The Challenge Against The Prince

Since its publishing, The Prince was allowed to exist, under the reign of Pope Clement VII. It was in 1559, under the reign of Pope Paul IV, when The Prince was placed in the Index. Additionally, it was in 1564 where The Prince becomes a topic of discussion within the Council of Trent. This section of the exhibit will briefly talk about the people who laid the foundation for Anti-Machiavellian thought and the event in which The Prince gained mass infamy. English Cardinal Reginald Pole, Portuguesse Bishop Jeronymo Osorio, and Italian Bishop Amrogio Caterino wrote extensively to counter Machiavelli.

Reginald Pole

In his book, Apology for Emperor Charles V, he wrote about his opinions regarding The Prince. Firstly, he saw it as a work of atheism because of how Machiavelli saw religion as social control, advocacy of the lack of morality in political action, and the denial of Christian providence. Then he wrote about how The Prince was written by Satan. Because of this, he deemed Machiavelli as more harmful than the heretics or the schismatics of the time. And lastly, he stated that Henry VIII introduced reformation to England because of The Prince.

Jeronymo Osorio

In his book, On Christian Nobility, he uses the same arguments as Pole. However, he does introduce a few newer ideas that attack Machiavelli’s reasoning. Firstly, in response to Machiavelli’s idea of how Christianity causes the fall of free states, Osorio argues that man is the cause of the downfall of civilizations, not Christianity. Secondly, in response to how Machiavelli praised Roman paganism to foster military ferocity, Osorio argues that Christianity does not affect military virtue. Soldiers will fight gloriously for the Christian God. Then, Osorio also argues that Christians are not weak pacifists. Christians will fight for what they know is right. Exercising patience and meekness is something that is privately done but the entrance of public office gives Christian leaders the right to act ferociously in the name of what is righteous. Osorio then cites many unnamed Christian emperors, Moses, and David as proof of this idea. Lastly, Osorio argues that Christianity does have role in the state for it fosters public good.

Amrogio Caterino

In his book, Books to be Hated by a Christian and to be Completely Eliminated from Christendom, he assumes that The Prince being a work of Satan, is common knowledge. In his book, he criticizes the idea of religion as social control. Then he denounces Machiavelli for his stance on Christian providence. Caterino then wrote about how offended he was about the idea of a leader being a fox and a lion. And lastly, Caterino wrote about how The Prince was not only against Christianity, but against humanity itself.

By the 1550s, Catholics clearly saw Machiavelli and his ideas as a threat.

Barholomew's Day Massacre