The Institution of Consilium – Obligation or Right?

Abstract

In the following short paper, I would like to point out that the concept of consilium and auxilium proved to be a much more complex phenomenon during the centuries of the Middle Ages than many lexicons or the secondary literature presents. Contemporary sources also make it clear that armed military assistance was by no means the most typical form of assistance. We would also like to emphasize that the consilium was not necessarily seen as an obligation, but rather as a privilege, as it was an important political tool in the governance during the Middle Ages.