Machivelli's Discourses

According to Machiavelli, Rome was the ultimate free state in the ancient world. No other empire before it matched its strength militarily, economically, and politically. Although Athens was a great state as well, its government quickly became corrupted therefore becoming vulnerable for conquest by other republics or principalities. One reason that Machiavelli gives for this is that while Athens enjoyed a period of liberty through a democratic government, it was quickly transformed into a tyranny once the composer of its laws, Solon, lost power. Libe

This new system, as Machiavelli believed, was best for upholding liberty and made Rome the ‘perfect republic.’

Another aspect for the explanation of Rome’s greatness given by Machiavelli is the fact that Rome was fortunate to have the opportunity to achieve greatness. Fortune, it seems, is the missing link needed in order to connect liberty with greatness. Quentin Skinner in his book entitled Machiavelli, explains by saying, “Machiavelli begins by admitting that am element of good Fortune is always involved. It is essential that a city should have ‘a free beginning, without depending on anyone’ if it is to have any prospect of achieving civic glory” (53). He goes onto admit however, that Machiavelli did not just deem Fortune worthy enough to explain Rome’s greatness. Virtue (virtu) was needed in order to attain good fortune from the goddess. However, virtue alone cannot make it possible for a government to be established by a collection of people “because their ‘diverse opinions’ will always prevent them from being ‘suited to organize a government” (55). For this reason Machiavelli believes that Fortune is essential for a city to attain civic glory. Skinner goes on to explain that while Machiavelli does give credit to Fortune in the initial establishment of a city, if the city “is so imprudent as to rely on this initial good Fortune, it will not only cheat itself of greatness but will very soon collapse” (55, 56).

From the founding by Romulus and Numa, Rome was a free city able to live in virtue. However, with time the kings of Rome became corrupt since other forms of government were not incorporated into it. Machiavelli explains by saying that “the prince came to be hated, and, since he was hated, came to be afraid, and from fear soon passed to offensive action, which quickly brought about tyranny” (Machiavelli, 107). This in turn restricted liberty as well as Rome’s ability to

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