Madison arrived 10 days early in Philadelphia and kept busy. His study of the histories of republics was of republics from “classic” times (i.e., Greece and Rome) before events described in the New Testament and thus inherently not Christian. [FN56] 1/11

He notes Montesquieu’s dispute that the Lycian confederacy was a republic; he does not say its government was religious. [FN57] It existed in the 5th Century BCE, [FN58] and Madison cites it in regard to proportional voting. [FN59] Hamilton [FN60] and Madison [FN61] 2/11

refer to proportional voting in The Federalist and cite the Lycian Confederacy as an example of strong, centralized power. [FN61] Madison studied the Amphyctionic Confederacy and it had a focus that was religious: 3/11

“In ancient Greece, an amphictyony was an association of neighboring states centered around a religious site. The most prominent was the Amphictyonic League, initially comprising 12 tribes near Thermopylae....” [FN62] Madison does not mention whether this confederacy 4/11

functioned as a religious republic, but notes that one of its purposes was to “guard the immense Riches of the Temple of Delphos and decided controversies between the inhabitants and those who came to consult the Oracle.” [FN63] Madison also notes the execution of: 5/11

“Amphictyonic powers was very different from the theory ... It did not restrain the parties from warring against each other. Athens and Sparta were members during their conflicts.” [FN64] At the convention, Madison notes the failure of this republic, saying contentions, 6/11

“not the coalitions, of Sparta, Athens, and Thebes, proved fatal to the smaller members.” [FN65] “God,” or more properly “gods,” and effects on the ability of this republic to function, did not receive mention. Next: Madison and the history of republics. History is not neat. 7/11

“Christian nationalists” who paint their view of our history are best served by an audience that does not ask why the canvas is all white. Such questions are not answered, but excuses for the launch of veiled threats from Merde de Poulet. 8/11

Footnotes:
FN56. “Of Ancient and Modern Confederacies,” The Complete Works of James Madison (Annotated): Enriched Edition. Writings on Constitutionalism, Federalism, Liberty, and the Early Republic, pp. 898-922.
FN57. Id., p. 898. 9/11

FN58. Turkish Coalition of America, “The Lycian Confederation and the American Constitution,” TCA Issue Paper-9, 6/8/07, accessed 8/13/26.
FN59. 5 Elliot’s Debates, p. 264.
FN60. The Federalist Nos 9 and 16 (Alexander Hamilton). 10/11

FN61. The Federalist No 45 (James Madison).
FN62. “Amphictyonic League,” Encyclopedia Britannica, 6/17/26, accessed 8/13/26.
FN63. “Of Ancient and Modern Confedeacies,” note 56, p. 899.
FN64. Id., p. 901.
FN65. 5 Elliot’s Debates, p. 252. 11/11