Giles of Rome

Giles of Rome
Giles, from a 15th-century manuscript of De regimine principum
Bornc.1243
Died(1316-12-22)22 December 1316
NationalityItalian
Other namesDoctor Fundatissimus
Education
Education
Philosophical work
EraMedieval philosophy
Region
School
LanguageLatin
Main interestsMetaphysics, Logic, Epistemology, Natural Philosophy, Medicine, Ethics, Political philosophy

Giles of Rome O.S.A. (Latin: Aegidius Romanus; Italian: Egidio Colonna; c.1243 22 December 1316) was a medieval philosopher and Scholastic theologian and a friar of the Order of St Augustine, who was also appointed to the positions of prior general of his order and as Archbishop of Bourges. He is famed as being a logician, who produced a commentary on the Organon by Aristotle, and as the author of two important works: De ecclesiastica potestate, a major text of early-14th-century papalism, and De regimine principum, a guide book for Christian temporal leadership. Giles was styled Doctor Fundatissimus ("Best-Grounded Teacher") by Pope Benedict XIV.

Writers in 14th- and 15th-century-England such as John Trevisa and Thomas Hoccleve translated or adapted him into English.