Anti-Machiavel

treatise by Frederick the Great

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June 18, 2026

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The Anti-Machiavel, published in 1740, was a treatise written by Frederick the Great. It served as a critique of Niccolò Machiavelli's The Prince. Frederick's work presented a more conventional view of good governance, emphasizing the ruler's duty to their subjects and the importance of law and justice.12

Frederick argued that a ruler should govern personally, acting as the "soul of a state," rather than relying on subordinates. He believed that a king's obligations included protecting subjects, ensuring prosperity, and providing efficient administration and simple laws tailored to the people's needs. While acknowledging the necessity of state interests (raison d'état), Frederick maintained that his power was exercised within legal limits and that arbitrary rule was impossible due to inherent obligations.12

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Frederick II
Domestic policies of Frederick II
In his Anti-Machiavel, a somewhat conventional discussion of the principles of good government published in 1740 just before his accession, Frederick wrote that there were two sorts of princes—those who ruled in person and those who merely relied on subordinates. The former were “like the soul of…
Read More
In his Anti-Machiavel, a somewhat conventional discussion of the principles of good government published in 1740 just before his accession, Frederick wrote that there were two sorts of princes—those who ruled in person and those who merely relied on subordinates. The former were “like the soul of…
Read More