm ent; i t was n o n e t h e l e s s an a b s o l u t e m o n a r c h y . T he r a d i
c a l c h a r a c t e r o f B o d i n 's th o u g h t can be seen by com paring h i s
concept of th e " b e s t regim e" w ith t h a t o f th e c l a s s i c a l p h i
losophers. For P la to , t h e " b e s t reg im e " meant t h e most j u s t
regim e; f o r Bodin, i t m eans o n l y t h e m o s t p e a c e f u l , t h e most
stab le, regim e. B o d i n ' s e m p h a s is upon t h e need f o r s t r o n g p o
litic a l a u t h o r i t y was r e l a t e d t o t h e a t t e m p t t o e s t a b l i s h m o re
p r a c t i c a b l e n o r m s , an a t t e m p t t h a t b e g a n w i t h M a c h i a v e l l l and
c u lm in a te d w ith Hobbes. I t was, how ever, a l s o r e l a t e d t o th e
m o re i m m e d i a t e p r o b l e m s o f F r e n c h p o l i t i c s , and i t is th is r e la
t i o n s h i p t h a t we m u s t f i r s t co n sid er.
B o d i n saw i n F r a n c e , in h is lifetim e, an a n a r c h y a s
c o m p le te and d i s a t r o u s as th a t e x p e r i e n c e d by Hobbes d u r i n g t h e
E n g l i s h C i v i l War. In 1 5 6 6 , t h e Wars o f R e l i g i o n h ad a l r e a d y
t h e l a n d , a n d t h e o n l y e x i s t i n g a u t h o r i t y was t h a t won b y
s u p e rio rity of arm s. It i s no w o n d e r t h a t B o d i n v i e w e d t h e
a tta in m e n t o f c i v i l o rd e r as the f i r s t aim o f p o l i t i c s a n d saw
s e n t e d I n s u c h a way a s n o t t o c o n f l i c t w i t h t h e i n t e n d e d im
m ediate e f f e c t . The a u t h o r ' s p ro b le m i s t o a c h i e v e t h e d e s i r e d
■^Bodin, R e p u b l i q u e , p r e f a c e .
122
fu sio n th at s c h o l a r s h av e so i n t r e p i d l y a t t r i b u t e d to B o d in 's
p o litic a l th o u g h t, s u g g e s ts t h a t B o d in , in th e R epublic 3 ex ag
restrictio n s on t h e m o n a r c h , b u t d i s s i m u l a t e d them so t h a t th ey
1C h au v ire, p. 470.
2
"B odin, f e a r f u l o f a n a rc h y , a d ap te d h i s t h e o r i e s to
th e needs o f th e day. He e l i m i n a t e d f r o m La R e p u b l i q u e h i s m o s t
f o r c e f u l s t a t e m e n t s in f a v o r o f c o n s t i t u t i o n a l l i m i t a t i o n upon
t h e k i n g , a n d m a de a p l e a f o r d i v i n e r i g h t m o n a r c h y , r e c e i v i n g
i t s s o v e r e i g n t y f r o m on h i g h , a n d s h a r i n g i t w i t h n o o n e . "
R ey n o ld s, p . 143.
123
th at i t was i n t h e M e t h o d , n o t i n t h e R e p u b l i c , t h a t B o d l n m o d i f i e d
p e n d e n t a u t h o r i t y o r power o f o p p o s i t i o n to the c o mm an ds o f t h e
own i d e a s o f m o n a r c h i c a l s o v e r e i g n t y . He h a d e x p l a i n e d that
2B o d i n , O euvres. p. 219.
It I s t h e custom o f F ra n c e f o r th e k in g t o a s k t h e a d v ic e o f
th e kin g . On t h e c o n t r a r y , B o d i n c l a i m e d , th ey are of g re a t
v a l u e t o him i n g i v i n g a g r e a t e r a u t h o r i t y an d a c c e p t a n c e t o
h is commands. B o d i n c o n t e n d e d t h a t t h e k i n g o f E n g l a n d was
1B o d i n , O e u v r e s , p. 187. 2i b i d .
