Ten Lessons in Life from Louis XIV

Louis XIV was King of France and Navarre from 1643 to 1715. His reign was the longest in European history, and he presided over a period of immense transformation. Under him, France emerged as the leading power in Europe, and not just in military or political affairs, but in the arts and culture as well. He bent the nobility to his will. The great nobles who had once participated in the Fronde and their heirs had been reduced from being lords of vast estates to quarreling with one another over who had the right to hand Louis his clothing in the morning. Louis' territorial gains were immense, and he forever ended the threat of an aggressive Spain by placing his grandson on the Spanish throne in 1700, and successfully defending that claim (admittedly not without great cost).

Throughout his long life, Louis was motivated by an insatiable desire for glory and the attaining of magnificence. Unbeknownst to most, however, is that Louis left behind a significant collection of memoirs and letters. These were eventually coalesced into a book. It is not widely read today, but I was pleasantly surprised to be able to find the work online.

It is a long read, and admittedly can get tedious at times. However, there are a large number of extremely relevant passages within its pages that teach invaluable lessons on being a great man - leadership, the wielding of power, the psychology and motivation to win, and how to live a fulfilling life. I've collected what I thought were some of the most relevant lessons that Louis has to teach us, and present them below:

1. Be Informed, Learn From History, and Follow the Examples of Other Great Men

Poor information will lead to poor decision-making, as Louis writes:

"Whoever is poorly informed cannot avoid poor thinking."

"A sovereign should take the greatest care to be informed of his own times, for if a man is fully informed he will always do what he should."

Louis was no stranger to history. He knew that he needed to learn the valuable lessons that other men could teach and pass on. Just as we are now learning from him, he learned from others:

"The example of illustrious men provides very useful perspectives for war and peace, so that a naturally great and generous soul, contemplating these actions, would be inspired by them and ensure that the lessons of history can inspire others as well."

"I have heard it said that all the great heroes of the past were conversant with literature and that part of their greatness was due to their literary study. Particularly I found the study of the past to be very useful in becoming wise in the art of war..."

“It is not sufficient for a prince who wishes to distinguish himself from others merely to know what is passing in his own time, but that he ought also to inform himself of every remarkable circumstance which took place at a more remote period. I considered that the knowledge of those great events which have taken place in different centuries, when meditated upon by a solid and active mind, would tend to fortify his reason in all important deliberations; that the example of those illustrious men and singular achievements which antiquity furnishes us with, would supply with useful hints either for war or peace, and that a generous and enlightened mind, intent on the ideas of those glowing virtues, would ever find a stimulus to the practice of great actions.”

2. Shut the Fuck Up

It is wiser to say less than it is to say more:

 “One of the best experiences to practice is to listen oftener than to speak; for it is a difficult matter for persons who are fond of speaking to refrain from saying something too much.”

Admittedly, I still have much practicing to do in this area.

Although Louis did not write this himself, the notes at the end of the first volume reveal this bit of information from a contemporary, Madame de Calyus, writes:

"He carefully examined the respective dispositions and thoughts of his hearers: he was extremely prudent: he knew how every word which a monarch utters is canvassed over in public, and he often kept to himself those discoveries which his penetration had enabled him to make. If important affairs were the subject in question, the most learned and enlightened persons were astonished at the knowledge he displayed; they saw that he was more thoroughly conversant with the matter than they, and were charmed with the manner in which he expressed his thoughts."

The abbe de Choicy also said of Louis:

"His unprepared and least studied answers outdid the most carefully digested speeches of others."

3. Regulate Your Conduct Wisely

As Louis found it wise and necessary to regulate his speech wisely, he says the same regarding one's overall conduct and moral character:

"A bloody and ferocious temper is despicable in a man, and beneath the dignity of a king."

"On every occasion declare yourself to be on the side of virtue and against vice."

"The greater the merit and virtue of the prince, the harder the envious will try to dim his brilliance. Therefore some faults will be attributed to him which he is entirely innocent. Therefore a sovereign cannot live too wisely or too innocently. It is not enough to provide for general affairs, but you must regulate your own morals."

4. Make Decisions with Conviction

What ultimately separates the successful from the unsuccessful in life is the ability to make good decisions. Louis knew intimately that all avenues of thought must be considered, but that holding off too long will only create timidity or worse. In this vital area of life he has this to say:

"There are often troublesome occasions which may cause you to hesitate in making a decision, but once you do, and think you have seen the best course, you must take it."

“Uncertainty will sometimes make a prince pass very painful moments; but when a reasonable time has been bestowed on the examination of an affair, he must take a determination according to his best judgment, without protracting that state of suspense any longer.”

However, Louis warned the Dauphin not to make decisions too hastily either:

“Better to conclude our business somewhat late than to ruin it by using too much precipitancy. Our impatience only tends to delay that which we eagerly wished to forward.”

5. Get off Your Ass

Louis XIV did not simply cultivate France as the leading power in Europe by engaging in idle hedonism. He in fact astonished the country when he said that he would rule without a prime minister after the death of Cardinal Mazarin in 1661. He was determined to do the work himself, and devoted himself to his work so much that on the very same day that he had an operation for an anal fistula in 1686 (an extremely serious condition at the time), he still attended his council meeting later. On the subject of working hard he notes:

“You will always find in me the same perseverance in labor, the same firmness of resolution, the same love for my people, the same passion for the prosperity of my state, and the same ardor for true glory.”

 “Two things were without doubt necessary: very hard work on my part, and a wise choice of persons capable of seconding it.”

A typical day for him might have gone like this:

“The morning, as usual, was taken up with the different councils of justice, commerce, finances, and dispatches; the afternoon, with the current affairs of the state, and in the evening, instead of following any diversion, as I had been accustomed to, I reentered my closet in order to business, either to talk about the war with Luvois, who had that department, or on other affairs which I had resolved to examine myself; and if after that I had any time left, I employed it in writing these Memoirs which you are now reading.”

Louis in fact made it a rule to work twice a day with various other people aside from the hours he worked alone or devoted to extraordinary affairs. He notes:

“I cannot tell you what fruits I immediately gathered from this decision. I could feel my spirits and my courage rising. I was a different person. I discovered something new about myself and joyfully wondered how I could have ignored it for so long. That first shyness, which always comes with good sense and which was especially disturbing when I had to speak at some length in public, vanished in less than no time. I knew then that I was king and born for it.”

The biggest impediment to glory is sitting around and doing nothing. This is a sort of suicide by stasis, and I know this intimately because that's how I used to be. Louis notes in great detail just these dangers:

"Nothing is more taxing than prolonged idleness. You will be disenchanted first with affairs, next with pleasures, and third with idleness itself. You will seek everywhere in vain for what cannot be found. That is the problem with rest and leisure without some labor to precede it."

6. Have No Favorites

Louis XIV, in consolidating absolute power in the monarchy, made sure to elevate himself above anyone else. He clearly understood the danger of placing too much esteem in a single person, even his own family, as such attachments could prove dangerous:

"Have no attachment ever to anyone."

"My brother, who, without doubt, in the state things were in, could not have very urgent business, and who from his own inclination did not think proper to occupy his time with anything that was useful or agreeable, had at his leisure hours resolved to demand that his wife when in the presence of the Queen might be allowed an arm chair. In consequence of the friendship which I entertained for him I could have wished never to deny him anything, but aware of the consequence this encroachment might be, I let him know, immediately, with all possible delicacy, that I could not grant his request; that I was willing to do everything to elevate him beyond my other subjects, and would always do it with pleasure; but that such demands which seemed to interfere with my own dignity, I thought it my duty to refuse. In short, I begged him to never indulge in any such thoughts, and endeavored to convince him by good reasoning how necessary it was that I should respect the rank which I held, how much his own pretensions were ill-founded, and how useless it would be for him to persist in them."

7. Your True Friends Are Never Yes Men

In his instructions to his grandson, the Duke of Anjou, who was soon to become Phillip V of Spain, he remarked:

"Love all people attached to you, do not give preference to those who flatter you most, and hold in high esteem those who for a good cause venture to displease you. They are your real friends."

In the main memoirs to his son the Dauphin, he wrote this about the nature of courtiers and their flattery:

“Praise is of a very delicate texture, and we should be very careful how we are caught by its dazzling appearance, as it requires much penetration to discern truly our flatterers from our real admirers.

