Political Writings

Francisco Vitoria was the earliest and arguably the most important of the Thomist political philosophers of the Counter-Reformation. Not only did he write important essays on civil and ecclesiastical power, but he became celebrated for his defence of the new world Indians against the imperialism of his own master, the King of Spain. Vitoria’s political works are thus of great importance for an understanding both of the rise of modern absolutism, and the debate about the emergent imperialism of the European powers. His works are also unusually accessible, since they survive mainly in the form of ‘relectiones’, or summaries delivered at the end of his lecture courses on law and theology at the University of Salamanca. Translated here into English for the first time, these texts comprise the core of Vitoria’s thought, and will be of interest to specialists in political theory and the history of ideas, ecclesiastical history, and the history of early modern Spain. A comprehensive introduction, a chronology, and a bibliography accompany the texts.

• Vitoria was a Spanish monk and scholar, the most important early theorist of the Counter-Reformation, arguing in favour of absolute monarchy but his writings were also anti-imperialistic, defending the rights of new world Indian • These writings are unusually accessible, left in the form of short summaries of lectures delivered by Vitoria to students at the University of Salamanca • This is the first time that these works have been translated into English. The volume also contains a glossary, chronology, bibliography and an introduction

Editors’ note; Abbreviations and sigla; Introduction; Principal events in Vitoria’s life; Bibliographical note; Critical note on texts and translation; 1. On civil power; 2. On the power of the Church; 3. On the power of the Church; 4. On law: lectures on ST I-II 90-105; 5. On dietary laws, self-restraint (extract); 6. On the American Indians; 7. On the law of war; List of references; Biographical notes; Glossary-index.