# XLIX explained — Discourses on Livy

> Chapter companion for Discourses on Livy by Niccolò Machiavelli.

## What happens

This chapter discusses the difficulty of framing laws to preserve freedom in cities that began in subjection, using Rome and Florence as contrasting examples. It highlights the creation of the censors in Rome as a key institution for maintaining liberty, and examines the challenges Florence faced due to its dependent origins, including flawed judicial systems. The chapter also compares Venice's approach to punishing powerful citizens.

## Themes in this chapter

### Republican Liberty and Popular Government

The chapter examines how laws and institutions like the censorship help preserve freedom in a republic, contrasting Rome's success with Florence's struggles.

### Leadership and Moral Character

The role of the censors as arbiters of morals and the impact of Mamercus's reform highlight the importance of virtuous leadership in maintaining liberty.

### Necessity and Reason of State

The discussion of the dictator's power to execute justice in urgent cases reflects the need for extraordinary measures in times of necessity.

## Character check-ins

### Romulus

One of the early lawgivers of Rome, providing initial ordinances.

### Numa

Successor to Romulus who contributed to Rome's early laws.

### Tullus Hostilius

Roman king who added to the body of laws.

### Servius Tullius

Roman king who further developed Rome's legal framework.

### Mamercus

Dictator who reduced the term of censors from five years to eighteen months, but was punished by the censors.

## Key lines

> For as the censors became the arbiters of morals in Rome, it was very much owing to them that the progress of the Romans towards corruption was retarded.

The censors, by overseeing public morals, significantly slowed Rome's decline into corruption.

_Highlights the importance of the censorship in preserving Roman freedom._

> But returning to the matter under consideration, we have, in connection with the creation of this new office, to note, that if those cities which, as was the case with Rome, have had their beginning in freedom, and have by themselves maintained that freedom, have experienced great difficulty in framing good laws for the preservation of their liberties, it is little to be wondered at that cities which at the first were dependent, should find it not difficult merely but impossible so to shape their ordinances as to enable them to live free and undisturbed.

If even Rome, born free, struggled to create laws to sustain freedom, it is no surprise that cities originally under foreign rule find it nearly impossible to establish lasting liberty.

_Core argument of the chapter: the origin of a city determines its capacity for self-governance._

> This, instead of order, has occasioned the greatest disorder in our city.

These reforms, rather than bringing order, have caused the worst chaos in Florence.

_Critique of Florence's piecemeal and partisan reforms._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/discourses_on_livy_se/chapters/xlix
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/discourses_on_livy_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/discourses_on_livy_se/chapters