# XIII: Concerning Auxiliaries, Mixed Soldiery, and One’s Own explained — The Prince > Chapter companion for The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli. ## 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. ## Character check-ins ### 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 lines > 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._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_prince_se/chapters/xiii-concerning-auxiliaries-mixed-soldiery-and-one-s-own - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_prince_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_prince_se/chapters