■^Bodin, R e p u b l i q u e , B k . I, chap. v l i i , pp. 9 5 - 9 6 , Bk. II,
chap. 1 , p . l 8p.
a t th e re q u e st of the e s ta te c o u ld o n l y be a b r o g a t e d a f t e r t h e
Except fo r th e s t a t e m e n t made c o n c e r n i n g t h e c o n s e n t
p lic itly
i n d i c a t e s t h a t B odin viewed F r a n c e a s a " c o n s t i t u t i o n a l
Q
m onarchy." Th e m o s t t h a t c a n b e s a i d i s t h a t t h e r e a r e c e r t a i n
c l e a r what l i m i t a t i o n s B odin t h o u g h t e x i s t e d on t h e p o w e r o f
o f an a b s o l u t e m onarch.
the r e s t r a i n t s on t h e F r e n c h k i n g m o r e i n t h e M e th o d t h a n in
h e may h a v e t h o u g h t b e s t t o b e r e t i c e n t a b o u t c l a i m s and p r a c
ig n o re th e claim s of th e E s t a t e s . B o d i n h i m s e l f w as a member
o f t h e E s t a t e s o f 1 5 7 6 a n d was i n s t r u m e n t a l i n . o p p o s i n g t h e
k in g 's a t t e m p t t o r a i s e mo ne y t h r o u g h t a x a t i o n o r s a l e o f t h e
dom ain. He w as u n d o u b t e d l y a w a r e o f t h e f o r c e s w o r k i n g a g a i n s t ,
t h e m onarchy. I n t h e p r e f a c e t o t h e R e p u b l i c , B o d i n made e v i d e n t
s e e m s t o h a v e f e l t t h e t i m e h a d come t o r e j e c t a n y c l a i m made
d iv isio n o f s o v e r e i g n t y and t h e d e s t r u c t i o n o f t h e r o y a l a u t h o r i t y .
I n t h e R e p u b l i c ., B o d i n c a r e f u l l y r e f u t e d any supposed
l i m i t a t i o n s on t h e r o y a l a u t h o r i t y t h a t w o u l d h a v e d e n i e d t h e
tio n t h a t B o d i n n o t o n l y c o n t i n u e d t o a c c e p t , b u t e v e n made m o r e
W hereas t h e o t h e r c o n t r a d i c t i o n s a l l concerned th e r e l a t i o n of
e s t appuy£ e t fonde la m a je s te s o u v e ra in e
Th e p r i n c e d o e s n o t h a v e t h e a u t h o r i t y t o c h a n g e t h o s e
i m p e r i i ." '5
2I b i d ., 3I b id .. p. 208.
4 ✓
B odin, R e p u b l i q u e , Bk. I, chap. v iii, p. 96.
c o n c l u s i o n t h a t i f t h e c o n s t i t u t i o n a l l a w s c a n n o t be c h a n g e d by
t h e s o l e a u t h o r i t y o f t h e p r i n c e , t h e y s im p ly c a n n o t be ch an g ed .
Bodin h e r e d e n i e s t h a t t h e s o v e r e i g n p r i n c e h a s t h e pow er. Yet
h e r e p e a t e d l y e m p h a s i z e d t h a t t h e s o v e r e i g n c a n n o t b e bound b y
the c i v i l l a w , an d m u s t h a v e t h e p o w e r t o m o d i f y t h e l a w s t o m e e t
changing c irc u m sta n c e s . E ve n i f t h e s o v e r e i g n d i d n o t h a v e t h e
r i g h t t o c h a n g e t h e c o n s t i t u t i o n a l l a w s , t h e r e w ould b e no one
t o o p p o s e him i f he s h o u l d do s o . Bodin s t a t e s e x p l i c i t l y t h a t
t h e m a g i s t r a t e s s h o u l d o b e y r o y a l commands e v e n when t h e y a r e
a g a i n s t t h e f u n d a m e n t a l l a w s o f t h e s t a t e - - a g a i n s t a n y human l a w s
1
w hatsoever.
