 Its fundamental theory is that the state had its origin, not in a contract (Rousseau-Kant), but in the consciousness of a legal duty.What Machiavelli was to the Italians and Montesquieu to the French, Zachariae aspired to become to the Germans; but he lacked their patriotic inspiration, and so failed to exercise any permanent influence on the constitutional law of his country.Among other important works of Zachariae are his "Staatsrecht", and his treatise on the Code Napoléon, "Handbuch des Französischen Civilrechts" (1st print Heidelberg; 1808), of which several French editions were published, and which was translated into Italian.