“But however obscure the intentions of our courtiers may be, there is nevertheless, a certain mode by which we may turn everything they say to our advantage; which is simply, to examine ourselves closely on the subject of praise which others have bestowed on us; for when we hear certain encomiums which we ourselves are unconscious of deserving, it will immediately lead us to reflect on them (according to the temper of those who bestowed them) either as a malignant reproach for some error, which we, in consequence, should immediately endeavor to correct, or as a secret exhortation to a virtue to which we have hitherto been insensible.

“Supposing even that we conceive ourselves really deserving of that which is spoken in our favor, instead of simply contenting ourselves with the praises which we have received, they ought rather to serve us as a stronger stimulus to merit new encomiums; for this assuredly is one of those mediums whereby the elevated mind may be distinguished from those who never rise beyond mediocrity; to behold the latter charmed with the empty noise of applause which is incessantly flattering their ears, abandoning themselves to inactivity and indolence, eager to persuade themselves that they have done enough; while the former, continually burning with an equal ardor, seem never fully satisfied, as if everything which is lavished to allay that fire with which they seem to burn only to increase its violence.

“It is only after this manner, my son, that glory becomes amiable; the thirst for which it inspires is not a weak passion which becomes cloyed with possession; it is never obtained but by strong efforts, and never becomes satiating; and he who can rest contended without seeking new favors is unworthy even of those which he has already received.”

8. Maintain The Frame of the Master

Louis was a firm believer in his divine right to rule. This seeped into his internal psychology from the time he was a small child. It became his standard programming and he acted in that part without fail throughout his life. When it comes to maintaining this frame, Louis has much to say throughout the memoirs:

"The mistakes I have made, and which have caused me infinite trouble, have been caused by kindness, and by allowing myself to surrender too heedlessly to the advice of others."

"If you must punish people who you are naturally disposed to, do it, as the interests of the state must come first."

"Treat your servants well, but do not allow them too much familiarity, and trust them still less. Use them when they are well behaved. Dismiss them on the least fault."

"Divide the execution of your confidence. Do not entirely trust it to anyone. Assign various persons various functions in keeping with their talents. This is perhaps the foremost talent of princes."

"Men are always tempted to use the power they have. No one shares in your work without participating in your power. Leave only as much of it to others as you must, for however careful you are, you will always lose much more of it than you should."

“Take particular care to avoid granting favors to those persons who have their way with offering bribes. Be bountiful yourself, and time your liberalities as well as you can, but receive no presents, excepting very insignificant ones. If it should so happen that, on certain occasions, you cannot refuse accepting some, do not fail to make more valuable ones in return, as soon after as you conveniently can.”

"Never allow yourself to be ruled. Have no favorites or prime minister. Listen to and consult with your council, but decide yourself."

“Nothing is so dangerous as weakness, of whatever kind it be. To command others, one must raise oneself above them; and after having heard all sides one must decide on the judgment one may come to with an open mind, always keeping in view to order or do nothing unworthy of oneself, of the character one bears, or of the greatness of the State.”

"When we behold a prince busily employed in looking after every thing which is done for the good of the service; when we see that nothing can escape his sight; that he discerns every thing, weighs every thing, and that sooner or later he punishes or rewards every person; it is impossible that but he must be better obeyed, and better esteemed."

Louis also understood the psychology of crowds, and the arrogance of the mob mentality. In this day and age especially, the advice he gives is very sage:

“In a popular assembly, the more you assent to, the more they grasp after: the more you caress them, the more they will despise you; and that which they are once put in possession of is retained by so many hands that you cannot deprive them of it but by extreme violence.”

“Of so many persons who compose those numerous assemblies, the most ignorant are those who often take the greatest liberties; and if you pay any deference to their opinion on any one occasion, they pretend to the right ever after to regulate your projects according to their own fancy; and the continued necessity you will find yourself under to guard against their attempts will be more troublesome to you than all the other interests of your crown; for which reason the Prince who is desirous that his people should enjoy a durable tranquility, and that his dignity should descend entire to his successors, cannot be too careful in suppressing such audacious assemblies.”

9. Never Take Serious Advice From Women

Louis XIV had many mistresses during his reign (or rather, during the early part of it - his string of mistresses lasted from the late 1650's to the early 1680's). This combined with his astute mastery of social dynamics and the maintenance of power meant he was speaking from very extensive experience. On matters of the heart, he has this to say:

“While we abandon our heart we should remain masters of our own mind. We should separate the tenderness of the lover from the resolutions of the sovereign, and the beauty in whose possession we rejoice should never be allowed the right of speaking to us on business, or interfering about the persons we employ.

“In the same manner as a fortified place is attacked, so is the heart of a prince. The first step is to take possession of every post or avenue leading to it: an artful woman at first sets about removing all those who are not in her own interests; she inspires us with suspicions against some and excites our displeasure against others, in order that she herself and her own friends alone may be listened to; and unless we are well on our guard against these practices, we are exposed to the necessity of giving offense to every person in order to gratify her alone.

“From the instant that you allow a woman the liberty of speaking to you on affairs of importance, it is impossible but what she must mislead you. This predilection we feel for her, induces us to approve of arguments that are bad in themselves, hurries us insensibly into her way of thinking, and her own weakness, causing her to prefer frivolous interests to more solid considerations, she infallibly adopts ill-timed and pernicious resolutions.

“Women are eloquent in their expressions, pressing in their requests, obstinate in their notions; and all this is often found merely on some aversion against some individual, some wish to promote another, or some promise imprudently given. No secret can be safe in their keeping for they may, from mere simplicity and ignorance, discover what should be concealed, or if they possess wit and knowledge, they seldom fail to form secret intrigues and connections; they have them a certain set of counselors, who are to advise them how to preserve or promote their own greatness, to whom they never fail to impart everything which they know, with a view merely to those advantages which they may derive from the circumstance.

“It is in these councils that they in every instance deliberate about what course they shall take, what means they shall adopt to accomplish what they have undertaken, to rid themselves of those who may have hurt them, to advance their friends, to entangle us still closer in their fetters; while we all along have no other means left to escape than to forbid their speaking about any subjects, save those of pleasure and amusement, and make up our minds not to believe any one of their suggestions concerning matters of business and our confidential servants.

“I will candidly confess, however, that a prince whose heart is strongly possessed by love, being at the same time disposed to esteem her whom he loves, will find it hard to observe these precautions; but the more painful the trial the brighter our virtue appears; besides it is certain that these precautions are most indispensable and that it is for want of their being attended to that we behold in history so many fatal instances of royal houses extinct, thrones destroyed, provinces laid waste, and empires overturned.”

10. You Alone are Responsible for Your Fortune

Most people are keen to blame other people or circumstances for the misfortunes that they are suffering. This is in fact a form of narcissism, because it holds the implicit belief that you are essentially infallible. We've all fallen into this trap, and modern society only encourages this innate narcissism far further than it should go. Louis admonishes this mindset:

“The greater part of mankind are accustomed to regulate their conduct by their humor more than by their reason, and very often have nothing to guide them in their designs but their honor and their passions, that disposition of theirs, which always remains the same, always keeps them in the same route; so that in any disorders which they see in their affairs, or any misfortunes which happen to them, they have not the good sense to seek the cause in their conduct, but they impute every evil to the simple caprices of Fortune, and do not consider that if after they had felt her first blows they had adopted a new method of acting with her, they would most assuredly have secured themselves from greater evils; for it is certain that one of the safest remedies against the changes of Fortune is to know how to change with her, and you ought not to think my son, that the firmness of which I spoke to you at other times is at all opposed to the maxim which I have established for your guidance here, as that virtue does not consist in always doing the same thing, but in doing the thing which tends to the same end."

“Habit is the most safe and most convenient mistress to render all things easy to us; the most arduous labor in itself insensibly becomes easy to those who are inured to it for a long time, and such dangers as at first astonish the multitude have so little effect upon those who are accustomed to them that they behold them undismayed.”

"The surest way of acquiring glory is always to follow the dictates of reason."

"Those who have enough merit to succeed often find a certain greatness in recognizing their errors."

"Time, action itself, and the aid of heaven usually break a thousand paths and uncover a thousand unexpected solutions."

There is much more wisdom to be gleaned from the pages of these memoirs, and brevity requires that I cut the entry off here. If you want to learn more I suggest taking up Roosh's big ass book challenge and reading them yourself. You can find the full book here. There are also some valuable excerpts here and here.

A more condensed version of this post can now be found at Return of Kings.

