Reviews of "Sovereign" Machiavelli will appeal to all fans of this medieval writer and philosopher. In his book, considered legendary for several centuries, he described the methods of management, seizing power and skills that every ruler should possess. In this article, we will provide a summary of the book and the reviews that readers leave about it.
History of creation
Reviews of "Sovereign" Machiavelli can be found exactly the opposite. The treatise itself was written in 1513, but published much later. The work was first published in 1532. Five years have passed by that time from the day of the author’s death. During his lifetime, the book was never printed.
It is considered to be a fundamental work of its time, which provides a detailed systematization of available information about the state, its methods and methods.
main idea
In the book "Sovereign," Machiavelli describes two main forms of government (monarchy and republic) and methods of coming to power. Among them, he highlights the strength of weapons, virtue and good fortune.
Due to the fact that luck is not in the power of a person, the author suggests that the main bet be placed on two other principles, claiming that they complement each other. According to Machiavelli in the book "Sovereign", armed preachers win.
Often he expresses bold enough thoughts about the nature of power. For example, arguing that the ruler should be likened to animals. First of all, a lion and a fox.
This was one of the first complete and frank works on the nature of power. Until now, Niccolo Machiavelli's book "The Sovereign" is popular with modern rulers of various ranks.
Author
Wrote a treatise "Sovereign" N. Machiavelli. This Italian philosopher and politician was born in Florence in 1469.
At that time, it was an independent Republic of Florence, in which he held a number of key posts. The most significant is the secretary of the second office, who was responsible for diplomatic and international relations. He owns several theoretical works, including those devoted to tactics of warfare.
The philosopher has always been a supporter of strong state power. He allowed the use of any means to strengthen it. The chapters in Sovereign Machiavelli are also devoted to this.
Over the course of his career, he repeatedly fell into disgrace, but then, as a rule, returned to service. Once again, turning out to be no inheritance, he was no longer able to return to power. The thinker did not suffer such a defeat. In 1527, he died at the age of 58, a few kilometers from his native Florence.
Summary
In the treatise "Sovereign" N. Machiavelli pays special attention to the three rules that every ruler must follow. The first is that you must be personally present in all your new possessions. The proximity of the ruler allows the people to feel their own importance, and also effectively scares away enemies.
The second rule is based on the need to take measures to eliminate competitors in a timely manner. Weak advocates in neighboring states should be protected so that they join you.
The third rule states that you need to be careful about future threats.
State management
Speaking briefly about "Sovereign" Machiavelli, it should be noted that he pays special attention to how to govern the state. There are several basic systems. The first is the "ruler is the baron." In this situation, the country is easy enough to conquer. One has only to lure a few barons to their side. But at the same time you may expect the same troubles as your predecessor, if you do not take measures to eliminate them.
Machiavelli cites France as an example, in which the king ruled through a large number of nobles, called barons. This unstable system contributes to the fragmentation of the state, as when the opportunity arises, nobles are able to challenge the power of their ruler.
"Ruler is a servant"
Another system is the "ruler - servant." In such a situation, the sovereign begins to eliminate people who have at least some political ambitions. As a result, only those who wholeheartedly support the ruler and his ideals remain in significant posts. Only in this way is it possible to create a cohesive state capable of resisting the invaders in the event of an invasion.
This time, as an example, Machiavelli talks about Alexander, who conquered Persia. Darius adhered to just such a system of government, abolishing all institutions and forcing leaders to follow him to the last. Because of this, Alexander of Macedon had to fight fiercely in order to conquer Persia. But after his death in the country no longer existed independent rulers who could arrange a coup.
Which system to use in your state, the ruler must decide. Each has advantages and disadvantages. It follows from their own capabilities and specific circumstances.
Conquest of new territories
Machiavelli believed that the ruler was able to gain control of the state through international agreements or by force. At the same time, he emphasized that even the most gifted ruler needed luck to skillfully use his advantages.
If you capture the kingdom or city with the help of the army, it will be a demonstration of your spiritual strength, courage and character, leadership qualities. But it can be completely useless if luck is not on your side.
An example is Romulus, who left Alba in infancy, which pushed him to the foundation of Rome. Otherwise, he could become a farmer, unable to demonstrate his best qualities.
