Marsilius of Padua (1280-1343) was a philosopher of the Middle Ages who wrote two books of political philosophy that have influenced modernity. This study analyzes the term valencior pars in the Defensor Pacis. Marsilius appears to define this preponderant part of the population as representing that part of the citizenry who do not have a debilitated nature. This suggests that the valencior pars is a much a qualitatively superior as a numerically greater part of the citizenry. The appeal to a mixture of quantitative and qualitative considerations was familiar in the context of the medieval church, which habitually supported the greater and more reasonable part (maior et sanior pars) of electoral institutions. Marsilius also suggests, however, that the valencior pars can be identified with this honored custom of government. It seems then, that the valencior pars is whatever part of the citizenry whose electoral decision is decisive. In this, Marsilius is at one with Aristotle's original analysis.
Marsilius of Padua; Representation; Prevailing part; Politic