Discourses on Livy · Chapter
XII explained
Machiavelli argues that religion is essential for maintaining virtue and unity in a state, and that the Roman Church's corruption has led to Italy's moral decay and political division.
What happens
Machiavelli argues that religion is essential for maintaining virtue and unity in a state, and that the Roman Church's corruption has led to Italy's moral decay and political division. He contrasts the ancient Romans' reverence for religion with the contemporary Italian disregard, blaming the Church for both irreligion and the inability to unify Italy under a single ruler.
Themes in this chapter
Religion as a Political Instrument
Machiavelli emphasizes that rulers should maintain religious rites and even support false miracles to keep the populace virtuous and united.
Virtù and Fortune
The decay of religion leads to loss of virtue and unity, making Italy vulnerable to foreign domination.
Necessity and Reason of State
The Church's temporal policies, though self-serving, prevent Italian unification and necessitate foreign alliances.
Characters to notice
- Titus Livius
Cited as the source for the story of Roman soldiers in the temple of Juno at Veii, showing religious awe.
- Furius Camillus
Approved and confirmed the faith of the soldiers regarding the omen at Veii.
Key passages
“Princes and commonwealths that would save themselves from growing corrupted, should before all things keep uncorrupted the rites and ceremonies of religion, and always hold them in reverence; since we can have no surer sign of the decay of a province than to see divine worship held therein in contempt.”
Rulers must preserve religious practices to prevent societal decay; neglect of worship is the clearest indicator of a province's decline.
Machiavelli's core thesis on the political utility of religion.
“Had religion been maintained among the princes of Christendom on the footing on which it was established by its founder, the Christian states and republics had been far more united and far more prosperous than they now are.”
If Christian rulers had kept religion as originally intended, their states would be more unified and successful.
Contrast between ideal Christian unity and contemporary division.
“To the Church, therefore, and to the priests, we Italians owe this first debt, that through them we have become wicked and irreligious. And a still greater debt we owe them for what is the immediate cause of our ruin, namely, that by the Church our country is kept divided.”
Italy owes its moral corruption and political disunity to the Church and its clergy.
Direct accusation of the Church as the source of Italy's woes.