Alexander VI demonstrated how a pope could transform papal power through money, arms, and French intervention via Duke Valentino; although intended to aggrandize the Duke, these actions ultimately redounded to the Church’s benefit.

By Niccolò Machiavelli, from The Prince

Key Arguments

  • Alexander showed unprecedented effectiveness using financial and military means.
  • He leveraged the French entrance into Italy and Valentino’s actions to achieve major successes.
  • After Alexander’s and the Duke’s fall, the Church inherited the fruits of these labors.

Source Quotes

This led to the temporal authority of the Popes being little esteemed in Italy. Then came Alexander VI, who more than any of his predecessors showed what a Pope could effect with money and arms, achieving by the instrumentality of Duke Valentino, and by taking advantage of the coming of the French into Italy, all those successes which I have already noticed in speaking of the actions of the Duke. And although his object was to aggrandize, not the Church but the Duke, what he did turned to the advantage of the Church, which after his death, and after the Duke had been put out of the way, became the heir of his labours.
Then came Alexander VI, who more than any of his predecessors showed what a Pope could effect with money and arms, achieving by the instrumentality of Duke Valentino, and by taking advantage of the coming of the French into Italy, all those successes which I have already noticed in speaking of the actions of the Duke. And although his object was to aggrandize, not the Church but the Duke, what he did turned to the advantage of the Church, which after his death, and after the Duke had been put out of the way, became the heir of his labours. After him came Pope Julius, who found the Church strengthened by the possession of the whole of Romagna, and the Roman Barons exhausted and their factions shattered under the blows of Pope Alexander.

Key Concepts

  • Then came Alexander VI, who more than any of his predecessors showed what a Pope could effect with money and arms, achieving by the instrumentality of Duke Valentino, and by taking advantage of the coming of the French into Italy, all those successes which I have already noticed in speaking of the actions of the Duke.
  • And although his object was to aggrandize, not the Church but the Duke, what he did turned to the advantage of the Church, which after his death, and after the Duke had been put out of the way, became the heir of his labours.

Context

Chapter 11 historical turning point explaining the rise of papal temporal strength.