He describes these factors, but attributes most leaders' achievements to their taking advantage of local circumstances. Machiavelli attributes military victory to having a strong army composed of native soldiers and strongly discourages using a mercenary army. The availability of soldiers is a local circumstance that can result in victory or defeat for a king. Another important local factor that can determine a thriving leader involves the land that is conquered. Machiavelli sheds light on the
taken to trial in American court, and on January 1st of 2010 all charges were dismissed, both against those contractors involved in this terrible incident but also to company itself. In this paper we will be looking at first a brief history of mercenaries so we can see where Private Military Contractors originate from and what the world has done to try to end such use of these warriors for hire. Next we will look at these groups themselves, what sort of work they do. Finally we will look at why their
was exiled because of his assistance for the enemies of Athenians. He claimed that he was yearning for a thrilling adventure; as a result, he decided to join Cyrus’s expedition against his brother Artaxerxes, the Persian King along with the Greek mercenaries. Though Anabasis is more about the record of the Greeks’’ struggle and hardship during their retreat in the hostile territory, Xenophon writes Anabasis as his interest of ethnography. Ethnography is a study of human cultures. It aims to describe
choice in troops over "mercenary" (men who fight for money,) "auxiliary" (foreign borrowed troops,) and troops combining all three types. Mercenary troops are described by Machiavelli as "disorganized, undisciplined, ambitious and faithless" (47). Auxiliary troops are "useless" (50) because they do not have the strong loyalties to the nation as native troops, and fight only due to alliances which usually prove temporary. Finally, because mixed troops include useless mercenary and auxiliary troops,
Private Military and Security Companies The modern Private Military and Security Company (PMSC) came to be after the end of the Cold War. An increase in government interest in privatization and outsourcing combined with an age of warfare where civilians and combatants were increasing difficult to differentiate created the perfect environment for PMSCs to expand (Singer). Although PMSCs play an integral role in providing basic services for the United States military, the extent of their role must
Over 500 years ago Machiavelli wrote one of his most influential books The Prince, which to this day continues to be discussed and interpreted. Machiavelli’s The Prince identifies key characteristics required for leaders of certain countries to sustain their power, with each mode of ascension requiring different strategies in maintaining it. Thus, we need to be aware that some of the examples he uses may be well written and can be supported with modern evidence but, it is evident that a majority
A mercenary is a person, usually a former soldier, who gives up his services to foreign nations for money. Over centuries of fighting, mercenaries have been used by nations to fight their wars. The Ancient Greeks, Romans, Medieval kingdoms, Papal States, and all the way up to the modern United States. Mercenaries are the key to war for many nations, around the world. That is why United States and other nations who are fighting against terrorism are better off using mercenaries. Many nations in the
In the sixteenth century, there were three sets of socioeconomic statuses that one could acquire or be a part of, the clergy, the nobility, and the peasantry. The divide between these three generalized classes was far more complicated in reality that it seems, as socioeconomic classes consist of multiple branches. Nonetheless, it all essentially came down to two undeniable factions, the oppressors and the oppressed. Niccolo Machiavelli, being a mixture of the two due to his living situation while
“I am Daenerys Stormborn, and I will take what is mine with fire and blood!” This mentality drives Daenerys’ political aims and the means by which she plans to fulfill them. Her willingness to engage in less-than-righteous activities, as well as brandishing her brute strength, proves her to be a great example of a Machiavellian Prince. Machiavelli’s The Prince advises rulers in many different aspects of governance, guiding them toward what he perceives to be the most secure methods of ruling. Daenerys
In The Prince, Machiavelli writes his analysis of how to acquire and sustain political power under a principality. It is his understanding of human nature and the ability to maintain control over people that make up the base for all of the other theories he puts forth. Machiavelli is able to recognize what it takes to balance the citizens somewhere between happy and scared, so to keep them from revolting while appearing united and strong discouraging others form invading. Thucydides shares a similar
