Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online

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Prince’s mirror
(899 words)

1. Concept and genres

Beginning with the first ancient examples, prince’s mirrors were didactic, exhortatory, or reflective political texts concerned with the norms and forms of correct princely conduct (Authority; Monarchy). Titles variously focused on genre in reference to the mirror metaphor of medieval didacticism (e.g. Speculum principis/regis/regale, “Mirror of the Prince”), on function (e.g. De educatione/institutione principis, “On the Education of the Prince”) or on subject m…

Cite this page
Weber, Wolfgang E.J., “Prince’s mirror”, in: Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online, Editors of the English edition: Graeme Dunphy, Andrew Gow. Original German Edition: Enzyklopädie der Neuzeit. Im Auftrag des Kulturwissenschaftlichen Instituts (Essen) und in Verbindung mit den Fachherausgebern herausgegeben von Friedrich Jaeger. Copyright © J.B. Metzlersche Verlagsbuchhandlung und Carl Ernst Poeschel Verlag GmbH 2005–2012. Consulted online on 29 September 2023 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2352-0272_emho_COM_019575>
First published online: 2015
First print edition: 20210107



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