A Defence of Liberty Against Tyrants: A Translation of the Vindiciae Contra Tyrannos

"A Defence of Liberty Against Tyrants" is a foundational masterpiece of political philosophy and resistance theory. Written during the height of the French Wars of Religion, this work offers a profound inquiry into the limits of monarchical authority and the rights of the governed. The treatise is structured around four critical questions concerning the duty of subjects to obey or resist rulers who command actions contrary to the law of God or the well-being of the state.

Drawing upon legal,...