A Primer on Power

A few days ago I watched parts of an episode of The First Churchills (a series I recommend), and rewatched a scene that is a very good primer on how to be powerful:

Skip to 15:33. King William III meets Lord Marlborough. Some years earlier, Marlborough had raised the specter of public dissatisfaction with the King, who seemed to favor Dutchmen over Englishmen even in the English service. For this, Marlborough was dismissed from all his offices and reached the nadir of his fortunes. Now, the prospect of a return to favor dangles before Marlborough's face.

He remains somewhat stoic, giving a light compliment as part of a joke. William then begins to explore Marlborough's thoughts regarding the Peace of Ryswick. William wishes to know if Marlborough is "capable of looking one hour beyond tomorrow." He probes Marlborough's thoughts regarding the Spanish Succession, and Marlborough answers to his satisfaction, revealing that he has kept a pulse on matters of importance despite his dismissal from court.

In a good sign that he has indeed answered to the King's satisfaction, Marlborough is offered a drink by William. In an even better sign, William tells Marlborough of a still-secret treaty he has made with Louis XIV regarding the Spanish Succession.

William then gets to the point of the meeting: after stating that his and Marlborough's "interests grow closer every day" earlier, he offers to the latter the appointment of being the Duke of Gloucester's governor. This was a very important position, as Prince William, Duke of Gloucester was expected to become King in the future. Marlborough was thus restored to his position on the Privy Council and his rank in the army. He was also told that he would be one of the Lords Justices acting as regent while William was overseas.

Marlborough still expresses a gratitude to the King despite his having asked for none, and further reveals his thoughts on the future. Notice also that Marlborough mirrors William's earlier language when he mentions the words "past infamies," which causes the King to smile. Regarding the future, Marlborough said that he hoped the King's efforts for peace would succeed, but he feared Louis' ambition, and that he would very possibly opportunistically break a treaty when it suited him, and that the King knew this perhaps even better than he.

Marlborough states that the struggle may begin again, and that the King was honorably afraid he would not be up to the task. To help him along in that end, he would pick a delegate to take control in emergency, but was albeit powerless to act without his direct command. Marlborough compliments him again, calling the King a "prudent general."

"Do I read your mind correctly sir?" Marlborough asks.

King William answers in the affirmative by offering Marlborough a tour of the rebuilt palace.

There were a lot of subtleties regarding the wielding of power in this scene. Firstly, Marlborough kept a firm finger on the pulse of things despite his disadvantage. If he had not maintained his awareness, he would not have succeeded here.

Secondly, Marlborough mixes some light compliments with a push, saying that the King was honorably afraid. Flattery is part of being the perfect courtier.

Thirdly, Marlborough knew what William wanted to hear and said it to him. He knew that William's entire life was spent opposing Louis XIV's France, and offered him some comfort that he would be able to continue his life's work. He reflected William's thoughts back at him.

Most importantly, Marlborough demonstrated that he would be able to serve the King's self-interest.

I really should rewatch this largely accurate series after having read The 48 Laws of Power. I'm sure there's a lot of subtleties that I may pick up on now that I may have missed before. Marlborough really knew how to play the game - both political and military, and that's why he's one of the Twenty Men I seek to associate with and emulate.

Wisdom from Lone Survivor

Lone Survivor is a big movie now, and my like of it compelled me to read the book it was based on, written by Marcus Luttrell with the assistance of Patrick Robinson. It is a compelling read, with much wisdom to be gleaned in its pages.

I'll share some of the wisdom I found most profound below:

 "I was about twelve when I realized beyond doubt that I was going to become a Navy SEAL. And I knew a lot more about it than most kids my age. I understood the brutality of the training, the level of fitness required, and the need for super skills in the water. I thought I would be able to handle that. Dad had told us of the importance of marksmanship, and I knew I could do that.

"SEALs need to be home in rough country, able to survive, live in the jungle if necessary. We were already good at that. By the age of twelve, Morgan and I were like a couple of wild animals, at home in the great outdoors, at home with a fishing pole and gun, easily able to live off the land.

"But deep down I knew there was something more required to make it into the world's top combat teams. And that was a level of fitness and strength that could only be attained by those who actively sought it. Nothing just happens. You always have to strive." (pg 53)

Here we see Marcus Luttrell identifying clearly his life purpose. If you've read Think & Grow Rich you will know what this means. We also see the influence of strong masculine role models in this chapter- his father, his mentor Billy Shelton, and we will also see the influence of the SEAL instructors later on.

In chapter four, Marcus and some others managed to make a four-mile run in thirty-two minutes. He describes how the instructors at BUD/S harangued those that could not:

"I remember, vividly, him yelling out to them that we, dry and doing our push-ups up the beach, were winners, whereas they, the slowpokes, were losers! Then he told them they better start taking this seriously or they would be out of here.

"Those guys up there, taking it easy, they paid the full price," he yelled. "Right up front. You did not. You failed. And for guys like you there's a bigger price to pay, understand me?"

"He knew this was shockingly unfair, because some of them had been doing their genuine best. But he had to find out for certain. Who believed they could improve? Who was determined to stay? And who was halfway out the door already?" (pg 117)

Later in the same chapter, Chief Bob Nielsen, the lead instructing petty officer, makes these remarks:

"Your reputation is built right here in first phase. And you don't want people to think you're a guy who does just enough to scrape through. You want people to understand you always try to excel, to be better, to be completely reliable, always giving it your best shot. That's the way we do business here.

"And remember this one last thing. There's only one guy here in this room who knows whether you're going to make it, or fail. And that's you. Go to it gentlemen. And always give it everything." (pg 123)

After this, the trainees meet the commanding officer, Captain Joe Maguire, a onetime commander of SEAL Team 2 and the future Rear Admiral commanding SPECWARCOM:

"First of all, I do not want you to give in to the pressure of this moment. Whenever you're hurting bad, just hang in there. Finish the day. Then, if you're still feeling bad, think about it long and hard before you decide to quit. Second, take it one day at a time. One evolution at a time.

"Don't let your thoughts run away with you, don't start planning to bail out because you're worried about the future and how much you can take. Don't look ahead to the pain. Just get through the day, and there's a wonderful career ahead of you." (pg 124)

This is sound advice which Marcus echoes later in the chapter:

"I later learned that when a man quits and is given another chance and takes it, he never makes it through. All the instructors know that. If the thought of DOR enters a man's head, he is not a Navy SEAL.

"I guess that element of doubt forever pollutes his mind. And puffing, sweating, and steaming down there on that beach on the first night of Hell Week, I understood it.

"I understood it, because that thought could never have occurred to me. Not while the sun still rises in the east. All the pain in Coronado could not have inserted that poison into my mind. I might have passed out, had a heart attack, or been shot before a firing squad. But I never would have quit." (pg 136-7)

Again, if you have read Think & Grow Rich, you will recognize the similarities to the philosophy Hill laid out and what is written in these preceding passages. Thoughts turn into actions, and actions turn into habits, and habits become your destiny.

Later on, Marcus describes the dedication and sheer pain tolerance of his comrades when the operation goes terribly wrong:

"Then Danny was shot again. Right through the neck, and he went down beside me. He dropped his rifle and slumped to the ground. I reached down to grab him and drag him closer to the rock face, but he managed to clamber to his feet, trying to tell me he was okay even though he'd been shot four times.

"Danny couldn't speak now, but he wouldn't give in. He propped himself up against a rock for cover and opened fire again at the Taliban, signaling he might need a new magazine as his very lifeblood poured out of him. I just stood there for a moment, helplessly, fighting back my tears, witnessing a brand of valor I had never before been privileged to see. What a guy. What a friend." (pg 225)

This quote is self-explanatory. One cannot help but marvel at the hardness of these guys, and the dedication they had for their friends. Think about the so-called tight spots you've been in in life. How many of us have complained at the slightest inkling? Then think about what these guys went through, and you'll realize how pitiful it is, and strive to improve yourself.

"I could still hear gunfire, and it was growing closer. They were definitely coming this way. I just thought, don't move, don't breathe, do not make a sound. I think it was about then I understood how utterly alone I was for the very first time. And the Taliban was hunting me. They were not hunting for a SEAL platoon. They were hunting me alone. Despite my injuries, I knew I had to reach deep. I was starting to lose track of time but I stayed still. I actually did not move one inch for eight hours." (pg 246)

Consider Marcus' discipline under such stressful conditions, and again, think of the stress you faced. Did you keep your composure, your discipline? Let it serve as motivation. It certainly does for me.

