La Monarchia de Dante entre poder civil y magisterio pontificio, y su vigencia para la actual reflexión política y constitucional

In this article, we will give a brief summary of the main lines of Dante's political philosophy, as presented in his treatise on the nature and justification of the institution of the Empire (De Monarchia), in contrast to the 'hierocratic' doctrine held by the popes of his time, which taught a strict hierarchical subordination of the emperor to the papacy. We will begin with a broad historical contextualization of the problem, as it arose more generally in medieval political reflection, starting from its roots in the Christian doctrine of the first centuries. We will illustrate the reception of Dante's ideas in the philosophical, theological, and political-ecclesiastical debate of his time and then also concerning the papal magisterium of later times. The article concludes with some reflections that show the relevance of Dante's political thought in current political and constitutional reflection, particularly regarding the relationship of positive law with the perennial values of a tradition represented by spiritual authority.