The converse is also true. When fate favors you, you should prove yourself to take advantage of her gifts. In some cases, you can become sovereign on a happy occasion, by the will of an influential patron. In this case, in the new state, your opponents will be stronger than the supporters. This is because the former are planning your overthrow, while the latter are not aware of what to expect from you.
To act in such a situation is to be done as quickly as possible in order to lay the solid foundations of a long reign.
Art of War
Machiavelli believed that this is one of the main skills that any ruler should possess. At the same time, he acknowledged that diplomacy is a useful tool, but if it comes to a direct collision, it is better to be with weapons than vice versa. The art of war must be mastered in order to become a sovereign and hold power.
Maintaining military skills is also important in peacetime. After all, even good institutions and laws cannot be protected without a strong and powerful army.
War is also necessary to maintain power, as it helps to keep mental and physical abilities in constant readiness. For example, Machiavelli advises each time during the hunt to explore the landscape of his own possessions, evaluating how best to use this area if necessary to build a defense.
Preparing for war is best done using the experience of the craftsmen. For example, Alexander the Great studied under Achilles, and Caesar studied with Alexander himself.
A good leader is to stay in peacetime. But do not forget that luck may turn out to be volatile. At any moment, war may fall on your lands. In this case, the only way to maintain power is to prepare for defense.
The combination of stinginess and generosity
Nationals from their ruler always expect a very specific behavior. In their view, he should remain generous, polite. This is important to maintain stability. At the same time, qualities that seem positive for the average person may not be suitable for the sovereign.
For example, everyone loves generous people. But if the ruler strives for such a reputation, people will quickly get used to it. Therefore, it will be necessary to shower them with gifts constantly, which will quickly drain the treasury. In order to continue to act in the same spirit, it will be necessary to increase taxes, and this will nullify all efforts.
These ideas are confirmed by quotes from the "Sovereign" Machiavelli.
If they object to me that many were sovereigns and did great things at the head of the army, but they were reputed to be generous, I will answer that you can spend either your own or someone else's. In the first case, frugality is useful, in the second - as much generosity as possible.
Therefore, a competent sovereign must balance greed and generosity. It’s worth being generous when you are only seeking power. Having received it, it will not be superfluous to demonstrate your stinginess. In the long run, people will be more satisfied with low taxes, rather than your generosity.
Good advisers
It is important for every sovereign to have good advisers. There are examples in history of leaders who were jack of all trades, but not one of them could be an expert in all matters without exception. The recruitment of advisers and work with them speaks of the leadership qualities of the ruler.
The quality of advisers also depends on the sovereign. Having decided in which areas you need help, it is worth maintaining good relations with ministers so that they sincerely serve your interests. At the same time, they should be constantly looked after. As soon as you find that someone is acting for their own benefit, fire him immediately, the author of the treatise advises. Those who serve faithfully should be bestowed with generous rewards. However, it should not be excessive so as not to provoke intrigue behind you.
The sovereign should also be able to ask for advice. Ministers should see that you value honest opinion and never punish them for the truth, no matter how bitter it may be. Otherwise, you will always hear only embellished lies or outright flattery.
However, do not unconditionally listen to the tips. If ministers are allowed to issue orders themselves, people will quickly question your competence. You should always make it clear that you are making the final decision whether to apply for advice this time or not.
Reviews
In reviews of "Sovereign" Machiavelli it is noted that this is a book with which every educated person should be familiar. Rulers of the whole world have been using it for many centuries.
The whole book is a collection of instructions and instructions that are really necessary and useful for any ruler. In it you can find real examples of certain actions, indications of mistakes of rulers of different years. In reviews of the book "Sovereign" Machiavelli emphasizes that these comments are considered the most valuable in it.
It is important that all the material is presented simply and logically. Good reviews of "Sovereign" Niccolo Machiavelli many can stimulate to get acquainted with this immortal treatise, which is already several centuries old.
It is worth noting that this work remains quite popular among those who are not interested in history and politics. This is largely due to the fact that the author gives advice on how to gain and maintain power in small chapters that are easy to read.
We admit that there are also negative reviews of "Sovereign" Machiavelli. Some were not impressed by the book; they argue that the work will be interesting and useful only to active representatives of the authorities, while for others it will remain only a source of useless knowledge.