"Right after that, must have been around midnight, a new figure entered the room, accompanied by two attendants. I knew this was the village elder, a small man with a beard, a man who commanded colossal respect. The Taliban immediately stood up and stepped aside as the old man walked to the spot where I was lying. He kneeled down and offered me water in a little silver cup, gave me bread, and then stood up and turned on the Taliban.

"I was not certain what he was saying, but I found out later he was forbidding them to take me away. I think they knew that before they came, otherwise I'd probably have been gone by then. But there was no mistaking the authority in his voice. It was a small, quiet voice, calm, firm, and no one spoke while he spoke. No one interrupted either.

"They hardly said a word while this powerful little figure laid down the law. Tribal law, I guess. When he left, he walked out into the night very upright, the kind of posture adopted by men who are unused to defiance. You could spot him from a mile off..." (pg 296-7)

There were about eight men with AKs interrogating Marcus in this room, but the village elder trumped all of them with his dominant body language and voice. His status as the elder was probably known by them, but he played the part. His frame was one of dominance and self-assurance, fostered by the mindset of his own status. This is the Strategy of the Crown, described in law of power #34.

Nearing the end of the book, two more passages are profound:

"I looked at the silent bell outside the BUD/S office and at the place where the dropouts leave their helmets. Soon there would be more helmets, when the new BUD/S class began. Last time I was here I'd been in dress uniform, along with a group of immaculately turned-out new SEALs, many of whom I had subsequently served with.

"And it occurred to me that any one of them, on any given day, would have done all the same things I had done in my last combat mission in the Hindu Kush. I wasn't any different. I was just, I hoped, the same Texas country boy who'd come through the greatest training system on earth, with the greatest bunch of guys anyone could ever meet. The SEALs, the warriors, the front line of the United States military muscle. I still get a lump in my throat when I think of who we all are.

"I remember my back ached a bit as I stood there on the grinder, lost in my own thoughts, and my wrist, as ever, hurt, pending another operation. And I suppose I knew deep down I would never be quite the same physically, never as combat-hard as I once was, because I cannot manage the running and climbing. Still, I never was Olympic standard!

"But I did live my dream, and then some, and I guess I'll be asked many times whether it had all been worth it in the end. And my answer will always be the same one I gave so often on my first day.

"Affirmative, sir." Because I came through it, and I have my memories, and I wouldn't have traded any of it, not for the whole world. I'm a United States Navy SEAL." (pg 379-80)

This passage particularly struck me. Despite all the injuries, the loss of his friends, and the mental anguish that came from all of it, Marcus still says it was worth it. Here you can really see the faith of a man who had found his purpose in life, and his persistence in fulfilling it.

"In the fall of 2006, Marcus Luttrell was redeployed with SEAL Team 5 in Iraq. At 0900 on Friday, October 6, thirty-six of them took off in a military Boeing C-17 from North Air Station, Coronado, bound for Ar Ramadi, the U.S. base which lies sixty miles west of Baghdad - a notorious trouble spot, of course. That's why the SEALs were going.

"The fact that the navy had deployed their wounded, decorated hero of the Afghan mountains was a considerable surprise to many people, most of whom thought he would leave SPECWARCOM for the less dangerous life of a civilian. Because even after more than a year, his back was still painful, his battered wrist was less than perfect, and he still suffered from that confounded Afghan stomach bug he had contracted from the Pepsi bottle.

"But the deployment of Marcus Luttrell was a personal matter. He alone called the shots, not the navy. His contract with the SEALs still had many months to run, and there was no way he was going to quit. I think we mentioned, there ain't no quit in him. Marcus wanted to stay, to fulfill his obligations as leading petty officer (Alfa Platoon), a position which carries heavy responsibilities.

"To me, he said, "I don't want my guys to go without me. Because if anything happened to them and I wasn't there, I guess I would not forgive myself." (pg 385)

This is part of the afterward that closes out the book, and to me it perfectly summed up Marcus Luttrell and his entire life's philosophy and experiences, and those of the SEALs - their brotherhood and the strict devotion to fulfill their purpose, to never quit from the fight, and ultimately, to win.

This book increased, massively, my respect not just for the SEALs, but to all who serve and have served in the armed forces. These are all warriors, and their attitude is perfect. It is one of winning, and should be adopted for all forms of life. This is a book every man should read.

Twenty Men

As I've stated in my previous post, everyone needs an example to follow. The feats of great figures serve as one of the most powerful sources for inspiration and drive to greatness in our own lives. Even the greatest navigators needed stars to act as landmarks as they traversed the treacherous seas. And so we as men need the landmarks of other men to guide us as we navigate our own ships on the chaotic seas of the universe in which we live, especially when contemporary masculine role models are rare or non-existent.

To that end I've compiled a list of twenty men. They had different careers, different ambitions and drives, and different fortunes. They were kings and conquerors. They were philosophers and explorers. They were warriors and statesmen. They were inventors and businessmen. They were adventurers and seducers. The one thing they all have in common is that they left a legacy. They left something to guide the present man as he seeks to secure his place in life. For the man that desires to rise above the waves of mediocrity, these twenty men all have something to teach, lessons to impart.

This is of course, my own list. I encourage everyone else that wants to succeed to engage in a similar composition. It will serve not only as a useful fountainhead of indispensable knowledge, but it will also encourage self-reflection. What men were important examples to you and why? What do you seek to learn and become? The answers will vary widely from person-to-person, so I don't expect anyone to have exactly the same list. I don't even expect they will be very similar from person-to-person. But the exercise is indispensable.

In my mind, a successful man will possess some, but not necessarily all of the following traits:

• He will put in the effort to take care of his body and achieve the best physique his genetics allow him to.
• He will know how to be powerful.
• He will be financially sound enough to secure a reasonable degree of independence.
• He will be successful enough with women to be non-needy around them.
• He will seek knowledge for its own sake, and expand the purview of his mind.
• He will be devoted to his purpose in life, and seek to leave a legacy of his own that future men can learn from.

 To help along in that journey, I've compiled this list of twenty men:

1. Cyrus the Great (c. 576 - 530 B.C.): The founder of the Persian Empire whose successes on the battlefield and great desire for knowledge allowed the flourishing of all peoples subject to his rule. He was one of the first rulers to display a genuine religious tolerance, and his satrapy system of relative regional autonomy generally respected to the highest degree possible the local cultures, allowing a generally stable empire. His career was one of achievement that allowed the advancement of civilization to follow.

2. Aristotle (384 - 322 B.C.): Often described as the greatest thinker to ever live, Aristotle's works on physics, though wrong, were brilliantly argued, and became ingrained in science for the next 1,500 years. His works on ethics were so influential that they served as the foundation of Western ethical and political thought and are still taught in their pure form in universities today. In particular, his Doctrine of the Mean is well worth looking into as a guiding light on your journey in life.

3. Julius Caesar (100 - 44 B.C.): One of the greatest generals of all time, his battlefield victories and his ability to lead men to do extraordinary feats are very well-known. But he was so much more. In Caesar we see the story of a lesser noble, who through his ruthless drive and cunning, and his mastery of the game of power, rose to the pinnacle of his society. He was a great seducer of women. He knew how to stage spectacles that would earn him praise. Cicero himself described Caesar as the best public speaker in Rome. And he was also a great statesman, showing a clear vision of polity that few leaders have ever shown. The one great mistake he made was that he neglected the spirit of republican Rome, and displayed his dictatorial power too openly, leaving room for not only the envious, but the stern believers in the republican principle that no man should have absolute power, to conspire and assassinate him. This mistake is one that the future early emperors wisely did not repeat, and one that all men who seek to rise beyond the ordinary must take into consideration.

4. Marcus Aurelius (121 - 180): The last in the series of Rome's "Five Good Emperors," Marcus Aurelius governed his empire well and oversaw important military victories for its security. He was in fact described as being closest to the ideal of the Philosopher-King in his own lifetime. All the while he was on campaign in the north, he penned his longest-lasting legacy, his Meditations, a Stoic guide to purpose and self-improvement. If we are to measure a man's legacy by the quality of his successors that found it valuable, Marcus Aurelius' Meditations has been praised by such figures as Frederick the Great, John Stuart Mill, Matthew Arnold, Goethe, Wen Jiabao, and Bill Clinton, who has described it as his favorite book (According to Wikipedia).

If men like that have found Marcus Aurelius and his Meditations valuable, surely it will serve as a fine example to myself or nearly any other man moving up in the world.

