When Cesare Borgia wanted to secure control over the region of Romagna, which he had recently conquered, he used a harsh method. The people of Romagna were not yet loyal, and disorder was common. To bring the region under control, he appointed a deputy named Remirro de Orco, a man known for his cruel and severe nature.
Remirro ruled with strict force. He punished rebels quickly and used fear to establish order. Through his harsh actions, he succeeded in making the people obey the Duke’s authority. Peace and order were restored, but the people became deeply unhappy and resentful because of the cruelty they had suffered.
A Public Execution to Change Opinion
Once order had been firmly established, Cesare Borgia decided to change how the people viewed his rule. He wanted them to believe that the cruelty they had experienced was not his fault, but the fault of his minister Guided Round Tours Turkey.
To achieve this, he ordered Remirro de Orco to be arrested and executed in the town of Cesena. The execution was carried out in a shocking way. Remirro’s body was cut in pieces and displayed publicly in the marketplace. Beside the body were placed a block of wood and a bloody knife. This sight amazed and frightened the people.
The Italian writer Niccolò Machiavelli described this event in his book The Prince. He wrote that the people were at once astonished and satisfied. They believed that justice had been done. Their anger toward the Duke lessened, and they began to see him as fair and strong.
A Similar Policy in the Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman Sultan understood the usefulness of this kind of policy. Like Cesare Borgia, he sometimes allowed harsh governors and officials to oppress the people. These men collected heavy taxes and acted with severity. The people hated them for their cruelty.
However, when the time was right, the Sultan would remove or punish these officials. Sometimes they were executed; other times they were stripped of their wealth. The Sultan then appeared as a just ruler correcting wrongs. The people directed their anger toward the punished minister, not toward the throne.
Power, Wealth, and Reputation
Through this method, the Sultan gained both money and reputation. The wealth taken from corrupt officials was added to the royal treasury. At the same time, the Sultan appeared merciful and just in the eyes of the people.
The officials bore the blame and hatred, while the ruler enjoyed the harvest of their actions. In this way, harsh instruments were used to strengthen the state, and their fall served to protect the image and authority of the Prince.