It is a miserable way to live when you have few things to desire but many things to fear. This is often the condition of kings. Being at the top, they lack meaningful goals to strive for, which leaves them bored and uninspired. At the same time, they face endless fears and anxieties, which cloud their judgment. The Bible speaks of the king’s heart as “inscrutable,” meaning hard to understand, because their lives are filled with paranoia and the absence of a single strong desire to guide their priorities.
Because of this emptiness, kings often create trivial obsessions to distract themselves—like focusing on building monuments, founding orders, or excelling in hobbies. Nero was obsessed with playing the harp, Domitian with archery, Commodus with fencing, and Caracalla with chariot racing. To outsiders, these fascinations seem absurd, but they stem from a simple truth: small, tangible progress feels more satisfying to the human mind than being stuck at a standstill, even in great matters.
We see this same pattern with kings who were successful conquerors in their youth. When their expansion eventually stalls—as it must—they often become superstitious or depressed. Alexander the Great, Diocletian, and Charles the Fifth all illustrate this point. When someone accustomed to constant progress meets failure or stagnation, they lose confidence and no longer feel like the person they once were.
Now, let us discuss the proper balance for ruling an empire. It’s rare and difficult to achieve because it requires handling opposites—strength and flexibility—without losing control. Apollonius gave excellent advice to Emperor Vespasian when asked why Nero failed. He said, “Nero could play the harp well, but in governing, he sometimes tightened the strings too much and sometimes loosened them too much.” This teaches us that the worst thing for authority is inconsistent leadership—pressing too hard or relaxing too much at the wrong times.
Modern rulers often focus more on quick fixes to immediate problems rather than solid strategies to prevent those problems from arising. But this is a dangerous game of chance. Neglecting small sparks of trouble can lead to fires no one can control later. A wise leader anticipates risks before they materialize.
One of the hardest challenges for rulers is managing their own minds. As Tacitus said, “The wills of kings are often intense and contradictory.” This happens because power often tries to command results without accepting the effort required to achieve them. Leaders must remember that they cannot demand the reward while refusing the necessary process.
Kings face threats from many directions: neighbors, wives, children, clergy, nobles, merchants, the common people, and soldiers. Each of these groups requires careful management to avoid danger.
With neighbors, there’s one rule that always holds: never let another nation grow strong enough to threaten you. During the reign of King Henry VIII of England, Francis I of France, and Emperor Charles V, all three kept close watch on one another. None of them could expand their territories without the others forming alliances to block them. A similar system maintained peace in Italy under Ferdinand of Naples, Lorenzo de’ Medici, and Ludovico Sforza. Some philosophers argue that war is only justified by an actual attack, but a just fear of imminent danger is also a valid reason to act.
When it comes to wives, history offers cruel examples. Livia poisoned her husband; Roxolana, wife of Solyman the Magnificent, caused the death of Sultan Mustapha and turmoil in the royal succession; and Isabella, wife of Edward II of England, played a key role in her husband’s deposition and murder. These dangers are especially acute when a wife plots to raise her children’s status or when she is unfaithful.
Children can also pose significant risks. Fathers who become suspicious of their children often meet unfortunate ends. Solyman’s execution of his son Mustapha weakened his dynasty, leading to questions about whether his successors were even of royal blood. Constantine the Great killed his promising son Crispus, which led to the violent deaths of Constantine’s other sons. Philip II of Macedon executed his son Demetrius, only to die in regret. Such mistrust rarely benefits the father unless the child is openly rebelling, as in the case of Selim I against Bajazet.
Clergy present a danger when they grow too proud and independent. In England, Archbishops Anselm and Thomas Becket nearly equaled their kings in power and openly clashed with them. The danger increases when the clergy is tied to foreign authority or chosen by the people rather than by the king.
Nobles are best kept at a respectful distance. Depressing them too much may make a king more absolute, but it also leaves him less secure and less effective. For instance, King Henry VII of England weakened his nobles so much that, while they remained loyal, they did not assist him in governing. This left him to handle nearly everything alone.
The lower-ranking gentry, or “second nobles,” are less of a threat since they are scattered and lack unified power. They can even serve as a counterbalance to the high nobility and help maintain order among the common people.
Merchants are the lifeblood of a nation’s economy. If trade does not flourish, a kingdom may look strong but will lack true vitality. Over-taxing merchants often backfires, as increased taxes discourage trade and reduce overall revenue.
The common people are rarely dangerous unless they are led by powerful figures or provoked through attacks on their religion, traditions, or livelihoods.
Standing armies can be dangerous when kept together in one place and accustomed to bribes, as with the Janissaries of Turkey or the Praetorian Guard in Rome. However, training soldiers in different regions under separate commanders minimizes this risk and strengthens national defense.
Finally, rulers are like celestial bodies—they bring prosperity or hardship but never rest. All advice to kings boils down to two principles: “Remember you are human” to temper their power and “Remember you are like a god” to guide their will responsibly.
Bacon Blueprint 