The original medieval political theory characterizes a prince as a charming ruler of a certain state that controls the body politic. Machiavelli’s work that he wrote in 1513, The Prince, disputes this theory. War should be the only thing on a prince’s mind. A prince should know how to wage war, understand military affairs, learn the land, study war, and know how to besiege territories, lead his forces, and plan battles. A prince should also be able to maintain a good reputation. Even though the prince should hold a good reputation he must know how to be conniving and deceitful. Both of these traits in a prince tie into how he uses tactics of war. Machiavelli believes a ruler’s objective is to have impregnable power and substantial order in any possible way over the state he is in control of.
“A Prince, first of all, should have no other object or thought in mind than war and how to wage it. He must not take up anything else to be skillful in, for war is the only art essential to those who govern.” (279). During the renaissance era the prince’s job was to keep his people and land safe from outsiders. He is to be ready at all times if war breaks out. In time of peace it is most important to pay more attention to war. A prince does this by having knowledge of the …show more content…
This is why it’s extremely important to maintain a good reputation, without a good reputation it could endanger his position. In the renaissance era money and land were the most important. A prince that is smart with money will always be well liked. He will have enough money to defend himself but also to start his own projects, he will never have to tax his people and take from their pockets. The prince should also never take another man’s land, “for men forget the death of their father sooner than the loss of their property.” (285). Keeping a good reputation does not mean that you should be overly generous. Being too generous can show a sign of
“A Prince, first of all, should have no other object or thought in mind than war and how to wage it. He must not take up anything else to be skillful in, for war is the only art essential to those who govern.” (279). During the renaissance era the prince’s job was to keep his people and land safe from outsiders. He is to be ready at all times if war breaks out. In time of peace it is most important to pay more attention to war. A prince does this by having knowledge of the …show more content…
This is why it’s extremely important to maintain a good reputation, without a good reputation it could endanger his position. In the renaissance era money and land were the most important. A prince that is smart with money will always be well liked. He will have enough money to defend himself but also to start his own projects, he will never have to tax his people and take from their pockets. The prince should also never take another man’s land, “for men forget the death of their father sooner than the loss of their property.” (285). Keeping a good reputation does not mean that you should be overly generous. Being too generous can show a sign of