Ah. The Art of War, a topic I have previously discussed with the help of Sun Tzu. In fact, I claimed that one could learn everything one needed to learn about war from Sun Tzu. Well, Machiavelli didn’t have Sun Tzu to help him write his treatise. Although many of his suppositions were incorrect, military scholars have since heralded it as a treasure trove of information. Yet, Machiavelli and Sun Tzu unsurprisingly came to many of the same conclusions. If you liked Sun Tzu, but wished to understand the finer details and the nasty particulars of raising, and shepherding an army to war, Machiavelli wrote the book for you.

Machiavelli wrote this treatise through the eyes of Europe, he did not pay much attention to the oriental culture that Sun Tzu dominated. Therefore he based most of his historical accounts off of the Romans and the Greeks, and the enemies they faced over the centuries. Although Machiavelli discredited the importance of artillery and cavalry in deference of infantry (a mistake that time was quick to unravel,) he intelligently and rationally outlined the necessities of war making in Europe. Strong leadership and thorough preparation are the backbones to a strong army and a successful war.

To be a general of an army is a supreme honor and burden. To be the arbiter of the fates of men requires an intestinal fortitude that would make billy goats blush. The general is the leader of men, the deviser of strategies, and the judge and jury of the men under his command.

“But what most commonly keeps and army united, is the reputation of the general, that is, of his courage and good conduct; without these, neither high birth nor any sort of authority is sufficient (p. 175)”

The character of a good general also requires him to be intelligent, and strong. He must march with his men, and abide by the same rules he upholds for them. If he can accomplish these acts, he is well on his way to victory. “If a general knows his own strength and that of the enemy perfectly, he can hardly miscarry (p.203.)” This is quite similar to a maxim of Sun Tzu’s and is impressive that the two share in this belief.

The general must also have a bit of devilishness in him. “No enterprise is more likely to succeed than one concealed from the enemy until it is ripe for execution (p.202)” This closely mirrors Sun Tzu’s “all warfare is deception.”

As arbiter of men’s lives, the general must be severe and unyielding.

The Romans punished with death not only those who failed in their duty when they were on guard, but all those who abandoned their post in time of battle, carried anything by stealth out of the camp, pretended they had performed some exploit in action which they had not done, fought without the orders of the general, or threw away their arms out of fear (p.163.)

Machiavelli believed that a general should follow these same procedures. It is easy to see that if a general were to lead his army in this way. He would engender the respect of his men, and success in most endeavors.

Preparation was another important factor for Machiavelli in war. When training an army, it was very important to make sure that the recruits were strong and disciplined. This was accomplished according to the rituals of the ancients.

To accustom their young men to their armor and to teach them how to handle their arms with dexterity, the ancients used to clothe them in armor twice as heavy as that which they were to wear in battle; instead of a sword, they put into their hands a thick cudgel that was loaded with lead and much heavier than a sword; after this, they fixed posts in the earth about six feet high, which were so firm that no blows could move them. On these the young men used to drill with their cudgel and buckler as if they had been real enemies… (p.57)

Machiavelli understood the importance of creating an army capable of anything. Not afraid of death, courageous in all aspects of their life, “Few men are brave by nature, but good discipline and experience make many so (p.202.)” The way of war is difficult, but it can be mastered, as many have throughout the centuries.

Men, arms, money, and provisions are the sinews of war, but of these four, the first two are the most necessary; for men and arms will always find money and provisions, but money and provisions cannot always raise men and arms (p.204)

The Art of War is a study that must constantly be returned to. Without patience and constant attention these skills do rust. I personally hope that no man or woman reading this or any of my writings will ever need to use the knowledge outlined in this book and others of the same art. However, I know that this is unlikely. As Plato once said, “Only the dead have seen the end of war.”