L'Antimachiavel

Antimachiavel, L', a political treatise by Friedrich II of Prussia, written in 1739-40 and published anonymously at The Hague in 1740. It purports to refute Il principe by the Florentine Niccolo Machiavelli (1464-1527). Friedrich argues against tyranny and aggression and claims that the ruler must consider himself to be the first servant of the state (‘le premier domestique de l’état'), balancing good and evil in man by his justice and skill. He concurs with Machiavelli in justifying the ruler's right to break treaties and to provoke war if he thereby prevents a situation which would endanger his country's safety, thus prophetically justifying his own aggression in 1740 and 1756 (see Schlesische Kriege and Siebenjähriger Krieg).