Introduction

War, in Machiavelli’s view of the world, was as natural and necessary an activity to a republic or principality as was breathing to an individual. But this does not mean it was something to be undertaken lightly: “Because anyone can start a war when he wants to, but not finish it, before taking on such an enterprise, a prince must measure his strengths, and govern his conduct on that basis.” He was bound to deceive himself, moreover, if he measured his strength simply on the basis of his financial resources, the loyalty of his subjects, or his geographic position – while lacking military forces of his own. Though he was not always so fatalistic on the subject, Machiavelli also warned against the hotheaded propensities of republics. “[T]here is no easier way to destroy a republic where the people possess authority than to take on bold enterprises; because where the people have weight, such enterprises will always be embraced, nor will a contrary opinion do any good.” It was an admonition which anticipated that of “The Federalist No. 6”: “There have been . . . almost as many popular as royal wars.”

There were times, moreover, when to survive, it was necessary to seek compromise, appease rather than fight, and even submit to disgrace. Faced with the choice of death at the hands of the victorious Sannites or returning home disarmed and under the yoke, a Roman consul observed that