5. Charlemagne (c. 742 - 814): The principal regenerator of the flame of civilization in the West after it sputtered out with Rome's fall, Charlemagne reigned over a time of peace, prosperity, and security that brought about cultural rebirth, helped in no small part by his own commitment to education. He demanded that he be taught to read and write, which was considered unkingly in his own time. For his achievements he was crowned Holy Roman Emperor of the West in 800. He thus started a tradition that would last for a thousand years.

In addition to all of his stately achievements, Charlemagne ran strong game, amassing a long line of wives and concubines, and fathered many children.

6. Francis of Assisi: (1181/2 - 1226): He's been popularized with the reign of Pope Francis, and this is a very good thing, for Saint Francis of Assisi lived an admirable life. Willingly giving up a life of wealth and luxury that he was born into, he devoted himself to a higher calling, founding the Franciscan Order and living a life of disciplined self-denial. He also served as a diplomat seeking peace, by going on a mission to Egypt to convert the Sultan and put an end to the Crusades. His dedication to the poor has left a lasting legacy on the current Pope, who has already made an impact in the hearts of the people.

Though we'd probably think giving up the wealth he amassed was a poor decision, the discipline he showed in his life and his devotion to a greater cause than himself are good examples to follow, and should help anyone succeed in his own life.

7. Zheng He (1371 - 1433): Admittedly, my knowledge of Eastern history is poor, but Zheng He seems a wonderful example to begin catching myself up to speed. The great explorer of his age, Zheng He reached the Atlantic Ocean and brought Chinese naval power to a point that would not be repeated for many centuries to come. In Zheng He we see a clear-cut example of how, less than a century before the next man on the list, history could have been vastly different, were it not for circumstances of fate. Zheng He also knew how to play the game of power at court, or else he would not have risen to his position.

8. Christopher Columbus (1451 - 1506): Truly the father of the modern world, Columbus' voyages began the great Age of Discovery that would bring the West to preeminence in wealth and power, but the fact that he was the one to get the process started seemed far from certain. Columbus had an ambition to succeed that rivaled Caesar's, and he rose from an even poorer place than his predecessor on this list to high social status, selling himself and his proposed voyage eventually to Queen Isabella, and thus took his place in history. Setbacks and failure were simply not an option for him, and he found cunning ways to spin negatives into positives, a must-have skill for anyone wishing to become powerful.

9. Giordano Bruno: (1548 - 1600): I have been introduced to Bruno only in recent years, and since then, I've always had a desire to read his writings. Living during the Renaissance, he is a figure which embodied the spirit of the age- bold, adventurous, inquisitive, and a victim of its persecutions. Among his most notable ideas is not only the acceptance of the Copernican model of heliocentrism, but his belief that the other stars were just other Suns very far away, each with planets and life. As Carl Sagan said of Aristarchus in Cosmos, "I'd love to know how he figured it out."

Bruno was more interesting than just that however. According to Wikipedia, he was a spy serving under Queen Elizabeth I's spymaster Francis Walsingham. The exercise of deception and stealth that he would have displayed is a key element in the mastery of power, and is therefore a lesson all in itself.

He also wisely agreed to outwardly conform with the Church's teachings while preserving his own inwardly. Nevertheless, he could not abandon everything, and was burned at the stake. The story of his trial should be well worth reading and analyzing for potential tactics to ward off persecution, a situation which we will all find ourselves in to one degree or another.

10. Miyamoto Musashi (c. 1584 - 1645): The first name that comes to mind when one hears the word "Samurai," Miyamoto Musashi asserted himself in the most pure masculine way possible: by meeting other distinguished men in battle and defeating them- face to face. It was brutal. It was primitive. But it worked. It secured his fame and legacy. Miyamoto Musashi was no barbarian, however. His cunning was legendary in his own lifetime, and warriors far and wide eventually begged to challenge him so that they could prove their own worth as men. Musashi never lost a fight. In addition, he studied the arts extensively, and was a cultivated man. His greatest legacy is the Book of Five Rings, which is widely-read today by ambitious and powerful men.

11. Louis XIV of France (1638 - 1715): "Louis le Grand" was the longest-reigning monarch in European history, spanning over 72 years, though he did not take personal control until the age of 23. In his reign, he oversaw the rise of France as the greatest European power and himself as the most powerful monarch in Europe. His territorial expansion strengthened France, and to his credit (which is a lesson well-worth learning), Louis was able to put his monumental ego in check somewhat to the degree that he recognized talent when he saw it and put it to use extensively. If another measure of a man's worth is the quality of the men working under him, then Louis XIV is one of the greatest of all time. Such names as Turenne, Colbert, Vauban, and Villars, along with numerous others were all under his employ, serving his interests. Despite losses in his last war, France was more prosperous and secure after him than before him.

Louis was a very cultured man and he saw French culture reach a degree of pedigree and influence that was unrivaled. He was one of the best power players in history. A mere look of displeasure from the King could frighten and humiliate not just other men, but other men of power. Naturally, he attracted women like a magnet- and it wasn't just because he was King. He was handsome and had top-notch game. In short, Louis XIV was maxed out in all categories, but all of this isn't something he was just handed- he had to overcome the chaos of the Fronde as a child to get where he was.

There is one very important lesson from Louis to learn and not repeat, however. Throughout his lifetime Louis' unmasked ambition and aggression simply made him too many enemies. And in the War of the Spanish Succession, it would cost him, first and foremost at the hands of the next man on this list.

12. John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough (1650 - 1722): I've written about him on this site before, so I won't be too lengthy. It was under his direction that Louis XIV was baffled and humiliated by the Grand Alliance, but this was far from a certain fate. Marlborough is perhaps the ultimate example of a late bloomer. Impoverished in his youth, he played court politics perfectly and rose above many challenges and setbacks to secure his fame and fortune in his 50's- by navigating complex international relations and winning stunning battlefield victories. It also helped that he chose the right wife, even though luck may have been on his side with this choosing.

Another measure of a man's prowess is the type of woman he settles down with, and Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough, was quite the catch- and a dangerous one. She was considered beautiful well into her middle age by contemporaries, but she was also a cantankerous bitch who was widely hated. Her own children despised her and she was arrogant enough to try to control Queen Anne. Despite this, she never dared treat her husband poorly, and was devoted to him even after he died. In one entry in her diary, she was very blatant about the pleasure he gave her when he returned home one day from campaign. That Marlborough could secure the love and devotion of such a woman speaks monuments as to his personality.

If there are three words to learn from his life, they are these: ambition, persistence, initiative.

13. Benjamin Franklin (1706 - 1790): The first premier American, Franklin was probably as close to the ideal of a renaissance man as one can get. Rising above poverty at a young age by his printing trade and writing, Franklin didn't dare stop there. His experiments with lightning became world famous, and his wisdom as a politician and statesman is well-worth learning. And of course, in addition to his success in business, science, and politics, Franklin was a noted playboy. He attended the notorious Hellfire Clubs in England and was charming and attractive to the ladies of the French court even in his 70's.

14. Giacomo Casanova: (1725 - 1798): The man whose name has become synonymous with seduction, Casanova was a traveler and adventurer who managed to get himself imprisoned and escape from his confinement. He constructed a role for his life that he wanted to and not what convention seemed to have planned for him. He is perhaps the ultimate example of the nomad- the man that really found no career but made the most of his life by various enterprises. His character is certainly interesting, and should serve as an example in not only seduction, but in assuming different roles for maximum effect, defying society to do so.

15. George Washington: (1732 - 1799): The 18th century's "action hero," George Washington's wisdom and foresight in becoming the "Father of His Country" is well-known. His Farewell Address is one of the most astute political documents I have ever read, which is why it is on my recommended list of readings. But he was more. He ran a successful business and displayed immense personal bravery in his service in both the French and Indian War and the Revolution. It's almost a miracle that Washington wasn't killed in action, and it makes one wonder whether he was truly picked by a supernatural destiny for greatness. Throughout his life Washington showed a determination to rise and a fortitude of leadership that are vital areas of study. He also knew how to mask his ambition perfectly- a very important thing, as we've seen in the cases of Caesar and Louis XIV.

16. Frederick Douglass (1818 - 1895): I read Frederick Douglass' Narrative in my freshman year of high school. Despite it now being many years later, it has still stuck with me. There is a rawness to it that sucks the reader in and makes him feel present in the narrator's life. He experiences first hand the hardships that Frederick went through and the joy that was felt when he escaped. Frederick's first job as a free man, despite being a somewhat menial position, was described in such flowery terms because of how much it meant to him to be his own master. It is a powerful thing to read. In the life of Frederick Douglass we see a man that was determined to not only escape from slavery, but make something of himself as a free man. This drive eventually led to him dining in the White House and, like Casanova, defying the role that society had laid out for him.

