How Is Henry A Good Leader

Niccolo Machiavelli, in his work “The Prince” talks in detail about how a prince must act in order to be a truly effective and prosperous ruler. One of his cardinal rules for these princes is the idea that, “A prince should have no other object, nor any other thought, nor take anything else as his art but that of war and its orders and discipline; for that is the only art which is of concern to one who commands.” (The Prince, 58). William Shakespeare in his play Henry V tells the life of Henry the fifth, the king of England during the early 1400s, specifically during his own war against the French empire focusing on events before and after the Battle of Agincourt. So, even though Henry lived long before Machiavelli, it must be seen whether
The play puts forth the idea that a great ruler might not be what many would consider a good person. Henry is an extraordinarily good leader: he is intelligent, focused, and inspiring to his men. He uses all of the resources at his disposal to ensure that he is victorious. Henry’s charismatic personality allows him to connect with his subjects and motivate them to fight for him, and follow him as their true and undeniable king. However, in becoming a great king, the reader begins to see a much darker side to Henry. He must become a leader to his people and lead them towards the best possible future, and if that entails his own moral character becoming tarnished, Henry is more than willing to get his hands dirtied in the name of his country. In order to strengthen the roots of this kingdom, Henry must betray some of his friends, such as Falstaff, and he must even allow the execution of his childhood friend Bardolph in order to uphold the laws that govern his kingdom, all the while keeping a mask of indifference to his people. This willingness to enter into evil is present in Henry’s cruel treatment of Bardolph. His willingness to threaten the governor with the gruesome murders of the men, women, and children of Harfleur if they did not surrender shows a deep and understood willingness to commit atrocious acts. He is willing to condone and
When a nation, state, or town is taken from their original owners, the conquering prince must make sure to leave alone their laws, their taxes, and their women. In order to better assure that the population of the acquired territories will not attempt a rebellion against the prince, a prince must make sure to keep the land mostly unharmed, and the non-combating populace unharmed in order to keep hatred from arising among the people. Henry, as displayed after his acquisition of Harfleur, places a rule among the soldiers that under no circumstances are they to partake in stealing, destroying, or defiling any of the French people or their possessions. “We would have all such offenders so cut off; and we give express charge that in our marches through the country there be nothing compelled from the villages, nothing taken but paid for; none of the French upbraided or abused in disdainful language; for when lenity and cruelty play for a kingdom, the gentler gamester is the soonest winner.” (3.6.62-63) Henry shows great wisdom, the kind that Machiavelli would very much approve of, in his campaign across France, and does an exemplary thorough job of ensuring his future control of the French territories after his