Between “Tyranny” and Political Legitimacy: A Contribution to the Study of Political Culture in Late Medieval Dalmatia and Croatia Cover Image

Između „tiranije” i političkoga legitimiteta. Prilog poznavanju političke kulture kasnosrednjovjekovne Dalmacije i Hrvatske
Between “Tyranny” and Political Legitimacy: A Contribution to the Study of Political Culture in Late Medieval Dalmatia and Croatia

Author(s): Ante Bećir
Subject(s): History of ideas, Political history, Social history, 15th Century
Published by: Hrvatski institut za povijest
Keywords: political culture; tyranny; political legitimacy; Dalmatia and Croatia; Late Middle Ages;

Summary/Abstract: The aim of this paper is to discuss the relationship between the “legitimate” and “illegitimate” government in late medieval political notions through the prism of selected examples from the late medieval history of Dalmatia and Croatia. In order to better understand the topic, the selected examples will be placed in the theoretical framework of medieval political thought. Each of the examples represents a separate point of view, thus indicating the coexistence of different political views arising from conflicting interests. In other words, what was “tyranny” for some was legitimate and justified rule to others. The factional struggles in Trogir at the beginning of the 14th century, the chronicle discourse of Miha Madijev and his portrayal of the Croatian nobles, and finally the views expressed by the ambassadors of the Trogir commoners in Venice in 1421 prove to be very telling and characteristic examples. Following their analysis and that of some other examples, the author draws certain (comparative) conclusions about medieval political culture.

  • Issue Year: 2022
  • Issue No: 62
  • Page Range: 83-104
  • Page Count: 23
  • Language: English