B o d i n i s h e r e f a c e d w i t h t h e same p r o b l e m a s t h a t r a i s e d
b y e l e c t i v e an d h e r e d i t a r y m o n a r c h y . I t d e r i v e s f ro m a f u n d a
p lalsir, e t p u i s l e l a i s s e r a q u i i l v o u d r a , e t t o u t a l n s i que
l e p r o p r i e t a i r e p e u t d o n n e r son b i e n p u r e m e n t e t s i m p l e m e n t ,
s a n s a u t r e c a u s e q u e de sa l i b e r a l i t d , qu i e s t la vraye dona
tio n : e t q u i ne r e c o l t p l u s de c o n d i t i o n s , e s t a n t une f o i s p a r -
f a i c t e e t accom plie: a t t e n d u que l e s a u t r e s d o n a t i o n s , qui
la s o u v e r a i n e t e d o n n e e a un P r i n c e sous ch arg es e t
co n d itio n s
1
n 'e s t pas proprem ent s o u v e r a in e te n i p u is sa n c e a b s o lu e ." Bodin
state c o u ld be u n d e r s t o o d t o h a v e c e r t a i n r i g h t s and p r e r o g a
sion th a t h is t h e o r y o f s o v e r e i g n t y , f o r w h ich he c la im e d t h e
to c h an g e t h e r e g i m e , and would t h u s h a v e c o n s t i t u t e d a th re a t
o f B o d i n ’ s p o l i t i c a l p h i l o s o p h y 3 I t was f a v o r e d b o t h b y t h e
We h a v e t h u s f a r e x a m i n e d o n l y t h e r e l a t i o n of the sov
s o v e r e ig n power t o be in p r i n c i p l e u n l i m i t e d ; n o r w as i t bound
i n g t h e n a t u r a l l a w , w h i c h commands t h e o b e d i e n c e o f t h e su b ject
to h is sovereign.
H is argum ent f o r p r i v a t e p r o p e r t y i s -t h e a r g u m e n t o f A r i s t o t l e
^ " E n o s t a n t c e s d e u x m o t s t i e n e t m i e n , on r u i n e l e s
fo n d e m e n ts de t o u t e s R e p u b l i q u e s , q u i s o n t p r i n c i p a l e m e n t e s -
t a b l i e s p o u r r e n d r e a chacun' ce q u i l u i a p p a r t i e n t , e t d e fe n d re
l e l a r c i n , comme i l e s t p o r t e p a r l a l o i d e D i e U j q u i a d i s t e r t e -
ment v o u lu , que l a p r o p r i e t y d es b i e n s f u s t gardee. a c h a c u n , e t
n e f a u t p a s d i r e q u e l a n a t u r e a f a i c t t o u t e s c h o s e s co m m un e s:
c a r l a l o y de l a m e re n ' e s t p o i n t c o n t r a i r e a u commandement du
p e r e , comme d i t S a l o m o n , f i g u r a n t p a r a l l e g o r i e , l e s c o m m a n d e -
m e n ts de D ie u , e t l a lo y de N a t u r e . " B odin, R epublique (l6 0 8
e d i t i o n ) , Bk. V I, chap. i v , p . 9^8.
133
p ro p erty . 1 T h e I m p o r t a n c e o f t h e f a m i l y i n B o d i n 1s p o l i t i c a l
s o u r c e e t o r i g i n e d e t o u t e R e p u b l i q u e , e t membre p r i n c i p a l
2
d 'ic e lle . So i m p o r t a n t was i t s f u n c t i o n i n t h e s t a t e t h a t
a s t o f a v o r t h e a d o p t i o n o f t h e Roman l a w s w h e r e b y t h e fath er
4
h e l d t h e power o f l i f e and d e a t h o v e r h i s c h i l d r e n .
From t h e i n s t i t u t i o n o f p r i v a t e p r o p e r t y , Bodin c o n
fo is s i la n e c e s s ite e s t u rg en te, en ce c a s l e P r i n c e n e d o i t
T h e p r i n c e was e x p e c t e d t o p a y t h e e x p e n s e s o f t h e g o v e r n m e n t
2I b i d . , p. 16. 3 I b i d . . p . 11.
4 , •
B o d in , R e p u b l i q u e , Bk. I , c h a p . i v , p . 22.
134
l n Ne q u e e n i m c o n t r a n a t u r a m e s t , a u t c o n t r a j u s g e n t i u m ,
u t P r i n c e p s i n R e p u b l i c s r e r u m o m n iu m a c l e g u m d o m i n u s f i t .
modo i m p e r i u m s u i s a r m i s e t s a n g u i n e p a r t u m j u s t e t u e a t u r .
B odin, O euvres, p. 1 87 .
m a tte r s as w e ll as th o s e th in g s a lr e a d y p r o h ib i te d by n a t u r a l
2
law . T h e o b e d i e n c e owed t o t h e d i v i n e l a w I s s i m i l a r t o t h a t
^C f. P reface to R ep u b liq u e.
law , o n e may n o t c o n c l u d e t h a t B o d i n v i e w s d e m o c r a c y o r t h e
E n g l is h m onarchy u n d e r E l i z a b e t h a s e s s e n t i a l l y u n j u s t . 1 The
t h e m o n a r c h w e r e m e a n t o n l y t o m a ke I t clear th at th is power
2B o d i n , R e p u b l i q u e , B k . I I , chap. v, p. 213.
