velli presents many ways that leaders should rule over the masses. Attila the Hun attempts to follow some of the recommended steps to gain favor with his people. For example, in the second chapter of the book, Machiavelli states that hereditary rulers have an easier time keeping power and regaining it because they have less cause and less need to offend than a new one. Unless a hereditary ruler does something truly despicable the people will fight to keep him in power. If a stronger force strips him of his title, he will have an easier time regaining it, because of the necessary cruelties of his overthrowers force on the people.As I mentioned before, Attila the Hun inherited his position along side of his brother, Bleda. After his brothers untimely death Attila ruled the Hunnic people. Machiavelli also says that hereditary states are easier to maintain than newly established ones; the people, once used to rule, will not want to change it. Even if deposed, the Prince of a monarchy may be able to regain his post without much difficulty. Attila was much more aggressive and ambitious than his predecessors had been, and arrogance sometimes made him unpredictable. All these personality traits aside Attila knew what it took to establish a successful clan. Which brings me to the next point that Machiavelli makes in his book, which is found in chapter eighteen. The Huns already had a reputation for cruelty. Attila had a very popular way to solve problems of enemies. He would decapitate them and display their heads on pikes in the middle of the village. The following is a writing from the Roman historian, Ammianus Marcellinus showing Attila the Huns savage customs and military tactics:The nation of the Hunssurpasses all other Barbarians in wildness of lifeAnd though [the Huns] do just bear the likeness of men (of a very ugly pattern), they are so little advanced in civilization that they make no use of fire, nor any kind of relish, in...
