Comparing Cardinal Richelieu's Practice of Ruler Ship to Niccòlo Machiavelli's Ideas About the Effective Exercise of Power

Niccolo Machiavelli was a unique politician, philosopher, and writer who lived in Florence, Italy during the European Renaissance period of the late 15th and early 16th centuries. He is most famously known for writing his ruthless handbook for rulers, The Prince, during his time in exile in 1513. This contentious piece of literature has been fondly referred to as “the guidebook for tyrants and totalitarians,” according to the documentary, Machiavelli: The Prince by director Jett Rink. However, the document has also been credited with positively paving the way for ethnic and religious toleration, individual rights, and modern democracies all throughout history; and it inevitably set the stage for future governments to come. In this way, it is

In the era that both Machiavelli and Rousseau, the way that they were brought up had many similarities (e.g. the way they were governed), but it also became apparent that they had very diverse ways of thinking and analyzing many of the social problems that plagued their respective nations. At the time that Machiavelli was writing his prized piece, “The Prince”, Italy was under high scrutiny for engaging in various war to expand their nation; nonetheless, to make matters worse their kings both suddenly died and someone inexperienced came into power that ultimately forced Italy to give up its Northern estates. “The Prince” was not meant to be a piece that illustrates how a prince should behave, but instead it was more a blueprint for individuals to maintain their power for as long as they desired.

A rally cry prominent in the time of the Revolution, the phrase “taxation without representation” morphed into a crucial point of contention in the

At the beginning of the 17th century, France was a place of internal strife and bickering bureaucrats. The king, Louis XIII, had come to the throne in 1610 at the age of nine, leaving the running of the kingdom to his mother, Marie de Medici. One of her court favorites, Armand de Plessis de Richelieu, rose through the ranks, eventually gaining the title of Cardinal and becoming one of Louis’ key advisors and minister. His political manifesto, Political Testament, was a treatise for King Louis XIII that offered him advice mainly concerned with the management and subtle subjugation of the nobles and the behavior of a prince. Beneath all of the obeisant rhetoric, Richelieu was essentially writing a handbook for Louis XIII on how to survive

Unjustified taxes and laws forced onto the colonists consequently started the beginning of the revolution. The colonists, who were understanding civilians, accepted most of the taxes that they had to pay until a new act was passed. The king ran the stamp act which unreasonably raised revenue and to one civilian John Dickinson “the raising of revenue was never intended...never did the British parliament, [until the passage of the stamp act] think of imposing duties in America for the purpose of raising a revenue.” (Document 2) This is just one comment from one civilian about his disagreement on the stamp act while others took action and revolted against the Kings new act.

In “‘Twelve Articles’ of the Peasants during the German Peasants’ Revolt”, the peasants address to their indefinite ruler that they “are ready and willing to pay the fair tithe of grain” (1), and they “will let [lords] demand only what is just and proper” (1). The peasants were aware of the greedy, clerical abuses of power by pastors, but they were unwilling to accept paying more than fair to support “a decent and sufficient maintenance” (1) for the pastor. This is similar to the “Manifesto of the Peasants of Angoumois,” that showed that the peasants were aware that the burden of taxation from the centralizing France state was put onto the poor peasantry, rather than the richer Middle Class. The peasants in this developing absolutist monarchy attempted to state that “those with sufficient property” (3) should pay the taille, “without regard to personal connections and without fear of the power of the rich” (3). In both these documents, neither state’s peasantry refused taxation or had a desire to change the system. This reactionary idea is also present in the “‘Twenty-Nine Demands’ of Kett’s Rebellion” from England in 1549. This direct list of demands to the definite monarch from the peasantry, was in a request “to redress and

Rage from taxes leads many citizens to act out on tax workers with public humiliation. According to Document 5, most of the chaos came from the colonists from protesting and bring violence to the streets. Many protesters released their anger on tax workers by tarring and feathering them and destroy and burning British property. With this type of behavior, the king had his duty to enforce rules. Also in Document 3, it shows the little effects that tax has on these colonies. Most of the taxed good was useless because no one buys them anymore and the small tax acts should not have lead to immense protest by these colonists. Another example where the Americans were not justified was their resistance to their benefits. The colonists say that the taxes were unconstitutional because it was for revenue but the taxes were to pay off the debt of the French Indian War, a war that was for the colonist's defense. Britain had some right to tax them for their contribution to the protection. But even though it was for the colonist's protection, they did not ask for it. Therefore they didn't have to pay for a non-request

