The Image of Children’s Attitudes and Duties Towards Their Parents in the High Middle Ages (as Reflected in De regimine filiorum nobilium by Vincent of Beauvais and De regimine principum by Giles of Rome) Cover Image

Obraz postaw i powinności dzieci wobec rodziców w pełnym średniowieczu (w świetle De regimine filiorum nobilium Wincentego z Beauvais i De regimine principum Idziego Rzymianina)
The Image of Children’s Attitudes and Duties Towards Their Parents in the High Middle Ages (as Reflected in De regimine filiorum nobilium by Vincent of Beauvais and De regimine principum by Giles of Rome)

Author(s): Witold Brzeziński
Subject(s): History, Social Sciences, Sociology, Family and social welfare
Published by: Zakład Historii Edukacji w Instytucie Pedagogiki Uniwersytetu Wrocławskiego
Keywords: children’s attitudes and duties towards parents; relations between parents and their children; Vincent of Beauvais; Giles of Rome

Summary/Abstract: The paper is concerned with the image of children’s attitudes and duties towards their parents presented in two selected thirteenth-century educational treatises. These are De regimine filiorum nobilium by Vincent of Beauvais and De regimine principum by Giles of Rome. Both authors unanimously enumerate filial obedience as well as honour and respect as the most important duties of children to their parents. Additionally, Vincent mentions that children should also support parents and provide them with necessities when they are old and in need. Yet, the authors differ on the motives of children’s behaviours. For Vincent of Beauvais filial obedience results from God’s commandments, and disobedience is its infringementand as such will be punished. For Giles of Rome children should first all be obedient and subjected to their parents because of their love to them. Nevertheless, he also adds that this is also because parents are superior to children. The differences in the motives result first of all from the fact that the authors refer to two different traditions and sources, the former to the Bible and Christian writers, the latter to Aristotle’s works.

  • Issue Year: VII/2013
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 33-47
  • Page Count: 15
  • Language: English, Polish