Johannes Althusius: Politica - Hubertlerch.com - HubertLerch.com

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[1] [This chapter on tyranny was not part of the 1603 edition. On the other hand, Althusius’ Dicaeologica (1617) contains a
chapter (I, 113) entitled “The Abuse of Public Power” that is in part a discussion of tyranny and its punishment.]
[2] Thus Jacob Middendorf describes it. Quaestiones politicae, 16.
[3] See the arguments of II Samuel 11; 24; I Kings 11; John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, IV, 20, 24 ff.; Francis
Zoannet, De tripartitione defensionis, III, num. 1–3; Jerome Gigas, De crimine laesae majestatis, I, quest. 56, 10.
[4] See Peter Ribadeneria, Religion and the Virtues of the Prince, II, 9; Petrus Gregorius, De republica, IX, 12; William
Rose, De justa reipublicae christianae auctoritate, 1, 6.
[5]
11 Kings 11:2; II Chronicles 23.
[6] [The just administration of these public functions, public goods, and private rights has been described by Althusius in
Chapters XXVIII–XXXVII on ecclesiastical and secular administration. Because special tyranny is simply the abuse of one or more
of these three administrative areas, Althusius’ detailed discussion of it is here omitted. One point only should be noted, namely
that Althusius does not consider a tyrant without title ( tyrannus absque titulo) to be a tyrant at all, but only a private citizen who
is an enemy of the realm. The reason is that such a person never rightfullly became its supreme magistrate. Only a tyrant by
practice ( tyrannus exercitio) is a true tyrant.]
[7]
[8]
As we have said in Chapter XVIII above.
[laws.]
[9]
[i.e., those optimates or ephors who have a responsibility for the whole realm as distinguished from special optimates and
ephors whose responsibility is limited to that part or territory of the realm assigned to them.]
[10] Zachary Ursinus, Dispositiones, II, 44 and ult.; [Theodore Beza], Concerning the Rights of Rulers; Petrus Gregorius, De
republica, XXVI, 5–7; Juan de Mariana, The King and His Education, I, 6 f.; Francis Zoannet, De tripartitione defensionis, III,
num. 28; Lambert Daneau, Politices christianae, VI; Otto Cassman, Doctrinae et vitae politicae, 10; Code X, 53, 2; Institutes I,
25, 6; Digest L, 4, 11, 3.
[11] Junius Brutus, Defence of Liberty Against Tyrants, quest. 3.
[12] See Petrus Gregorius, De republica, XXVI, 5–7; Marsilius of Padua, The Defender of the Peace; Lupold of Bebenberg, De
jure regni et imperii. [Gregorius affirms, while Marsilius and Lupold deny, a papal power of deposing rulers.]
[13] See Valerius Maximus, Memorable Deeds and Sayings, VI, 3; Niccolò Machiavelli, Discourses, II, 20; Justus
Lipsius, Politicorum sive civilis doctrinae, V, 9 f.; Henrik Rantzau, Commentarius bellicus, I, 11.
[14]
[Note the unannounced switches in the discussion from a tyrant by practice to a tyrant without title, and then back to a
tyrant by practice in the next paragraph.]
[15] See Matthew 23; II Chronicles 2:13 f. So David fleeing from the tyranny of Saul is known to have withdrawn into the
mountains. And Christ fled into Egypt because of Herod’s tyranny. Petrus Gregorius, De republica, XXVI, 6 f.; John
Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, IV, 20, 23; Francis Zoannet, De tripartitione defensionis, III, 114 ff.; Junius
Brutus, Defence of Liberty Against Tyrants, quest. 3.
[16] Augustine, The City of God, IV, 4.
[17] [ optimates This word has generally been rendered as “optimates” in this translation, but “estates” would seem to be
closer to Althusius’ meaning in this particular instance.]
[18] 1 Kings 12.
[19] Alberico Gentili, De jure belli, I, 23.
[20] Tiberius Decianus, Tractatus criminalis, VII, 49, 29.
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