Having been consumed with a sudden interest in medieval Italy, I found myself reading The Prince, Machiavelli’s political work of instruction for a new ruler advising him to be successful through cunning and ruthlessness. When suddenly it hit me… Niccolò Machiavelli was a lot like Ned Stark. Yes- the honorable character in George R. R. Martin’s A Game of Thrones.
No, really, just hear me out. I know Littlefinger is usually the Game of Thrones character described as Machiavellian, but Ned Stark’s story more closely follows the truth of the Machiavellian life. Both Niccolò and Ned were on the loosing side and history is written by the victors. The official historical narrative in Game of Thrones is that Ned Stark coldly betrayed his friend and king for personal gain by committing treason upon the king’s death and conspiring to take the throne from his son. Readers know the truth, of course, and the unfairness of it is a bitter blow to fans of the book series. So it is with the truth of Machiavelli’s life. Click on the vcast below and I’ll tell you all about it.
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Read ~ Write ~ Wander
~Angie