De Monarchia (pronounced
Monàrkia) is a
Latin treatise on secular and religious power by
Dante Alighieri. With this text, the poet intervened in one of the most controversial subjects of his period: the relationship between secular authority (represented by the
Holy Roman Emperor) and religious authority (represented by the
Pope). Dante's point of view is known on this problem, since during his political activity he had fought to defend the autonomy of the city-government of
Florence from the temporal demands of
Pope Boniface VIII. The work was
banned by the Catholic church in 1585.