Machiavelli reflects upon the fierce fighters for the republics of old. They would defend themselves and their cities with shocking violence. Niccolo retells the story of the Corcyrans in Thucydides, who walled up all the nobles of their town, took them out in batches of ten to execute them, and then collapsed the roof on the rest to kill them. So important was their liberty to them!

Would you do the same? In recent history, millions had their liberty curtailed and very few resisted. What’s the difference between the ancients and us? Could it be our Christianity?

For, as our religion teaches us the truth and the true way of life, it causes us to attach less value to the honors and possessions of this world; whilst the Pagans, esteeming those things as the highest good, were more energetic and ferocious in their actions.

A pre-Christian Greek only has his possessions and personal honor. The afterlife is not really life at all. See Glaucon’s speech in Book VI of Iliad about how the lives of men are like leaves falling off trees. If you are suitably heroic, you may live on through your honor. But if you are a good Christian, you live on in heaven! Achilles refuses to fight rather than be dishonored by Agamemnon.

I used to teach Homer, and students were often shocked by the concern the heroes had for their own honor. I suggested to them that their residual Christianity made honor unappealing. I’m glad to see that Machiavelli agrees with me.

Submission to tyrants

Since Christians believe in a telos beyond this life, we are more likely to esteem humble and contemplative saints rather than vigorous heroes. But is there a downside?

And if our religion claims of us fortitude of soul, it is more to enable us to suffer than to achieve great deeds.

Machiavelli is arguing that Christianity makes us more submissive to tyrants.

The great body of men, for the sake of gaining Paradise, are more disposed to endure injuries than to avenge them.

A prospective tyrant will then find a fertile field if his targets are good Christians. They won’t rise up to overthrow him with violence, because their religion disposes them to peace and meekness.

Is this true Christianity?

This false interpretation of our religion, that is the cause of there not being so many republics nowadays as there were anciently…

Machiavelli argues that this submission is a false interpretation of Christianity. “Our religion permits us to exalt and defend our country…” He doesn’t expand upon the point. It would be interesting to see what he thinks is the true interpretation of Christianity.

Certainly Charles Martel, John of Austria, and John Sobieski were fierce defenders of their countries against invaders. Were they therefore unchristian? It’s a good question!