Page 79 - All About History 48 - 2017 UK

Hero or Villain?
NICCOLÒ MACHIAVELLI

Defining
moment
The Prince is banned
Five years after Niccolò Machiavelli’s
death, in 1532, The Prince wasgivenitstitle
and published for the first time. However,
the controversial book caused outrage and
was banned under the pope’s Index Librorum
Prohibitorum(ListofProhibitedBooks)in
1559. It wasn’t just The Prince that was
banned; all of Machiavelli’s works were
condemned. The Index was only
lifted in 1966 by Pope Paul VI.
1559-1966

A posthumous portrait of Lorenzo
de Medici by Georgio Vasari

“ While in life he failed as a politician, never fulfilled its purpose. In all likeliness, Lorenzo
the Magnificent never read Machiavelli’s masterpiece,
Machiavelli’s writings have inspired and until his death in 1527 at the age of 58, the exiled
politician remained confined to his estate, never
generations of leaders – both good and bad” to return to the political sphere. Yet while in life he
failed as a politician, Machiavelli’s writings have
Asidefromprovidingadescriptionofthequalities Arms Of Others Or By Good Fortune’, also appalled inspired generations of leaders – both good and bad.
that any ruler should have, The Prince also posed a readers. Machiavelli seemed to advocate murder as Among the tyrants and dictators of contemporary
very serious moral question: was it better to keep he recounted the story of the Duke of Valentinois, history who studied The Prince – including Stalin and
your moral integrity intact and lose power, or to Cesare Borgia, conquering Cesena in Romagna. Mussolini – the work has inspired some of modern
compromise, using your cunning and wit, regardless Having employed Remirro de Orco as his deputy, culture’s most iconic creators, including George RR
of the method, in order to achieve your goals? Borgia commanded him to pacify and subdue the Martin, the author of the books that inspired TV
Two chapters in particular fanned the flames of town with force, and he used brutal tactics, such fantasy series Game Of Thrones.
controversy. In Chapter 18, entitled ‘Concerning The as beheadings and castrations, to bring peace to To this day, Machiavelli’s writings remain relevant
Way In Which Princes Keep Faith’, Machiavelli wrote the region. The town was tamed but the residents – perhaps more so in today’s political climate than
that while it is admirable to attempt to be a virtuous despised Orco, so Borgia had his deputy cut in half ever before. The rules of power haven’t changed in
ruler, sometimes it is necessary to employ less- and displayed in the town piazza in order to curry over 500 years of politics. What has changed are the
than-moral means to succeed; that for the sake of favour. With the brutality over, Borgia reduced faces that mask the true nature of being a politician –
ultimate good, sometimes you need to be bad. Here, taxation and invested in the town through the those shrewd, Machiavellian schemers that embody
Machiavelli claimed, “A prince being thus obliged creation of a theatre and carnival. This was served up the truths of Machiavelli’s writing – but perhaps that’s
to know well how to act as a beast must imitate the as the perfect example of where the ends (ultimate not such a bad thing.
fox and the lion, for the lion cannot protect himself peace, protection and prosperity for his people)
from traps, and the fox cannot defend himself from justified the means (mass murder and mutilation). Was Niccolò Machiavelli a hero or a villain?
wolves. One must therefore be a fox to recognise After completing The Prince, Machiavelli moved Let us know what you think
traps, and a lion to frighten wolves.” on to other writings, including Discourses On Livy, Art
Chapter Seven, titled ‘Concerning New Of War and The Mandrake Root, among others. If The Facebook Twitter © Alamy,TopFoto
Principalities Which Are Acquired Either By The Prince really was a cunning ploy to impress, then it /AllAboutHistory @AboutHistoryMag
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