In this article I am concerned with Vincent of Beauvais's De morali principis institutione. The aim is to analyze his political ideas related to the criteria, the institution and the social function of Christian kingship in the 13th century. In order to understand Vincent of Beauvais's political thought, I contrast the ancient figure of royal pastorate (the pastoral power of the king) and the idea of reasons of state. Writing his treatise for the Capetian King Louis IX, Vincent of Beauvais contrasted the ordinary situation of the political and historical government to the social model called ecclesia, a supernatural reality. For Vincent Ecclesia always remains an idealized and mystic reference while Christianity, governed by pastor-kings, may be a historical anticipation of the scatological and post-historical condition that is the final destiny of the mankind.
politics; kingship; royal pastorate