Royalty as a Metaphysical Function On the Mystical Politics of Afḍal al-Dīn Kāshānī

Focusing on The Makings and Ornaments of Virtuous Kings, a political treatise written by Kāshānī (1155-1213), this article addresses two issues. The first is related to how the author constructed his political thought at the confluence of primary philosophy, ethics, psychology and mysticism. As for the second, it shows that Kāshānī’s treatise is a key element to better identify the new orientation of Islamic political thought from the twelfth century onwards, closely linked to metaphysics.