The Political Economy of Juan de Mariana - Ludwig von Mises Institute

Chapter I
The Origin of the State·
MARIANA'S book on royalty was intended to be a mirror
for kings in the hands of the tutor of the royal princes.
That is, it was to serve a practical purpose. We cannot,
therefore, expect a philosophic treatment of the nature,
origin and purpose of the State, because this would not be
adapted to the mental capacity of a young prince. Nevertheless,
all these matters are touched upon in De Rege, in
terms which make the reading of the book pleasant and easy.
According to Mariana men originally lived without a
social organization, and without a positive law. They simply
followed the law of nature and attended to nothing except
supplying food for themselves and their families. Children
obeyed their elders and the whole family, including children
and grandchildren, lived together in perfect happiness until
the death of the head of the family. Then the common
home was broken up, and the several members spread to
a"djacent districts. Each formed another large family,
or rather a group of families which Mariana calls pagi
(tribes).1
Even at this stage men had no civil authority and no
positive law. Nature gave freely what was needed for their
1 Solivagi initio homines incertis sedibus ferarum ritu pererrabant: uni sustentandae
vitae curae. et secundum earn, uni procurandae educandaeque prolis libidilli serviebant,
nullo jure devincti, nullius rectoris imperio tenebantur, nisi quatenus naturae instinctu et
impulsu in quaque familia, ei honor deferebatur maximus, quem aetatis praerogativa
caeteris videbant esse praelatum.... Sublato rectore. parente aut ava, filii nepotesque
in multas familias mapalium instar dissipati, ex uno pago plures pagos effecere. De Rege,
Lib. I, cap. 1, pp. 12-13.
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