SALISBURIAN STAKES: THE USES OF 'TYRANNY' IN JOHN OF SALISBURY'S "POLICRATICUS"

THE ISSUE OF WHETHER JOHN OF SALISBURY REGARDED TYRANNICIDE AS JUSTIFIED IS AN OFT-DEBATED ONE TO READERS OF HIS POLICRATICUS. THE APPARENT AMBUGUITY OF THE WORK ON THE ISSUE OF TYRANNICIDE HAVE LED MANY TO CONCLUDE THAT THE WORK DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A COHESIVE WHOLE. THIS ARTICLE EXAMINES THE POLICRATICUS AND ARGUES THAT IS HAS A SPIRALING OR SYMPHONIC STRUCTURE WHICH REFLECTS A CONSCIOUS AWARENESS OF THE MORAL AND INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT OF JOHN'S AUDIENCE. THE FORM OF THE POLICRATICUS IS STRUCTURED SO THAT EACH PHASE OF THE COURTIER'S PROGRESS BUILDS ON HIS SUCCESSFULLY UNDERSTANDING AND APPLYING THE LESSONS OF THE PRECEDING ONE. IT IS AN INTERNALLY COHERENT WORK, ALTHOUGH NOT THOROUGHLY INTEGRATED FOR MODERN TASTES.