He's completely trying to suck up the king Philip II by calling him "His Majesty" and saying how amazing all his ideas are. Machiavelli did the same sort of thing towards the Medici because he wanted his banishment to end.
I agree with Ella that William of Orange is trying to suck up to the King like Machiavelli, but I also think that he is doing this to convince the Spaniards who are not oppressing the Netherlandians(?) that he is on their side and looks up to their king, so they would look down upon the oppressors and possibly even help him in his revolt.
I think if William the Orange would succeed in his attempt to rebel and succeed in taking the Low Countries, he would definitely fit Machiavelli's description of an ideal leader. Machiavelli suggests that a Prince should live among his people and speak their language, as William had been doing his whole life. Also, I think he would have a good combination of being loved and feared. The Dutch were his people, but he would also have shown them that he had the ability to defeat someone as powerful as Spain.
I find that the proclamation can easily be associated with the idea that it is important to have the outward appearance that you possess all good qualities even if in reality you are hiding the truth. William does this because he explains that his actions are driven by a need to protect his people, defend the practice of Protestantism, and be loyal to the king. However he still wants to expel the offending spaniards (offending as in committing the offense) from the Lowlands and his true reasons for this may be more political than anything else. I think to understand his true intentions further research in the topic is necessary.
I also agree with Ella. In the beginning of The Prince, he refers to the Medici family as not being above all, despite the fact that he is exiled. As we discussed in class, we decided it was mostly because he wanted back into the government. King Phillip does the same thing to get respect so he can have people help his revolt.
William of Orange most definitely uses Machiavellian strategy when he tries to get on King Philip II's good side. He tries to show sympathy for the king by saying that the Spaniards are unnecessarily burdening him with unimportant issues. I think that William of Orange is especially motivated to "suck up to the king" as you guys are saying because if William had the Holy Roman Emperor on his side, he wouldn't have to worry about the Spaniards getting offended by his comments. In addition, William is only motivated by politics in the scenario, because he was previously disgusted with anything to do with the feud between Protestants and Catholics (the raiding by the iconoclasts).
He's completely trying to suck up the king Philip II by calling him "His Majesty" and saying how amazing all his ideas are. Machiavelli did the same sort of thing towards the Medici because he wanted his banishment to end.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Ella that William of Orange is trying to suck up to the King like Machiavelli, but I also think that he is doing this to convince the Spaniards who are not oppressing the Netherlandians(?) that he is on their side and looks up to their king, so they would look down upon the oppressors and possibly even help him in his revolt.
ReplyDeleteI think if William the Orange would succeed in his attempt to rebel and succeed in taking the Low Countries, he would definitely fit Machiavelli's description of an ideal leader. Machiavelli suggests that a Prince should live among his people and speak their language, as William had been doing his whole life. Also, I think he would have a good combination of being loved and feared. The Dutch were his people, but he would also have shown them that he had the ability to defeat someone as powerful as Spain.
ReplyDeleteI find that the proclamation can easily be associated with the idea that it is important to have the outward appearance that you possess all good qualities even if in reality you are hiding the truth. William does this because he explains that his actions are driven by a need to protect his people, defend the practice of Protestantism, and be loyal to the king. However he still wants to expel the offending spaniards (offending as in committing the offense) from the Lowlands and his true reasons for this may be more political than anything else. I think to understand his true intentions further research in the topic is necessary.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with Ella. In the beginning of The Prince, he refers to the Medici family as not being above all, despite the fact that he is exiled. As we discussed in class, we decided it was mostly because he wanted back into the government. King Phillip does the same thing to get respect so he can have people help his revolt.
ReplyDeleteWilliam of Orange most definitely uses Machiavellian strategy when he tries to get on King Philip II's good side. He tries to show sympathy for the king by saying that the Spaniards are unnecessarily burdening him with unimportant issues. I think that William of Orange is especially motivated to "suck up to the king" as you guys are saying because if William had the Holy Roman Emperor on his side, he wouldn't have to worry about the Spaniards getting offended by his comments. In addition, William is only motivated by politics in the scenario, because he was previously disgusted with anything to do with the feud between Protestants and Catholics (the raiding by the iconoclasts).
ReplyDelete