“The Prince”, by Niccolo Machiavelli, is a series of letters written to the current ruler of Italy, Lorenzo de’ Medici. These letters are a “how-to” guide on what to do and what not to do. He uses examples to further express his views on the subject. The main purpose was to inform the reader how to effectively rule and be an acceptable Prince. Any ruler who wishes to keep absolute control of his principality must use not only wisdom and skill, but cunning and cruelness through fear rather than
The Prince and the Modern Executive Few question The Prince’s place in the canon of western literature. That it marks a turning point in our collective history, the origin of the study of politics as a science (Pollock 43), is alone enough to warrant its classification as a "Great Book. Its author, Niccolo Machiavelli, a contemporary of Copernicus, is generally accepted as an early contributor to the scientific revolution, because he looked at power and the nature of sovereignty through the
In The Prince, Niccolo Machiavelli writes a detailed guide for a ruler, or a prince, to follow to ensure stable and controlled civilian population. Throughout his writing, Machiavelli emphasizes the importance of safeguarding the interests of the rulers. Although he does not say it outright, the audience can see that Machiavelli believes that the wellbeing of the people is important. The wellbeing of the people in the principality is important to a prince so that he can effectively and efficiently
Introduction Niccolò Machiavelli never expressly defined the concept of raison d’État in his works but nevertheless outlined his views on state craft through the controversial lens of realism. Through The Prince and other works such as the Discorsi, Machiavelli outlined not only how a state should function but defined a new school of though based on historical examples and evidence. Through his analysis of historical leaders, Machiavelli argues that impossible idealism and strict adherence to morals
The Prince by Niccoló Machiavelli explores the politics of Europe in a time where monarchy existed as the main form of government. Machiavelli expresses the downfalls and fortunes that come with being a part of the government and making decisions. Cesare Borgia is a duke who Machiavelli focuses on a lot to showcase the advantages and disadvantages of governing a state. Even though Cesare has been set up to fail in Machiavelli’s eyes due to the difficulties which arise in obtaining a state from other
marching home of Greeks. The Greek title of Xenophon’s work, “Anabasis”, referred to a march up country, away from the coast. The title applies only to the first of its seven books. It all ends with the death of Cyrus at the Battle of Cuxana. The Greek mercenary soldiers were left stranded in the “barbarian” world. The rest of the books involves with tales of the Greeks’ discipline, leadership and courage during their journey home. Xenophon’s narrative offers an insight of the character and their political
When comparing Tao-te Ching to The Prince there are numerous differences. The authors of these two documents had almost completely opposite ideas of how a ruler should behave and how a government should be run. One believed that the ruler could accomplish the most by doing the least; the other believed that by controlling how the public perceived a ruler was what would make him a success or a failure. Machiavelli believed that to rule the prince must do things that would win approval with his
Great Rulers and What Makes Them Successful What makes a great ruler? Several great powers in history including Cyrus of Persia, T’ai-tsung, the Duke of Valentine, and Agathocles will be analyzed in order to attempt to answer this question. Based on three readings, these questions will be answered: 1. What are the personal qualities of Cyrus and T’ai-tsung? What is it about these personal qualities that made them successful rulers? 2. How does Machiavelli portray the Duke of Valentine and Agathocles
There are many qualities one requires to be a successful General, they can be divided into two categories as I see it: those of character, that is, personal leadership, and those of professional and tactical capacity. When it comes to command in the field, the first category is slightly more important than the second, although it is useless, of course, if separated from the second, and vice versa. Alexander III of Macedon and Hannibal of Carthage are considered among the greatest generals to have
land than they were given in the partition of Babylon. One such general was Antigonus I Monophthalmus, who had notable success in the Third Diadoch War, commanding an army of his own soldiers and of mercenaries, many of whom came from Greece to fight under Antigonus’ command (Billows, 1997). Mercenaries, often paid to bolster an army during times of warfare, are known to be individualistic opportunists