just war 419enthusiastic about Roman warfare and soldiering. A great
change occurred with Christian control of the state and
power in the fourth century, as can be seen in the thought
of AUGUSTINE. For him a war was just if it was waged in
self-defense or for restoration of peace and justice and
carried out with no cruelty or for material gain. AMBROSE
agreed and praised the courage of those who protected
the state in a war against barbarians and defended the
weak within or allies against criminal aggressors.
Starting from these principles and enriched with
a notion of “holy war” or the CRUSADES, the notion
of “just war” evolved further during the Middle Ages.
GRATIAN’SDecretumfrom about 1140 gave four conditions
for a just war: First, it must be authorized by a prince;
second, clerics could not take part; third, it must be in
defense of a native land under attack or for the recovery
of stolen property; and fourth, violence for its own sake
must be prevented. From the early 13th century, these
four conditions were refined into five and labeled accord-
ing to the specific “person,” “thing,” “cause,” “spirit,” or
“authority” for which they might be intended. A practical
problem arose about exactly which such conflicts might
create a just war for one side or an unjust one for the
other. The PAPACY, a possible international tribunal for
these matters, refused this role. During the HUNDRED
YEARS’WAR, popes proposed arbitration but refused to
choose sides, despite pressure.
See alsoHERESIES AND HERETICS.
Further reading:Philippe Contamine, “Just War,”
EMA1.794; Frederick H. Russell, The Just War in the
Middle Ages(Cambridge: Cambridge University Press,
1975).