ABSTRACT
The first thing that strategists must undertake to be successful is to make a realistic appraisal of the world that they find themselves in. A successful strategist cannot afford to be idealistic; they must rely solely on clear-sighted realism. In the original Italian, Machiavelli is notably more explicit about how his work aims to convey “the truth of the matter.” The world of politic stratagems, where it is imperative to remain one step ahead of one’s enemies, is thus seen in action at the very beginning of the tetralogy. Legitimacy appears to carry considerably less significance than the power and the ability to hold on to one’s crown. Humphrey illustrates some strategic acumen, but his failure to respond correctly to the Cardinal’s challenge is strategically disastrous.
