The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli and The Book of the Courtier by Baldesar Castiglione are two how-to guides for the new political order of Renaissance Italy. The Prince is focused on what qualities a prince should have to gain and maintain their throne. The Book of the Courtier focuses on what qualities a courtier should possess to be ideal.
Machiavelli’s The Prince proposes a more realistic set of qualities and values compared to The Book of the Courtier, and in return was a better guide with ruling in the new political order.Machiavelli begins by discussing the different decisions a prince must make, and how that the public has an opinion on each decision. He states that there are qualities that will either bring praise or blame. “…one a free giver, another rapacious; one cruel, another merciful; one a breaker of his word, another trustworthy; one effeminate and pusillanimous, another fierce and high-spirited; one humane, another haughty; one lascivious, another chaste; one frank, another astute; one hard, another easy; one serious, another frivolous…” (Machiavelli 125).Machiavelli goes on to say that it would be ideal to possess all the qualities that are considered good, but that it is not humanly possible. A prince shouldn’t be afraid to choose qualities that may be viewed bad, but will allow him to maintain his rule over the land.
Machiavelli discusses being merciful, and how being too merciful can be as bad as being too cruel. Machiavelli cites a historical rules named Caesar Borgia who “…was considered cruel, but his cruelty had brought order to the Romagna, united it, and reduced it to peace and fealty” (Machiavelli 125).Machiavelli compares Caesar Borgia to another group of people who allowed a whole village to be destroyed to avoid being seen as cruel. The examples of former leaders to support the opinions are what make The Prince a better guide than The Book of the Courtier. Machiavelli questions whether it is better to be loved or to be feared. He says that being loved is fine when you don’t need to call upon your men “as long as you benefit them, they are entirely yours; they offer you their blood, their goods, their life, and their children…”, but “…but when it approaches, they revolt” (Machiavelli 126).
He explains that men who do not fear the prince will not hesitate to disobey him “…and men have less scruple in offending one who makes himself loved than one who makes himself feared” (Machiavelli 126). Machiavelli goes on to cite Hannibal and Scipio as support. Hannibal was a fierce leader who ruled over many different cultures, but never had to deal with disobedience within his citizens and soldiers. However, Scipio who was kind to his people had his soldiers’ rebel against him in Spain.
Machiavelli begins to talk about faith. He says that a man should honor his word, but he shouldn’t keep faith the in the words of other men because they are inherently deceitful. A prince must be prepared for deceit, and be able to notice it. A prince should always promote that he has mercy, faith, integrity, humanity, and religion.
Machiavelli acknowledges that fortune dictates part of our lives, but that you can prepare for it. He goes on to say that Italy is in the position it’s in because they did not prepare.Machiavelli’s final chapter examines how it is time for a new prince, and that it needs to be someone who can fight back against Spain. Castiglione’s The Book of the Courtier is a dialog with the Count Ludovico da Canossa and others.
Ludovico first exclaims that a courtier must be a man of arms, and that he must be “bold, energetic, and faithful to whom he serves” (Castiglione 150). A courtier must be fierce on the battle ground, but must also be refined off of the battle ground.Ludovico goes on to say that the courtier should praise himself, but not praise himself in such a manner that he “does not cause annoyance or envy in the person who listens to him” (Castiglione 152). They go on to say that the courtier should also be of beauty and grace “should be naturally endowed with beauty of countenance and person and with a grace that would make him lovable” (Castiglione 153).
They determine that the courtier shouldn’t be too big or too small. The courtier should be small enough to perform will in “agile exercise” (Castiglione 153).The courtier should also be skilled in all types of combat both on foot and on horse, and he should also be skilled in gentlemen’s weapons in case the courtier is engaged in a duel. The courtier should avoid duels however unless honor is involved.
Ludovico also desires the courtier “…to be the perfect horseman in every kind of saddle; and, in addition to having a knowledge of horses and what pertains to riding, let him put every effort and diligence into outstripping others in everything a little, so that he may be always recognized as better than the rest” (Castiglione 155).They go on to say that the courtier should be good at other activities like running, jumping, and swimming. They begin talking about letters, and how it should be an important aspect to become wise and have good judgment. They cite such great leaders as Alexander the Great and Hannibal. Also, they discuss “how mistaken he French are in thinking that letters are detrimental to arms” (Castiglione 158).
The Prince and The Book of the Courtier are two different viewpoints on how to deal with the new political order.The Prince, however, takes a more realistic approach by addressing the characteristics of an individual. The Book of the Courtier discusses not only the personality characteristics, but the physical characteristics too. They design every aspect of an individual, and end up with an unrealistic product. Machiavelli discuss the qualities of a prince that could be adopted by anyone leader.
The Prince had valuable observations and knowledge that could be enacted to help in the war.