17. John D. Rockefeller (1839 - 1937): One of the wealthiest men in history, Rockefeller wasn't born into it- he earned it through relentless drive and savvy business acumen. The story of his exploits against competitors is legendary. Nothing less than a monopoly on oil would do, and Rockefeller employed genius ways to attain it. His success can be summed up in a few words: he was hated and vilified for decades in his own lifetime. The old adage from Winston Churchill can easily apply here: "if you've made enemies, be thankful. It means you've done something."

Rockefeller also helped to establish the modern tradition of philanthropy. He was not a hoarder, but gave vast sums away, and did much for the advancement of education and medicine.

Rockefeller may have been ruthless in business, but he certainly had a heart. We would do well to remember this.

18. Warren E. Buffet (b. 1930): A name that recurs on the Forbes list of the world's wealthiest people like clockwork, Warren Buffet is the most successful investor of the 20th century, and if you really want to make money on the market, you need to at least listen to what he has to say. He also displayed a business acumen from a very young age, famously going from door-to-door to sell various things in his youth.

He took literature on investment seriously when he was in college, and became a millionaire in his early thirties (back when it was much more of a big deal than it is today as well).

Though he famously suffered in 2008, losing tens of billions, his lessons still need to be learned.

Warren Buffet is also known for his sense of humor, and listening to him is far from a chore. It is entertaining.

19. Arnold Schwarzenegger (b. 1947): Imagine yourself as a poor immigrant in a new country whose language you do not speak. What would you do? Where would you go? How would you eke out a place in life?

For Arnold Schwarzenegger the answer was dedication in the gym. Though his taking of steroids is now well-known, Arnold winning the Mr. Olympia competition seven times put him on the map. But he didn't want to stop there. Arnold wanted to be a Hollywood actor. He was told that he couldn't do it. No one would want to hear his accent. No one would want to pronounce his name. Arnold didn't care, and did it anyway, becoming one of the greatest action heroes in history. His level of influence was enough for him to marry into an established and wealthy family, the Kennedys.

That's quite a resumes, but he still wasn't done. Always passionate about politics and bucking the trends in Hollywood by being a staunch Republican (the Democrats, to him, sounded too similar to the Communism in Eastern Europe that he wanted to escape from), Arnold eventually decided to run for Governor of California in the special election of 2003. Arnold won, and served for seven years. He even got his own postage stamp in his native Austria for this.

Arnold has returned to acting. He is already a living legend, and seems to have many years left in the tank.

20. Marcus Luttrell (b. 1975): A modern day warrior who endured pain and suffering unimaginable to most of us, Luttrell, the lone survivor of Operation Red Wings, has always shown a grit and determination that is the necessary catalyst to making men great. His devotion to his comrades is the ultimate example of friendship. Listening to him speak is always an eye-opening experience. Full of both wisdom and inspiration, his speeches will leave you deep in thought. Marcus is a living example of cool masculine resolve, and a signal to young men that there are contemporaries worthy of emulation.

And there you have it. My list of twenty. It was very enlightening and inspiring to create, and I learned a lot just from thinking about and compiling the list. There will be much to gain from it. I encourage every one of my readers to make a list of your own. And do share it with me. I'd love to hear from you. Masculinity Historical Role Models

My Grandfather, the Dinosaur

Today marks the 72nd anniversary of the bombings at Pearl Harbor, and thus the entry of the United States into World War II.

Like most men of his generation, my (paternal) grandfather signed up to serve, joining the United States Navy after the attack. I don't know a whole lot about my grandfather. I never met him in person, only talked to him over the phone when I was still a boy. He died in 1997 when I was 9. In many ways he was not an example of a man that I want to emulate. I am told that he was obese in his later life. He was a diabetic that still refused to eat properly and take care of himself- no doubt this led to his death. He divorced my grandmother (when it was uncommon, in the 50's) and was not a very active part of my father and uncle's lives.

In his younger days however, he was the epitome of what a man should be- resolved, a pillar of strength supporting his country (at the right time) and people, and a dogged survivor. I would venture that scarcely any men of my generation have a quarter of his strength at that time.

A veteran of the Battle of Leyte Gulf in late 1944, my grandfather was stationed on the miniature aircraft carrier, USS St. Lo. Originally called Midway, it was considered bad luck in naval tradition to rename a vessel, and its fate in the battle seemed to prove it, as St. Lo was the first major vessel to be sunk by a Japanese Kamikaze attack.

My grandfather, aboard the ship at the time, went down with it. He was stuck at sea for three days in shark-infested waters before he was finally rescued. He was a lucky one, as 143 of his comrades on board died or went missing.

I seriously wonder how many men of my generation could live up to this example- to fight and survive the way that he did. How many of us would perish? I personally don't think I could have a shot in hell. Men like that seem to be dinosaurs in this age.

But it is this knowledge that I have his blood in my veins that is a personal inspiration to make myself better as a man. We of Generations X and Y are the grandchildren of men like this, and it is a true embarrassment that we've become so soft over the years, driven by an abundance of wealth and lack of self-discipline.

However these are learned traits, and it is also in our power to become like our grandfathers- bold and brave warriors in our everyday lives that fight for what we want, and survive the onslaught of the enemies of our society.

We will likely never face the hardships they did, but we can nevertheless become better men. The journey is rewarding in itself.

Just to note so as not to slight him, my maternal grandfather also served, joining the Army Air Corps that would later become the USAF after the war, but he was stationed in the Aleutians and never saw action, hence why my paternal grandfather's story is recalled with more reverence on my part. He faced the greater hardship. World War II Battle of Leyte Gulf Pearl Harbor Day USS St. Lo

Your Dignity is Non-Negotiable

One story that profoundly sticks to my mind and that I recall with reverence as I navigate this world is that of the trial and execution of Charles Stuart I, King of England, Scotland, and Ireland, who was beheaded by the rump of his own parliament after being tried and convicted for treason in his own country. Aged 48 at the time, Charles' life was a dramatic roller coaster from the moment he was a small child and the constant in it was that he always held himself to a high standard. His dignity was never something to be negotiated.

Born on November 19th, 1600, Charles was the youngest child of the King of Scotland, James Stuart VI and his wife, Anne of Denmark. In March 1603, when Charles was but two, Elizabeth Tudor, Queen of England and Ireland for over forty years, died, and her first cousin twice removed, James, succeeded to the thrones of her kingdoms, as he was her senior genealogical relative. As James and his family made the trip south from Edinburgh to London, one member was conspicuously absent: James' youngest son, Charles. The boy was in such fragile health that his father was worried the traveling would adversely affect him, and in truth, nobody expected Charles to survive to adulthood.

Charles did eventually make the trip, and was determined to overcome both his physical weaknesses and the stammer in his speech. In the first area, he took up a vigorous program of exercise to strengthen his body, taking long runs around the park and eventually taking up horse riding, fencing, and shooting. He would become proficient in all three. Attempting to overcome his stammer, Charles would place pebbles in his mouth and try to speak. The latter therapy, as you might expect, was not as successful.

Charles as a child.

The young prince strove to hold himself to a higher standard than his father James, whose court has had a reputation of casualness and carousing ever since his reign. Charles was appalled by his father's seemingly un-kingly behavior, and now heir to the throne (his stronger elder brother Henry died in 1612), he was determined to go a different, more elegant direction with his own court when the time came. Father and son did agree on one very important aspect of kingship however- the monarch's divine right to rule his realm, accountable only to God. This belief, and Charles' adamant defense of it, would haunt him throughout his entire reign, and ultimately cause his undoing.

James died in 1625, and Charles became King of the three kingdoms. It must have been a very pleasing moment for the young king. Doubted by his own family that he would even survive to adulthood, Charles was now on the throne, helped in no small part by his determination to overcome his weaknesses.

Charles as a young king.

Almost immediately however, as his father before him, Charles was at odds with his Parliaments. Its power over the purse being established during the Middle Ages, Charles, as all Kings of England, needed the consent of Parliament to obtain the money he needed to pay for his projects. However, he found his various Parliaments so disagreeable that he dissolved them very quickly, and was determined to rule alone. This he did successfully for eleven years, finding creative ways to raise money (some of these ways however, such as the infamous Ship Money, were bitterly resented, and cost Charles much goodwill).

