Machiavelli and the Spartan Equality: the Image and Function of Lycurgus’ Heritage

This article explores the meaning and function of Lycurgus in Machiavelli’s thought. I show that, while the exemplarity of the mythical Spartan legislator progressively fades in Machiavelli’s thought in favour of the Roman model, Lycurgus’ reforms are central in Machiavelli’s works on two issues of primary importance: wealth and land distribution. In the first part of the article, I analyse Machiavelli’s use of the ancient sources on both Lycurgus and other Spartan legislators. I show how Machiavelli builds a selective and strategically balanced reading of the ancient sources to build the image of Lycurgus as a pro-popular ruler and of the subsequent Spartan reformers as followers not only of the mythical legislator generally, but also of his most controversial and popularly oriented attempts to reform property ownership in ancient Sparta. Lycurgus reveals how Machiavelli, far from seeing mixed government as the best form of government, promotes a strongly anti-aristocratic model. In the second part of the article, I show that in Machiavelli’s thought the Spartan question can largely be seen as a background for his reading of Roman history, particularly its most crucial, conflictual and controversial period, the Gracchi brothers’ attempt to achieve agrarian reform.