The Historian-King: Political Leaders, Historical Consciousness, and Wise Government

Are political leaders known for their distinct historical consciousness wiser than others? And are rulers famous for their wisdom notable for their historical consciousness? To answer these questions, I identify political leaders with a distinct historical consciousness and, within this group, those with a reputation for wisdom – in practice, Nobel Peace Prize laureates and nominees. Several leaders, including Wilson, Masaryk, Nehru, and Gorbachev, are scrutinized from various angles. Just as the ideal of the philosopher-king is unreachable, I conclude, so is the ideal of the historian-king