Eventually however, troubles in Scotland caused by Charles' religious policies forced him to call a Parliament, as it was the only body that could vote him the money he needed to deal with the situation. This 'Short Parliament' was dissolved quickly, but the situation in Scotland was now so dire that Charles had no choice but to call another one, the 'Long Parliament' and negotiate. Part of these negotiations led to the execution of Charles' close friend and advisor, Thomas Wentworth, Earl of Strafford. In an act of complete misery and humiliation, Charles needed to sign his own friend's death warrant, and he agonized for the longest time before finally caving. This was an act which Charles would never forgive himself for.

During these rounds of negotiations, Parliament, sensing weakness, pounced and demanded, among other things, Parliamentary control of the military. This infuriated Charles. In January of 1642, Charles acted how any man might when pushed to the brink. Seeing what could only be described to him as a body of petulant, unsatisfied children attempting to usurp the ancient laws of the land, the King reacted with swift force. He went to arrest five troublesome MPs in the House of Commons and one in the Lords on a charge of treason, but they were all warned beforehand and escaped. War was now inevitable.

How many of us might react in the same way? It is difficult to keep one's composure in the face of such insolence. This website has been the focus of much the same kind of attacks- the strong mob probing for or sensing weakness in the party from which it wants something. Charles resolved to bravely stand up for what he perceived as his divinely granted rights, and to punish the wickedness of the insolent mob.

The war however, was not kind to Charles or the Royalist cause. He was facing a superiority in manpower from the beginning, the military brilliance of Sir Thomas Fairfax and Oliver Cromwell, and the might of the New Model Army- the nascent genesis of the professional British soldier that would conquer a quarter of the globe in centuries to come. These factors were too much and finally brought the King to defeat. In 1648, after failing in his attempt to restore himself to power in the Second Civil War, the King was brought to trial.

The decision to try Charles was a controversial one. Most of the Long Parliament simply thought that they were fighting to bring the King to the negotiating table. These moderates were purged by the army, leaving only a rump that consented to the trial.

Charles at his trial

Charles' dignity was on display at its absolute best in the last chapter of his life. He refused to cooperate with the court or answer the charges, rightly claiming that there was no law in England that allowed for the trial of the King. He would answer, he said, when he knew by what authority he was brought before this tribunal.

Charles calmly faced down his accusers in this event. He lost his stammer, speaking clearly and powerfully. He explained that the Divine Right of Kings and the ancient laws of the land did not allow for this farce of a court.

Nevertheless, the verdict was never in doubt, and Charles knew this. His power had been gutted by the war. On January 27th, 1649, Charles was declared guilty of high treason and sentenced to execution three days later.

The 30th was a bitterly cold day. Charles demanded extra shirts so that he would not shiver as he made his way to Whitehall in the frigid winter air. He did not want anyone to mistake a shiver from the cold for shivering due to fear. After bidding a tearful farewell to two of his children, he walked the last walk of his life. He was not afraid nor did he even think that his execution was wrong- he felt that it was the just price to be paid for his earlier execution of the Earl of Strafford, and respectfully owned up to this mistake before God.

Addressing the people gathered to witness the event, Charles showed neither fear nor sorrow, and, after assuring that his intention was to uphold the laws and liberties of his realm declared:

"I go now from a corruptible to an incorruptible crown, where no disturbance can be."

The King was then beheaded, shocking the crowd and all of Europe.

Though Charles had been defeated in the war and placed in a position of powerlessness, he never let his enemies rob him of his dignity. His adamant refusal to negotiate cost him the war, his crown, and his life, but his self-worth was not to be lost. In the face of a most stressful situation, he refused to let his enemies set the frame against him, retaining control of the one thing he still had power over- his self-respect.

Posterity will remember a man for his accomplishments and his failures, but it will also remember him for his dignity and character. Thus, though the loser, Charles is often remembered in a positive light, considered a martyr, and his memory carries with it the air of nobility that his character created.

Always strive to hold your self-respect in the highest regard. It is how people will remember you when you are gone and how people will value you in your time in this world. And it is the one thing that is not subject to the chaotic whims of fortune.

The 34th law: act like a king to be treated like one.

So Charles did. Even to his death.

Update: You can also read this article on Return of Kings.
King Charles I Execution 1649

The Musketeers of the Line

Engraving of an early musketeer, likely from the 16th century (given the helmet).

One of the things that's been coming to my mind recently in my quest to overcome my approach and other social anxieties is the image of the musketeer, standing in line, exposed to enemy fire, bearing his weapon against the enemy.

I will never experience combat, and I will thus never know how truly terrifying it must be to go into battle, but I think that it must have been particularly terrifying to these men, standing in line with early firearms and fighting in linear formations. Unlike other forms of combat, such as phalanx formations, the Roman legion, and modern rapid movement tactics, or even the contemporary pike blocks that musketeers as pictured above would have seen, musketeers were absolutely exposed. They could not rely on the men to their left and right to protect them in the moment of action, as could their fellow warriors in a phalanx or pike block. There was no ducking for cover on battlefields like Breitenfeld, Naseby, or Leuthen for the infantryman armed with a musket. He did not have armor that could protect him from the weapons of the enemy as the Roman legionaries did and modern soldiers do, and given the limited medical knowledge of the day, physicians were often incapable of dealing with any gunshot wound in a vital area, so he could not even call for a medic with hope that he may live.

The musketeer had no hope but to pray that they weren't hit in the broad exchange of fire that defined the battles of this period, and would not essentially disappear until World War II. Instances such as the Duke of Wellington ordering his men to take cover from enemy fire behind a ridge at Waterloo are generally rare. In the moment of action, the musketeer had only his weapon and hope that the chaos of the battlefield would not engulf him.

Despite this, he faced down his fears and planted his feet firmly in the ground, standing the onslaught of cannon, enemy muskets, and cavalry ready to trample or cut him into bits. He was trained to face down these fears and do his job, and he did it with success.

Take this image of these musketeers, standing, fighting, and dying in line, completely exposed to the enemy. Now think of whatever it is you're afraid of- going on a job interview, doing a presentation, approaching a woman- whatever it is. Now think of the musketeers from centuries past facing down enemy fire with no protection- standing in a line almost waiting to die, and yet fighting anyway.

Chances are, whatever it is you're afraid of is utterly ridiculous when compared to the sheer amount of terror these men (or anyone who's gone into combat- but particularly them) faced. Yet through training, they overcame their fears and achieved glory. Who does not remember the stubborn redcoats withstanding the French artillery at Waterloo? The same can happen with you or me. Through training and discipline we too, can overcome any fear and achieve the immortality we desire. The obstacles we face pale in comparison to those that the musketeers did.

And so when I am facing a challenge that gets my brain to freeze out, I will try and picture the musketeers, among other things, whose discipline and bravery are the epitome of what I believe men should aspire to be, and were the cornerstones in the glory that they were able to achieve. Your fear is nothing to them, and your glory awaits.

The 28th regiment at Quatre Bras, by Elizabeth Thompson

Musketeer Gundpowder Warfare Courage

Moments in Time #2: The Battle of Blenheim

Today is the 309th anniversary of the Battle of Blenheim, a true strategic masterpiece. The Duke of Marlborough (profiled here) and Prince Eugene of Savoy showed the world the spectacular result that two men, determined to fulfill their goals, and acting in full trust and confidence could achieve, even when the odds appeared to be against them. Let us also remember all of those that fought bravely in an all-too-often forgotten war. Pictured below is a part of the tapestry of the battle as seen in Blenheim Palace- named for the triumph and to this day the seat of the Dukes of Marlborough.

I am also working on a video about this battle. I'll link it on this page when I get it out.

Battle of Blenheim 1704 War of the Spanish Succession

Profile of an Alpha: John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough

He is unfortunately a name that is not likely to be well-known beyond the circles of history students and buffs, but he has often been mentioned as the greatest man to ever command British forces on a field of battle, including by the Duke of Wellington, whose campaigns against Napoleonic France so often overshadow him. Yet it was he who was not only very arguably the better general, but the one who faced the greater challenge on the more decisive stage of history: and seized it with the boldness and supreme confidence that was so typical of his character. In so doing, he made his fortune and won undying glory on the lips of his countrymen. If ever there were a figure that personified the old adage ‘Fortune Favors the Bold’ he is a prime contender.

