Monarchy (De Monarchia)

A Latin treatise in three books in which Dante argues for a universal temporal monarchy, or empire, independent of the papacy. Book I argues that the human race has a single goal, to bring into act the whole power of the possible intellect, and that this needs universal peace, which in turn needs one supreme ruler to settle disputes between kingdoms. Book II argues that the Roman people gained their empire by right and by divine will, citing the birth of Christ under Augustus as a sign of its legitimacy. Book III, the heart of the work, argues that the emperor's authority comes directly from God and not through the pope. Dante rejects the image of the pope as the sun and the emperor as the moon, and denies that Constantine could validly give the empire away. Humans have two ends, happiness in this life and eternal life, so they need two guides: the emperor, using philosophy, and the pope, using revelation.

It is a classic medieval argument for separating political from religious authority, and it shows the political thinking behind the Divine Comedy.