The Vindiciae contra tyrannos by Stephanus Brutus Junius and the Apologie by William of Orange are two works of resistance theory written in the late sixteenth century. The works are among the most...Show moreThe Vindiciae contra tyrannos by Stephanus Brutus Junius and the Apologie by William of Orange are two works of resistance theory written in the late sixteenth century. The works are among the most important publications in the French Civil Wars and the Dutch Revolt respectively. The Vindiciae was published first and several historians have argued that it has influenced the Apologie. Both documents justify resistance against tyrants but their similarities remain limited. They argue that the people as a whole are superior to the king but it are magistrates of the kings who have the duty to offer active resistance to a tyrant. The works are different in how they formulate their resistance. The Vindiciae is a prescriptive document which offers a theory of resistance that is mouldable to different situations. The Apologie, on the other hand, is a descriptive document. It justifies the resistance that has already taken place and therefore adapts to the situation at hand. The Apologie features a more radical justification. The former appeals to a much wider audience and tries to reach both Catholics and Calvinists. The Apologie focusses on a narrower audience and – as a result – antagonises many other groups. The influence of the Vindiciae on the Apologie is – therefore – more limited than historians have argued.Show less