In 17th-century intellectual life, the ideas of the Renaissance humanist Justus Lipsius (1547–1606) were omnipresent. The publication of his Politica in 1589 had made Lipsius’s name as an original and controversial political thinker. The sequel, the Monita et exempla politica (Admonitions), published in 1605, was meant as an illustration of Lipsius’s political thought as expounded in the Politica. Its aim was to offer concrete models of behavior for rulers against the background of Habsburg politics.

Lipsius’s later political treatise also forms an indispensable key to interpret the place and function of the Politica in Lipsius’s political discourse and in early modern political thought. The Admonitions – widely read, edited and translated in the 17th and 18th centuries – show Lipsius’s pivotal role in the genesis of modern political philosophy.

In 17th-century intellectual life, the ideas of the Renaissance humanist Justus Lipsius (1547–1606) were omnipresent. The publication of his Politica in 1589 had made Lipsius' name as an original and controversial political thinker. The sequel, the Monita et exempla politica (Political admonitions and examples), published in 1605, was meant as an illustration of Lipsius' political thought as expounded in the Politica. Its aim was to offer concrete models of behavior for rulers against the background of Habsburg politics.

Lipsius' later political treatise also forms an indispensable key to interpret the place and function of the Politica in Lipsius’ political discourse and in early modern political thought. The Political admonitions and examples – widely read, edited, and translated in the 17th and 18th centuries – show Lipsius’ pivotal role in the genesis of modern political philosophy.

Jan Papy is full professor of Latin and Neo-Latin literature at KU Leuven. He publishes on Renaissance Humanism in the Low Countries, intellectual history, and Lipsius and Neo-Stoic philosophy.

Toon Van Houdt is associate professor of Latin at KU Leuven. His research focuses on the history of political and ethical thought in early modern times.

Marijke Janssens earned her PhD from KU Leuven with a dissertation on Lipsius’ Monita et exempla politica and has published several articles on Lipsius and his political views.

Political thought and philosophy in 17th-century Europe