The French Revolution was a monumental historical event. Somehow, however, the causes of this conflict are often forgotten among all of the chaotic events. However, the causes of this revolution are exactly what will be discussed in this essay. The three most paramount issues which caused the French Revolution were the inequality in estates, the ignorance of King Louis XVI, and the political system.

In 1789, the French experienced a revolution by the peasants due to unfair tax practices. The wealthiest 2% of the country was not getting taxed whatsoever and the other 98% of the country, which was poor, had to support the great tax burden that had arisen due to immense spending by the government, which was for the most part controlled completely by the top 2%.

In the course of the seventeenth century, there were many political and religious conflicts within Europe. These struggles affected countless nations across the continent, but almost none were as troubled as France due to the years of religious wars fought out within their territories, which caused widespread chaos in their lands. Both, the upper and lower class citizens were exhausted by these conflicts and were supportive of a new style of government. In attempt to maintain the integrity and stability of their country, French kings started to gradually adopt the political ideal of absolutism to maintain total control over their nation. The final goal of this ideal was to achieve the good of the state and a higher level of national existence. The development of absolutism in France can be thoroughly analyzed both in theory and in practice by looking at three kings and their cardinal advisors who consecutively ruled France leading up too, and in the seventeenth century. This development of absolutism can be firstly seen through Henry the fourth, followed by Louis the thirteenth and most prominently in Louis the fourteenth.

Nowadays, it is politically impossible to commit to paper a "training guide" for leaders. There are innumerable detractors to any possible stance or strategy a leader might adopt. As a result of this, all "training" must take place behind closed doors, far from the prying eyes and ears of the news media or the public. But this has not always been the case.

Economics also played an important role in the French Revolution. In France there was an abundance of debt and taxation. The French monarchy managed their fiscal affairs by using an unequal system of taxation, borrowing money, or selling noble titles and other privileges. This led to a long running fiscal debt. France could not solely rely on tariffs to generate income. Although other countries had higher taxation rates, the burden on the common people was greater in France. Peasants and other third estates were taxed harshly which in good times was burdensome and in bad times it was devastating. Nobility and clergy were exempted from paying taxes. This left the peasants, wage earners, and the professional and business classes with the burden of taxes. This burden caused the unrest, which eventually led to the French Revolution.

Niccolo Machiavelli is a very pragmatic political theorist. His political theories are directly related to the current bad state of affairs in Italy that is in dire need of a new ruler to help bring order to the country. Some of his philosophies may sound extreme and many people may call him evil, but the truth is that Niccolo Machiavelli’s writings are only aimed at fixing the current corruptions and cruelties that filled the Italian community, and has written what he believed to be the most practical and efficient way to deal with it. Three points that Machiavelli illustrates in his book The Prince is first, that “it is better to be feared then loved,”# the second

Richelieu was important for French history as he strengthened the French monarchy through the unification of France, lessening of nobles’ power and boosting economic growth. Richelieu unified France by making French the national language of France. The unification of France made it easier for Louis XIII to achieve an Absolutist government. Richelieu minimised the nobles’ power, which in turn increased the monarch’s power. Richelieu also managed the economic activities of France. These strengthened the French monarchy significantly.

In the book, The Prince, Niccolo Machiavelli thoroughly explains the lifestyle a proper prince should uphold and the skills/actions he should keep in his arsenal, if the time ever comes. I’ve chosen chapters 15, 16, and 17 to further my claims on whether or not these ideas should be used in today’s government. Chapter 15 mainly focuses on the things for which men, but mainly princes, are praised or blamed for in an everyday society. Chapter 16 touches on how often one should be generous and liberal. Finally, chapter 17, the most controversial chapter of Machiavelli’s book discussed among many, tells the famous line of whether it is better to be loved