3 4 ,
I b i d . , pp. 210, 212. R eynolds, p. 143.
guided by p ro v id e n c e , or th at su b jects do n o t h a v e t h e r i g h t of
h is s ta te m e n ts a r e n o t meant to a p p ly e i t h e r e x c lu s iv e ly to
about it.
^Bodin, O eu v re s, p . 1 2 1 .
138
and t h e p e a c e o f t h e state .^ So i m p o r t a n t i s r e l i g i o n th at in
lig io n as a question t o be d e c id e d by p r u d e n t i a l c o n s i d e r a t i o n s
s u c h a s t h e J e w s , who w o u l d p r e s e n t n o t h r e a t t o t h e g e n e r a l
f u l m em bership, t h e o n ly p o l i c y f o r th e r u l e r is on e o f t o l e r a
s t r u g g l e and t h u s h a v i n g p l a c e d t h e i r a u t h o r i t y in jeopardy.
who a d v o c a t e d a p o l i c y o f r e l i g i o u s to leratio n in P ra n c e . It
t h e C h a n c e l l o r M ic h e l de l ' H o p i t a l a s e a r l y a s 1 5 6 1 , was n o t t o
w i n g e n e r a l a c c e p t a n c e u n t i l t h e a d v e n t o f H e n r i IV .
d i r e un d ^ is m e p h i l o s o p h i q u e , q u i n e s o u f f r e p l u s q u ' u n minimum
de dogmes e t q u ' i l c r o i t r e n o u v e l^ du c u l t e p r i m i t i f p r a t i q u e
par le s J u i f s ." 1
1C hauvir^, p. 160.
CHAPTER V
140
l4 l
of sovereignty, th ere i s no r e f e r e n c e t o t h e f a m i l i e s , b u t o n l y
whose p o w e rs , f a r fro m b e i n g an o u tg r o w th o f p a t e r n a l p o w e rs ,
a r e b a s e d on t h e r i g h t of conquest. The s e i g n e u r i a l m o n a r c h
th is th at it i s th e o n ly n a t u r a l form o f s o v e r e i g n t y . It is,
r e c e i v e h i s power by any n a t u r a l r i g h t , a s an h e i r , b u t by th e
law s o f t h e state.
among s e v e r a l f a m i l i e s f o r r e a s o n s o f c o m m e r c e , p l e a s u r e , and d e
■LB o d i n , R e p u b l i q u e , B k . I , c h a p . v i , p . 4 7 . C f. i b i d . ,
Bk. I, chap. i l , pp. 11, 13-14; O e u v re s, p. 191.
fo r the s o le p u rp o se o f p r o v id i n g p e ac e and p r o t e c t i o n .
on o o o p e r a t i o n w i t h o u t a u t h o r i t y was u n a b l e t o p r o t e c t itse lf
2B o d i n , R e p u b l i q u e (1 6 0 8 e d i t i o n ) , B k . I l l , c h a p . I , p . 5 0 3 .
3
B odin shows a c e r t a i n i n c o n s i s t e n c y b o t h a s t o t h e q u e s
t i o n o f w h e th er th e f i r s t m onarchs r u l e d w ith o r w ith o u t b e n e f i t
o f la w , and a s t o t h e q u e s t i o n w h e th e r o r n o t t h e y w ere j u s t .
C f. O e u v re s ,p p . 191-192; R e p u b liq u e , Bk. I l l , c h a p . i i i , p . 273;
Bk. IV, c h a p . i , p . 350; R e p u b l iq u e (1608 e d i t i o n ) , Bk. I l l ,
chap. i , p. 503.
i4?
m onarchs were e l e c t e d on t h e b a s i s o f v i r t u e a n d w i s d o m : la te r,
not, h o w e v e r , go s o f a r a s t o c o n t e n d t h a t a l l s t a t e s were
f o u n d e d on i n j u s t i c e . N e v e r th e le s s , he did in c r e a s in g ly tend
th e h e ro ic e x i s t e n c e o f t h e e a r l i e s t men. B o d i n came t o v i e w
n atu re.
a s o v e r e i g n t y f o u n d e d on c o n q u e s t . We know f r o m h i s d i s c u s s i o n
on c o n q u e s t , but th is i s n o w ay e x p l a i n e d b y h i s a c c o u n t o f t h e
of the f i r s t states. S e i g n e u r i a l m o n a r c h y i s b a s e d on t h e
brig an d s.1
Bodin d id n o t d e te r m in e t h e end o r t h e ju stice of th e
showed t h a t ev en g r e a t and j u s t s t a t e s d e r i v e d fr o m q u e s t i o n a b l e
p
o rig in s. I t a l s o s h o w e d t h e m i s e r a b l e c o n d i t i o n o f men l i v i n g
ever i t ex isted , w as v i e w e d b y B o d i n a s a g r e a t a n d o b v i o u s
good. He w as u n w i l l i n g t o e n d a n g e r t h a t a u t h o r i t y b y q u e s t i o n
and t h e r e f o r e , c la im by r i g h t t h e o b e d ie n c e o f th e c i t i z e n s .
