The Prince · Chapter
XIII: Concerning Auxiliaries, Mixed Soldiery, and One’s Own explained
Machiavelli argues that auxiliary troops are even more dangerous than mercenaries, as they are united under a foreign commander and can easily enslave the prince who calls them.
What happens
Machiavelli argues that auxiliary troops are even more dangerous than mercenaries, as they are united under a foreign commander and can easily enslave the prince who calls them. He uses examples from Pope Julius II, the Florentines, and Cesare Borgia to illustrate the perils of relying on others' arms. The chapter concludes that a wise prince must build and rely on his own forces, citing biblical and historical precedents such as David and Goliath, Charles VII of France, and Philip of Macedon.
Themes in this chapter
Military Strength and Self-Reliance
Machiavelli insists that a prince must rely on his own forces, as auxiliaries and mercenaries lead to dependence and ruin.
The Role of Fortune and Virtù
Pope Julius II's escape from disaster is attributed to fortune, but the wise prince should not depend on luck; he must build his own strength.
Pragmatism Over Morality
Machiavelli evaluates military choices purely by their effectiveness and security, not by ethical considerations.
Characters to notice
- Niccolò Machiavelli
Author and narrator; presents the argument against auxiliaries and mixed soldiery.
- Pope Julius II
Used auxiliaries from Ferdinand of Spain in the Ferrara campaign; narrowly escaped disaster due to fortune.
- Cesare Borgia
Exemplary prince who started with auxiliaries, then mercenaries, and finally built his own forces, gaining true reputation.
- David
Biblical figure who rejected Saul's armor and fought Goliath with his own weapons, symbolizing reliance on one's own forces.
- Charles VII
King of France who established national ordinances for men-at-arms and infantry, strengthening the kingdom.
- Louis XII
Son of Charles VII; abolished infantry and hired Swiss mercenaries, weakening France's military self-reliance.
- Hiero
Syracusan leader who eliminated mercenaries and waged war with his own forces.
- Philip of Macedon
Father of Alexander the Great; cited as an example of a prince who armed and organized his own forces.
Key passages
“Auxiliaries, which are the other useless arm, are employed when a prince is called in with his forces to aid and defend, as was done by Pope Julius in the most recent times; for he, having, in the enterprise against Ferrara, had poor proof of his mercenaries, turned to auxiliaries, and stipulated with Ferdinand, King of Spain, for his assistance with men and arms.”
Auxiliary troops are hired when a prince summons a foreign power to help him fight, as Pope Julius II did when he brought in Spanish forces for the Ferrara campaign after his mercenaries failed.
Machiavelli introduces the concept of auxiliaries and their inherent danger.
“The wise prince, therefore, has always avoided these arms and turned to his own; and has been willing rather to lose with them than to conquer with the others, not deeming that a real victory which is gained with the arms of others.”
A prudent prince will always prefer to fight with his own soldiers, even if it means losing, because a victory won by foreign arms is not truly his.
Core thesis: self-reliance in military matters is essential for lasting power.
“In conclusion, the arms of others either fall from your back, or they weigh you down, or they bind you fast.”
To sum up, relying on foreign troops is like wearing ill-fitting armor: it either slips off, burdens you, or traps you.
Memorable metaphor emphasizing the unreliability of auxiliary forces.
