Machiavelli’s The Prince Deeper Elucidation (Part-V) | Secrets of Power & Leadership |
- YaDu
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
Power. Deception. Survival. In 1513, Niccolò Machiavelli wrote a book that shattered illusions and exposed the raw mechanics of leadership: The Prince. This was no idealistic vision—it was a ruthless manual for rulers on how to win, hold, and wield authority, even if it meant bending morality itself. Centuries later, it still stands as one of the most controversial and provocative guides to power ever written.
We publish book summaries on political philosophy and leadership because understanding these topics is crucial for obtaining power. Competent leaders must gain power to prevent uninformed individuals from causing harm. Spirituality is also about making the world, a better place to live.
Overview of the Last Post:
Niccolò Machiavelli emphasizes the significant challenges and advantages of Mixed Monarchies. A mixed monarchy integrates monarchical rule with democratic elements, where the sovereign holds significant power beyond ceremonial duties, unlike absolute or constitutional monarchies. Examples include Liechtenstein, Jordan, and the UAE, where monarchs balance authority with parliamentary roles. In such systems, rulers face challenges as people may rebel for perceived betterment, only to find conditions worsen, causing instability.
Successful control hinges on understanding local dynamics; shared language and customs simplify governance, while differing ones necessitate the ruler's presence to prevent rebellion. Establishing colonies is cost-effective for securing new territories, unlike expensive, resented military garrisons. Supporting weaker neighbors and undermining stronger ones prevents foreign influence. Louis XII's failures in Italy highlight these principles' importance, as his mistakes led to losing Lombardy.
Chapter 4: Conquered by Alexander the Great, the Kingdom of Darius did not rebel against his successors after his death. Why not?
Now that we’ve seen the challenges of retaining newly acquired territory, it’s striking to remember Alexander the Great's swift conquest of Asia, followed by his untimely death. One might expect the region to have rebelled, yet Alexander’s successors-maintained control, with their issues only stemming from personal ambitions and infighting. To understand this, consider that monarchies have historically been governed in one of two ways: by a king with appointed ministers, or by a king alongside hereditary baron. These barons have their own lands and subjects, who are loyal to them. In a system with a king and ministers, the king holds more power, as he is the sole figure of authority. Others are obeyed only as ministers without special loyalty. Modern examples include then Turkey and France. Turkey is governed by a single ruler, the sultan, who appoints and dismisses administrators for provinces, or sanjaks, at his discretion.
The King of France, conversely, is encircled by numerous barons with rights stemming from ancient times, who are respected and cherished by their subjects. Each baron possesses certain privileges that a king can only revoke at great risk. When comparing these two types of states, it is evident that Turkey is difficult to conquer but once conquered, is easy to maintain. France, in contrast, may be relatively easier to conquer but very challenging to retain control over.
Conquering a country like Turkey is challenging because there are no local lords to invite you in, and you can't expect anyone to facilitate your invasion by rebelling against the ruler. This is due to the fact that all subjects are the king's servants and owe their allegiance to him, making them difficult to corrupt. Even if you succeed in bribing someone, they won't be very helpful since they can't rally local support, for reasons previously mentioned. Therefore, anyone attacking such a country must anticipate a united front and rely on their own military forces rather than expecting internal rebellion. However, once you have defeated the enemy and ensured they cannot regroup, the only concern is the king and his family. Eliminating them removes any threat, as no one else holds the people's loyalty. Just as you couldn't rely on local lords before your victory, there are none to threaten you afterward. This contrasts with countries governed like France.
A person's loyalty is akin to the weather; it consistently shifts based on the benefits received.
In this context, you can easily make progress by gaining the support of a few barons. There’s always someone dissatisfied with the king and eager for change. These individuals can help you establish a foothold in the country and lead you to victory. However, after your success, you'll face numerous challenges in maintaining control, dealing with both allies and defeated adversaries. Simply eliminating the king’s family won’t suffice, as barons are always ready to seize power when the opportunity arises. You can’t fulfill all their desires or eliminate them entirely, so you risk losing your territory once your enemies find a chance to rebel.
Statecraft fundamentally involves overpromising, diversion, deception, substitution, and underdelivering.
The Fall of Darius III and the Challenges of Empire Control
If we consider the Kingdom of Darius, it was similar to the Turkish model.
Darius III, reigning from 336 to 330 BCE, Darius III was the final monarch of the Achaemenid Empire. His reign is marked by his determined yet unsuccessful struggle against Alexander the Great. Following significant defeats at the Battle of Issus and the Battle of Gaugamela, he retreated to the eastern provinces, where he was ultimately assassinated by his own relative, the satrap Bessus. His defeat marked the fall of Persia
Alexander had to first defeat its army and gain control; but once Darius was dead, he was firmly in command for the reasons mentioned earlier. Had his successors been united, they could have governed the region without concern; their only issue was the internal strife they initiated.
However, states organized like France can never be held so easily. Frequent revolts against Roman rule in Spain, Gaul, and Greece, for instance, resulted from these areas being divided into numerous principalities. As long as people remembered their loyalties to local lords, Rome couldn’t fully control them. Yet, once the empire’s power extinguished those loyalties, Rome became the uncontested ruler. In fact, when Romans fought amongst themselves, each commander could rally the province under his control to his side, since, with the old local rulers’ families gone, the only authority recognized was Rome’s representative.
Considering all this, it’s not surprising how easily Alexander retained control of Asia, nor how difficult it was for others, like Pyrrhus, to hold their conquered territories. It wasn’t about the conquerors’ abilities but the types of states they invaded. Choosing the
In the coming episode, we delve deeply into Chapter 5: How to govern cities and states that were previously self-governing'. This chapter throws light on self-governing states, strategies to conquer and govern them.
So please stay tuned!
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