What’s it about?: Niccolo Machiavelli on Livy‘s history of the Roman Republic. From the Florentine diplomat’s analysis comes this proposal: a system of government that would uphold civic freedom and security by instilling the virtues of active citizenship, and that would also encourage citizens to put the needs of the state above selfish, personal interests. Machiavelli wrote this and The Prince in the aftermath of his exile from Florence, after the restoration of the Medici regime. One text has to do with political theory in the context of a principality; this one concerns itself with theory in the context of a republic.
My opinion: This is not The Prince, a book that many people — rich and ordinary alike — pretend to have read. It’s awesome, but The Discourses is one book you want to read if you really want to understand Machiavelli and what he believed in (it’s not simply the acquisition of power for its own sake). It might not be as entertaining, but it is still well worth reading. For one, I was amazed to find that the phrase “Five Good Emperors” originated in this text, referring to the Roman emperors up to and including Marcus Aurelius. Their succession is based on judgement and merit, rather than by virtue of birth. However, this era would end with the appointment of Commodus, arguably the worst emperor Rome ever saw.
Machiavelli’s historical account of Livy serves as a guide on how republics can deteriorate, the balance between the people and the ruling elite, the necessity of law and order, and what makes for effective leadership. This is why the Florentine diplomat is such a great historian. Not just a good historian, but a great one. This text is not merely the work of some disinterested observer, or an academic. Whether it be political events, military campaigns, or the clergy, Machiavelli had an incredible ability to write on the Roman Republic as if it were in the present, and loop it back to the world he knew and once served — states ruled by kings, dictators, and some models of government resembling republics or democracies. The differences between a republic and a kingdom are explored, and one can learn a lot about the early Roman Republic by reading The Discourses.
The chapter “On Conspiracies” is the longest in this book, and longer than any chapter of The Prince. Machiavelli lays out three stages of a conspiracy: the planning, the doing, and the aftermath. It is the aftermath that is the most dangerous part, and this is one reason why Machiavelli generally argues that conspiracies should be avoided. They are dangerous, and usually fail. There’s even an example of an assassination attempt that failed when the would-be assassin felt the need to bellow out a movie-style one liner in the heat of the moment. Seriously. Although, he does make the case that a conspiracy is ultimately a democratic path, since this course is available to every man.
Whether you agree with Machiavelli’s observations, or find them archaic, The Discourses is still a great read for anyone interested in history, politics, governance, war, religion, leadership, and the all-too-human nature that underlines all of it. It is a profound masterwork of political thought, giving the reader some valuable insights into the complexities of power, the fragility of democracy, and what is required of a leader, not just in Ancient Rome, but in any era.
Highly recommended to those who often think about the Roman Empire.
Thank you for reading.
Lawrence Deveney 