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During the Early Middle Ages, Middle Ages and the Renaissance, 'Mirrors for Princes' was a genre of political writing. They were either textbooks, directly instructing kings on how to behave, or histories or literary works aimed at creating images of kings for imitation or avoidance. They were often composed at the accession of a new king, when a young and inexperienced ruler was about to come to power.
Examples include:

★ ''The Prince'' (''c''. 1513) - probably the most famous 'mirror'.

★ ''Qabus nama'' (1082) - a Persian example of the genre

★ ''The III Consideracions Right Necesserye to the Good Governaunce of a Prince'' (''c''. 1350) - advice to King John II of France.
Such texts were also present during the early middle ages.
Notable examples of textbooks include:
Hincmar's ''De Ordine Palatinii'' which sets out the moral duties of a king and includes an account of the organisation of the palace
Jonas of Orleans' ''De Institutione Regia'', apparently on the basis of a council at Orleans
Examples of histories or biographies include:
Gregory of Tours ''History of the Franks'' which warns against internal strife
Bede's ''Ecclesiastical History of the English People'' specifically states that the purpose of the study of history is to present examples for either imitation or avoidance
Einhard's ''Vita Karoli'' which idolises Charlemagne's reign as something for other rulers to aspire to