T h u s l e g i t i m a c y i s b a s e d s o l e l y on t h e a c t u a l p o s s e s s i o n o f t h e
ab le t o p r o v i d e a s t a b l e and e n d u r in g a u t h o r i t y .
The n o t i o n of the s t a t e b e i n g f o u n d e d on a n o r i g i n a l
2I b i d . , p. 169.
h i s t o r y w as b e g u n b y M a c h i a v e l l i . M achiavelll r e je c te d the
M a c h i a v e l l i 1s " d e u x f o n d e m e n t s d e l a R e p u b l i q u e , 1 'im p ie te et
b$ s e t a s i d e i n a r e t u r n t o p o l i t i c a l p h i l o s o p h y , b u t t o a new
t i o n w h ich c o u ld be n e i t h e r p ro v e n n o r d i s p r o v e n by h i s t o r y .
f o u n d e d o r i g i n a l l y on f o r c e c o u l d w i t h ju stice claim th e o b e d i
ence o f th e su b jects.
T h e r e i s a s t a t e m e n t i n t h e M et h o d w h i c h s e e m s t o In
^I b l d ., preface.
1 46
perspicuum f i t , e tl a m s i ab h i s t o r i a d e s t l t u e r u n t u r , plenam
omni um l i b e r t a t e m , Id e s t p o t e s t a t e m v l v e n d l u t v e i l s , sine
e i g n t y b a s e d on c o n q u e s t . B odin, h a v i n g a c c e p t e d M a c h i a v e l l i 1s
conquered in o r d e r t o e s c a p e d e a t h a t h i s h an d s w hich e s t a b
■''Bodin, O e u v r e s , p . 1 9 1 .
147
s o v e r e i g n t y by i n s t i t u t i o n the c o n t r a c t a l s o p ro c e e d s from f e a r .
on t h e same p r i n c i p l e as s la v e r y , i n t h e c a s e where a s l a v e e x
He t h e r e b y r e j e c t e d t h e o n l y a r g u m e n t b y w h ic h he c o u l d j u s t i f y
s o v e r e i g n t y founded by c o n q u e s t ,
th e state
1 2
Hobbes, L e v i a t h a n . P a r t II, chap. xx. Ib id .
The f o r m e r a r e i d e a l s w h i c h a, s t a t e m i g h t i n a n u n u s u a l l y f a v o r
As s u c h t h e y d o n o t form t h e m a t e r i a l f o r a u n i v e r s a l p o l i t i c a l
t h a t a b o u t w h i c h o n e c a n l a y down g e n e r a l r u l e s . Bod i n d i d n o t
human m o t i v a t i o n s , b u t he d i d , as M a c h i a v e l l i b e f o r e him , la rg e ly
i g n o r e them in c o n s t r u c t i n g h i s p o l i t i c a l s c i e n c e .
However, Bodin a c c u s e d M a c h i a v e l l i o f h a v in g d e n ie d th e
present--w as i n t h e Method n e g l e c t e d in fa v o r of th e p r in c ip a l
a i m o f t h e w o r k , w h i c h was a c r i t i q u e of c l a s s i c a l philosophy
■^Bodin, R e p u b l i q u e , p r e f a c e .
149
d o m i n a t e B o d i n 1s t h o u g h t .
"to u tefo is n o u s n e v o u l o n s p a s a u s s i f i g u r e r u n e R e p u b l i q u e en
2I b i d . , Bk. I, chap. i, p. 3.
^B odin, R e p u b liq u e , P r e f a c e .
150
T h e i r a p p l i c a t i o n d e p e n d e d on t h e k n o w l e d g e g a i n e d f r o m h i s t o r y .
h i s t o r y c o u l d be u s e d t o r e v i s e t h e norms o f p h i l o s o p h y b y t e s t
in g t h e i r p r a c t i c a b i l i t y . Th e o n l y e f f e c t such a r e v i s i o n could
h a v e was t o l o w e r t h e s ta n d a r d s e s t a b l i s h e d by p h ilo s o p h y .
p o s s ib le guide to p o l i t i c s .
