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**__Themes of The Prince__**
Ch. 10

1. In Machiavelli’s, The Prince, he argues that a prince should always aim to keep an army of size and strength equaling that of any aggressor. He argues that a city should govern best with a strong standing army. Although a strong standing army has been proven to threaten a society and the ruler, Machiavelli states, “That a prince must convince the people that the hardships are only temporary and, more importantly, create feelings of patriotism and enthusiasm for the city’s defense.” This way when the opposing force is disarmed, the people will be appreciative of the prince even more. The whole entity of the city solely exists to serve its ruler, rather than its citizens. The ultimate goal is not happiness, but patriotism and the defense of the ruler and the state.

Ch. 11 Machiavelli also talks about the principles of religion, rather than government. In the Prince he uses an example on how the Church used similar tactics as the Prince to gain control. Italy was once divided amongst the people and the church. In the city of Venice, Milan, Naples and Florence the people were weary of intervention of any foreign powers. The power of the church was fairly weak and the popes were desperately trying to gain control again. Pope Alexander VI and Pope Julius II decided to gain power back to the church by using armed forces to weaken the other competition that were challenging the church’s power. Like the prince, the Church used armed forces to accumulate wealth and political strategy to gain control. With the newfound strength through armed forces, the leader must govern with goodness and virtue to maintain its power. Another theme of this chapter is that of moral values within religion. Machiavelli states that in an ecclesiastical society, religion will rule the people better than the prince could himself. This shows that a principality may not need defending or an administration to be secure and happy. The fear of a higher power that the people cannot undertand is enough to keep them in order. And human's desire to have an ethereal power that is unquestionable gives the prince the power to make this his authority.

Chapter 12:

“the presence of sound military forces indicates the presence of sound laws”
Machiavelli argues that all princes must build on strong foundations, in order to succeed. The three major components of this foundation are: a strong state, good laws, and good armies. Good laws cannot exist without good armies. The presence of a good army, however, indicates the presence of good laws. There are three types of armies: a prince’s own troops, mercenary troops, and auxiliary troops. Mercenary and auxiliary troops are useless and dangerous. Mercenaries are “disunited, undisciplined, ambitious, and faithless.” Because their only motivation is monetary, they are generally not effective in battle and have low morale. Mercenary commanders are either skilled or unskilled. Unskilled commanders are worthless, but skilled commanders cannot be trusted to suppress their own ambition. It is far more preferable for a prince to command his own army. Historically, dependence on mercenaries ruined Italy. During the breakup of Italy, which the Church supported in hopes of increasing its own stature, many townships hired mercenaries because they had little experience in military matters. Since the mercenaries were more concerned with increasing their own prestige and status than with taking risks or accomplishing military objectives, the conflicts between these mercenary forces devolved into a series of ineffective, staged, pseudo-battles, ultimately degrading Italy’s political and military might.



Chapter 13: Machiavelli believes auxiliary troops are too unstable to be trusted with another country’s fate. When using auxiliary troops, one is left with a lose-lose situation. “For losing, one is undone, and winning, one is their captive.” If calamity has betokened them, then the country at stake is yours. If victory is met, glory doesn’t rightfully belong to the victor, but the home of the auxiliaries. Machiavelli states that to give someone the sole responsibility of a country to which they have no emotion or moral ties to, is a foolish decision. “They are all united, all yield obedience to others.” This military power never truly belonged to the other country; they are bound by their homeland. Because they have no emotional ties, their loyalty can fluctuate depending on the circumstances. Take for instance, Constantinople. The Emperor of Constantinople sent Turkish auxiliary troops to invade Greece. However, their loyalty was soon taken back by Greece. Because the auxiliary troops never truly belonged to Constantinople, they had no moral need to prove their fidelity to Constantinople. Lastly, Machiavelli addresses the inconsistency when using auxiliary troops, and the pride and honor that is at stake. “Nothing can be so uncertain or unstable as fame of power not founded on its own strength.” If a country isn’t self-sufficient, it is weak. Thus, Machiavelli clearly thinks that the use of foreign militia is an unwise and comes with some very risky business. A country using these auxiliary troops is basically a country on steroids. Behind the mask of rage and muscle, there is an insecure, sad little country peering out through frightened eyes.

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