Political Meritocracy in Renaissance Italy: The Virtuous Republic of Francesco Patrizi of Siena

Cover
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Contents
Note on Sources
Timeline of Events in Patrizi’s Llife
Introduction
1. The Formation of a Political Philosopher
	The Young Patrizi: Poet, Teacher, and Statesman
	The Crisis of 1456: Condemnation and Exile
	Governor of Folign
	Calm after the Storm: Gaeta, 1464–1494
2. The Great Political Treatises
	The Humanist Synthetic Treatise
	How to Found a Republic
	Aimsin Writing the De republica and the Meaning of Institutio
	On Kingship and Kingly Education
	Patrizi’s Historico-prudential Method
3. Principles of Republican Government
	The Defense of Republics
	Republican Values: The Rule of Law
	Republican Values: Equality
	Republican Principles: Liberty
	Ranking Constitutions
	Practical Wisdom in Warfare
4. Meritocracy and the Optimal Republic
	Meritocracy and the Best Regime
	Which Citizens Should Be Admitted to Political Office?
	How to Keep the Best Men in Charge
	Deliberation and the Virtue of Free Speech
	Preventing Corruption and Revolution
	Magistracies in the Best Republic: General Principles, the Senate, Consuls
	The Legal System
	Censors, Quaestors, Overseers of Provisions, Aediles
	Summary: The Patrizian Republic
5. The Virtuous Society
	Educating the Virtuous Citizen
	The Roles of Wife and Husband
	The Role of the State
	A Scheme of Public Education
	The Moral Economy: The Household, Unfree Labor, and Marriage
	The Moral Economy: The City-State
	Republican Architecture and Urban Planning
	Piety and Religion in the Best Republic
6. Citizenship and the Virtuous Citizen
	Two Models of Citizenship
	Who Should Be a Citizen in a Republic?
	Inclusion of Workers among the Citizenry in a Republic
	Admitting Foreigners to Citizenship
	The Virtues of a Good Citizen
	Royal Citizenship
7. Virtuous Absolutism: Patrizi’s De regno
	Rethinking Monarchy: The View from Gaeta
	The Argument for Monarchy
	Can Monarchical Power Be Virtuous?
	The Ideal Prince
	The Sources of Royal Legitimacy
	How the King May Become Virtuous
	Civil Friendship, Humanity, and Piety
	Monarchy, Dyarchy, and the Future of Republics
Conclusion: Patrizi and Modern Politics:
Appendix A: List of Patrizi’s Works (Compiled withthe assistance of Caroline Engelmayer)
Appendix B: Editions, Translations, and Compendia of Patrizi’s Political Works, 1518–1702 (Compiled by Victoria Pipas)
Appendix C: Patrizi’s Epigram 14: “What Would Make Me Happy” (Latin text)
Abbreviations
Notes
Bibliography
Acknowledgments
Index