Grotius distinguished public from private subjection to justify rulers’ power over free men.

Evidence

This division within the individual which is the basis for the subjugation of the many by the one was already recognized by Grotius. Grotius countered the objection that the power of the ruler cannot be acquired by purchase since it concerns free men, by distinguishing between private and public subjection. In contrast to subjectio privata, subjectio publica does not eliminate sui juris esse* When a people is sold, the object of the sale are not the individuals but only jus cos regendi, qua populus sunt [the right of ruling them, insofar as they are a people]. — Georg Simmel, The Sociology of Georg Simmel, 5322

Categorization

• QUESTION: The excerpt cuts mid-sentence — worth checking the original source for the full Grotius argument