151
B o d in ’s adherence to th e p r i n c i p l e of ju stic e and
c l a s s i c a l n a t u r a l law fo r m an i m p o r t a n t p a r t o f h i s p o litical
norm s, he a t l e a s t q u e s t i o n s t h e i r r e l e v a n c e t o t h e n o rm a l demands
in B o d in 's th o u g h t. The h i g h e r e n d s a r e o n l y m e n t i o n e d i n p a s s
i n g and p l a y no p a r t in h i s d is c u s s io n of the p o l i t i c a l r e a l
endurance .
r u l e d b y t h e b e s t m e n. T his is r e je c te d by B o d in . A state
^C hauvire, p . 281.
^ B o d i n , O e u v r e s , p p . 217* 2 2 1 , 2 2 2 ; R e p u b l i q u e , B k . I,
chap. v i l , p . 70; Bk. I , c h a p . v i i i , p . 106.
152
n o t a p p e a r i n B o d i n 1s d i s c u s s i o n . The q u e s t i o n o f j u s t i c e does
made o n l y on t h e b a s i s o f t h e l o w e r p o l i t i c a l a i m s . Monarchy
alone is in c o n f o r m i t y w i t h n a t u r a l l a w , h e d o e s n o t mean t h a t
it is t h e r e f o r e more j u s t t h a n t h e o t h e r fo r m s o f s t a t e . Th e
n a t u r a l law i s h e r e u n d e r s t o o d a s t h e n e c e s s i t i e s d eriv in g
affairs
2B o d i n , O e u v r e s , p p . 222-225.
M o n a r c h y w as t h e m o s t e n d u r i n g f o r m o f s t a t e , b u t even th e b e s t
state t h a n t o r i s k t h e d a n g e r s i n h e r e n t i n an a t t e m p t t o change
2
to a b e t t e r o n e, w h ic h w ould n o t i t s e l f be l a s t i n g . It is also
of p o l i t i c a l philosophy. The c l a s s i c a l c o n c e p t o f t h e b e s t
r e g i m e m e a n t t h a t p o l i t i c a l t h o u g h t w as c e n t e r e d a r o u n d t h e
m a in s, chacun p r e t e n d e t r e ce p l u s v e r t u e u x e t ce p l u s h a b i l e .
A tta c h o n s done c e t t e q u a l i t e a q u e lq u e c h o se d ' i n c o n t e s t a b l e .
C ' e s t l e f i l s a i n e du r o i ; c e l a e s t n e t , i l n ' y a p o i n t de
d isp u te. La r a i s o n n e p e u t m i e u x f a I r e , c a r l a g u e r r e c i v i l e
e s t l e p l u s g ra n d d es m aux." P ensees (B runschvicg e d i t i o n ) ,
No. 32 0 .
w h ich b e s t em bodies t h e p r i n c i p l e o f s o v e r e i g n t y .
B odin*s t h e o r y o f s o v e r e ig n t y .
l o g i c a l a s B odin*s th e o r y o f s o v e r e ig n ty . In a c t u a l p r a c t i c e ,
the s o v e r e i g n t y was n o t so u n i t e d a s B o d in m i g h t h a v e w i s h e d .
155
I t was t h e r e f o r e m e c e s s a r y t o m o d if y t h e t h e o r y o f s o v e r e i g n t y
p ractices on t h e b a s i s o f t h e t h e o r y o f s o v e r e i g n t y , and th u s
a d m i t t h a t t h e t h e o r y w as n o t su p p o rte d by th e e v id e n c e o f
e reig n ty .
Most o f B o d i n ’ s i n c o n s i s t e n c i e s can be e x p la i n e d by
th e s o v e r e i g n w a s s u p p o s e d t o h a v e r e c e i v e d h i s p o w e r b y w ay
T h e i n c o n s i s t e n c y a r o s e when t h e s o v e r e i g n p o w e r was f i r s t
co n cisely , i n a w ay t h a t r e j e c t s t h e p o s s i b i l i t y of any l i m i t a
t i o n s on t h e a u t h o r i t y o f t h e sovereign.
t u r n s f o r an u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f s o v e r e i g n t y and i t s im p o rtan ce
p h i l o s o p h y t h a t b e g a n w i t h M a c h i a v e l l i and c u l m i n a t e d w i t h
Hobbes.
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