Al-Maġribī’s On Politics The Reverberations of the Mirror in the Face of the Reality of Power

Al-Maġribī’s (981-1027) On Politics is a compendium devoted to the government of self, elite and common people. While following the tradition of the Mirrors of Princes, the text is distinguished by the central place it gives to the therapeutic and hygienic dimensions of the prince’s body. The preservation of the prince’s health takes precedence over ethical and spiritual perfection. Such themes are explored in the commentary and illustrated by the unpublished translation of the text into French.