Title
The King's Two Bodies,Used
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In 1957 Ernst Kantorowicz published a book that would be the guide for generations of scholars through the arcane mysteries of medieval political theology. In The King's Two Bodies, Kantorowicz traces the historical problem posed by the 'King's two bodies'the body politic and the body naturalback to the Middle Ages and demonstrates, by placing the concept in its proper setting of medieval thought and political theory, how the earlymodern Western monarchies gradually began to develop a 'political theology.?The king's natural body has physical attributes, suffers, and dies, naturally, as do all humans; but the king's other body, the spiritual body, transcends the earthly and serves as a symbol of his office as majesty with the divine right to rule. The notion of the two bodies allowed for the continuity of monarchy even when the monarch died, as summed up in the formulation 'The king is dead. Long live the king.'Bringing together liturgical works, images, and polemical material, The King's Two Bodies explores the long Christian past behind this 'political theology.' It provides a subtle history of how commonwealths developed symbolic means for establishing their sovereignty and, with such means, began to establish early forms of the nationstate.Kantorowicz fled Nazi Germany in 1938, after refusing to sign a Nazi loyalty oath, and settled in the United States. While teaching at the University of California, Berkeley, he once again refused to sign an oath of allegiance, this one designed to identify Communist Party sympathizers. He was dismissed as a result of the controversy and moved to the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, where he remained for the rest of his life, and where he wrote The King's Two Bodies.
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- Q: What is the main theme of The King's Two Bodies? A: The main theme of The King's Two Bodies is the exploration of the concept of the 'two bodies' of a king: the physical body and the spiritual body. This duality is analyzed within the context of medieval political theology, illustrating how it influenced the continuity of monarchy and the development of political theology in Western monarchies.
- Q: Who is the author of The King's Two Bodies? A: The author of The King's Two Bodies is Ernst H. Kantorowicz, a notable historian who examined the relationship between medieval thought and political theory.
- Q: When was The King's Two Bodies published? A: The King's Two Bodies was published on December 29, 1997, and the reprint edition was released on January 18, 1998.
- Q: What type of binding does this book have? A: The King's Two Bodies is available in a paperback binding.
- Q: How many pages are in The King's Two Bodies? A: The book contains a total of 616 pages.
- Q: What condition is The King's Two Bodies in? A: The King's Two Bodies is available in new condition.
- Q: What is the significance of the 'two bodies' concept in the book? A: The 'two bodies' concept is significant as it explains how a monarch's spiritual body allows for continuity in the monarchy even after the physical body has died, leading to a deeper understanding of sovereignty and political authority.
- Q: Is there any historical context provided in The King's Two Bodies? A: Yes, The King's Two Bodies provides extensive historical context, linking the concept of the king's two bodies to medieval thought and the evolution of political theory, particularly in the context of early forms of the nation-state.
- Q: What kind of sources does Kantorowicz use in The King's Two Bodies? A: Kantorowicz uses a variety of sources, including liturgical works, images, and polemical materials, to explore the historical development of the 'political theology' associated with the monarchy.
- Q: How does The King's Two Bodies relate to modern political theory? A: The King's Two Bodies relates to modern political theory by tracing the historical roots of concepts such as sovereignty and the divine right to rule, demonstrating how these ideas have evolved and influenced contemporary understandings of political authority.