Subiectio e Oboedientia: Lessico e fondamento del potere in Francesco di Meyronnes (XIV sec.)

Francis of Meyronnes’ (d. 1328) political re/ection contains a person- al elaboration connected to the concepts of subjection (subiectio) and obedience (oboedientia), and it 0ts within the theological-political thought of his time, where the debate on power takes on varied forms and directions. In his writings, Mey- ronnes’ political conception emerges through cosmological, naturalistic, and meta- physical analogies, where the philosophical and religious realms reverberate within a circular discourse that moves from God to man and from man to God. !e ques- tioning of man, directed towards the functioning of the celestial world, researches the best order among the various types of power. !ere exists a connection between spiritual power and temporal power which moves the latter towards the former as towards an end (sicut ad !nem), and through it, is ennobled. Obedience (oboedien- tia) to one another, which implies subjection (subiectio) – though 0nding its implic- it foundation in natural law and divine law – only occurs through voluntary action.