Daenerys Acquisition Of Power In Machiavelli's The Prince

“I am Daenerys Stormborn, and I will take what is mine with fire and blood!” This mentality drives Daenerys’ political aims and the means by which she plans to fulfill them. Her willingness to engage in less-than-righteous activities, as well as brandishing her brute strength, proves her to be a great example of a Machiavellian Prince. Machiavelli’s The Prince advises rulers in many different aspects of governance, guiding them toward what he perceives to be the most secure methods of ruling. Daenerys Targaryen is no perfect model of The Prince, but she is quick to learn from mistakes and some of the skills Machiavelli praises seem to present themselves naturally to her. Daenerys’ acquisition of power is in line with the Machiavellian view

This contradicts the theories of Machiavelli, yet the difficulty allowed for Prince-like qualities to rise to the surface in the governing of Meereen. Daenerys’ allowance of the Meereenese to maintain some of their ancient customs, such as the gladiatorial games held in fighting pits in the city, appears to be an ill-advised move according to The Prince. However, since she delays in allowing the games to go on, she acts miserly. Later, she reopens them, to the delight of the populace. She uses the fighting pits as a bargaining chip, and after the reopening, both common people and nobles are grateful. The nobles feel important because Daenerys’ allows this at their behest, and the people crave blood sport, so she appeases this. Having not been raised in such a barbaric culture, she does her best to assimilate. She adjusts her dress, tongue, and even takes a native as husband. These measures further strengthen her ties to not only Meereen, but more importantly, the Meereenese. To help her rule, she forms a council of her own commanders, mixed with prominent nobles of the city. This inclusion helps heal the wounds of her conquest, and grants the nobles the same respect they had commanded before. Also, since the common people are used to following the names of the men she appoints as councilors, an air of familiarity is associated with her rule. But, Daenerys is not overtly open-handed. She grants the previously influential families power, but also checks their actions through the taking of hostages from the noble families. Her preferential treatment of the hostages relies on the loyalty of her most powerful subjects. This act helps her to guard against the nobles “as if they were open enemies” while still working with them