Hannibal#
Summary#
Machiavelli cites Hannibal as a prime example of how calculated cruelty can be a virtue in military leadership. Despite commanding an enormous army of diverse peoples in foreign lands, Hannibal never faced internal dissension, which Machiavelli attributes to his “inhuman cruelty” combined with “boundless valour.” He is contrasted with Scipio, whose excessive clemency led to rebellion among his own troops, demonstrating that for a prince commanding an army, fear is more effective than love.