             

This status was far from pre-ordained for John Churchill. Born in 1650 to a gentrified but impoverished family, young John came of age in a very unique time in English history. Just the year before, King Charles I was beheaded. The English civil wars established a short-lived republic on the isle. His father, Winston (not to be confused with his famous descendant and namesake) had the bad luck to be on the losing Royalist side of the conflict, and his fortunes were quashed as a result. One thing young John would have learned in his childhood under Oliver Cromwell’s “republic” was that nothing was going to come to him. If he wanted to make something of himself in this seemingly upside-down world, John would have to do so on his own initiative. He was neither born into wealth nor great status, and would have to earn it on his own.

            

 The Middle Years:

             

Fast forward some time. It is now the fateful year 1688. The monarchy was restored, but it is in crisis once more, as the openly Roman Catholic James II succeeded his brother Charles II on the throne. In a staunchly and increasingly Protestant England, this was unpopular to say the least. Nevertheless, it was in James’ service while he was heir to the throne that John began to carve out a niche for himself. He’d been instrumental in putting down the Monmouth Rebellion against the new king only three years before. However, the winds of revolution were blowing in England once more, and John could sense their direction.

           

Horrified at the prospect of a Roman Catholic heir succeeding James, an invitation had been sent to William of Orange and his wife Mary (James’ own daughter) to invade and overthrow the King. John, for many years James’ employee, abandoned the patron that got his career started, explaining that his Protestant faith compelled him to make the decision. This may be true to some extent, but it is a certain plausible deniability as well. John was determined not to be on the losing side of history like his father was and made sure that such a scenario did not come to pass. For his actions, William and Mary rewarded John with a new title which would give him a new name. He was now the Earl of Marlborough.

             

Some might describe Marlborough’s actions as a gross betrayal. They were certainly unscrupulous. However, we can sympathize. The life of every man is going to have numerous crisis points wherein things we value will conflict. Advancement in life or even base self-preservation may test even the closest of friendships. I won’t claim to have all the answers to these situations. What I can tell you is that the road is difficult, and that each man should have a clearly defined set of goals to achieve. No one else is going to live your life for you and you must decide what is important to you- and be willing to live with the consequences of your actions.

             

While it may seem that Marlborough had it made after 1688, nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, life under William and Mary presented a new series of hardships, and his relations with them were not always good, guaranteeing lack of clout. He very often found himself on the outside looking in. Among his setbacks was imprisonment in the Tower. You see, Marlborough continued his correspondence with the now-exiled James II, and there was suspicion that he may have been amongst a group of plotters to restore him to the throne. While this plot was later revealed to be a forgery, Marlborough’s situation did not improve. It would instead take another relationship to get him to where he truly wanted to be in life.

The Marlborough Family

Becoming a Duke:

         

Long before the previous events, Marlborough married Sarah Jennings, a woman of similar background to himself but would prove monumental for his rise to the pinnacle of society. In her social circle was James II’s younger daughter, Anne, who became Queen after William died in 1702. Their intimate friendship assured Marlborough’s position at a critical time. War was again brewing with Louis XIV’s France, and the coming conflict (the War of the Spanish Succession) would indeed decide the international power structure arguably to this day. Marlborough had served with some distinction in William’s earlier wars, but his rocky relationship with the King assured an ultimately unfulfilling role. Recognizing his talents toward the end of his life, William carefully nudged Marlborough into a position of influence, and Anne promptly confirmed and expanded it. Marlborough was now Captain-General of the English and Allied forces against France, Master General of the Ordnance (a high military rank that was essentially in charge of all logistics), and the special ambassador to the Dutch Republic. A string of victories in 1702 prompted Anne to elevate Marlborough to a Duke.

             

So far, we’ve seen that the ability to take reverses in stride and never lose sight of his goal was vital to Marlborough’s career. Many men may have given up after the series of reverses he’d suffered under William and Mary. Now his perseverance (and his social circle) was beginning to pay off. During this time Marlborough also proved himself to be an extremely skilled negotiator and diplomat, keeping his army well-supplied and fed, and skillfully navigating the complex political situation of the grand alliance against France. But the ultimate test was still to come, one which would make or break Marlborough for all time. When reading, ask yourself: how would you react?

            

The Blenheim Campaign:

           
1704 was the most critical year of the War of the Spanish Succession. Bavaria had allied itself with France, and Louis XIV, old now but still as ambitious as ever, had his sights set on a victory that would guarantee him a position of immense strength. His plan was to use the territory of his new ally and march a combined Franco-Bavarian force to sack Vienna and knock Austria out of the war.

             

Marlborough knew what the French would attempt, but he had a major problem on his hands. In the Duke of Wellington’s praise of his predecessor, he mentions how Marlborough had Dutch politicians constraining his movements and thus his overall effectiveness. For the Dutch the move made sense. They wanted their army on hand to defend against a French attack, but this situation could have led to a catastrophe in 1704. If Austria were taken out of the war, Louis could concentrate his forces against England and the Dutch, making the situation immensely more dangerous for the latter. Marlborough saw this while most others did not. He knew the utter futility of staying north while the decisive action of the year would be taking place on the Danube. He was now at a crossroads. He could either stay up north and please most of the Dutch authorities, or he could march south to relieve the situation on the Danube. Marching south required Marlborough to take enormous risks. It would be long and arduous, fraught with all the difficulties of logistics and multiple enemy armies to contend with. The march would also be a direct contravention of his orders (to advance no further than the Moselle, as he had agreed with the Dutch authorities), which carried enough risk in itself. If he were to lose, one could expect quite a horrid fate for Marlborough indeed.

             

However, while lesser men would have seen only risk and likely have stayed behind, fearful of the consequences of defying orders and especially of failure, Marlborough saw an opportunity. He knew that the French would be caught by surprise by his movements (they too, knew what Marlborough was supposed to do). He also knew that if he could defeat Louis’ Franco-Bavarian forces, he could save Austria and deal the French a crushing blow. Indeed, the bigger risk that Marlborough likely saw was doing nothing while the pieces on the board were moving to crush his cause.

Marlborough's march to the Danube

            

Marlborough began his march toward the Danube in May. Along the way, he met for the first time Prince Eugene of Savoy, who would become his enduring co-commander. Eugene was by all rights at that point Marlborough’s senior as a general. Long feted in the Imperial court, he’d fought both the French and the Ottoman Turks, winning the Battle of Zenta against the latter and inflicting one of the most crushing defeats in history on them. Jealousy can often be seen between rival commanders in military history, and it could have been easy for anyone to be jealous of such an accomplished partner, fearing diminution of one’s own reputation and glory. Instead, Marlborough treated Eugene with complete courtesy and respect, and the two cultivated a close professional and personal relationship. The result was one of the most formidable teams in military history, and the French would be its victim.

             

Two months after their first meeting, Marlborough and Eugene won the Battle of Blenheim. The Franco-Bavarian forces were shattered: suffering over 30,000 casualties with 13,000 captured, including one of the French field marshals. Throughout the entirety of the campaign Marlborough never ceded the initiative, and now it paid off in dividends. Blenheim was the greatest triumph of English arms since Agincourt 300 years before, and from that point forward France was on the ropes. It is more due to politics that a crushing victory in the war wasn’t achieved.

Marlborough greets Eugene after their victory at Blenheim

           

Marlborough had at last attained his aristeia- his great moment of glory. More victories- and more hardships would follow, but Marlborough had reached the pinnacle of his life. He was 54 years old.

             

One final note that readers will take to heart: the Duchess of Marlborough, Sarah Churchill, was a notoriously cantankerous and difficult woman to deal with. Indeed, this is why her friendship with Anne deteriorated during Marlborough’s later career. She made many powerful enemies in her long lifetime. Despite this, John maintained Sarah's complete affections, and in an age where promiscuity among high-status women was by no means uncommon (the Duke and Duchess’ own daughter engaged in an extramarital affair, for instance) there are no suspicions of Sarah seeking out another man. She was utterly devoted to her husband (and he to her), and may have lost favor with the Queen due to her adamant support of his undertakings. This alone speaks volumes as to his character as a man.

Lessons from the Duke of Marlborough:

1. The great moment will more likely than not, fail to come to you. You need to seize it. The initiative is your ultimate ally. Unless you are born wealthy, your fortune will not make itself.
2. Have your goals in life and achieve them. Be prepared to accept the consequences of your choices along the way, for you may need to make harsh decisions.
3. Persevere. Life will give you many reverses of fortune. You can’t achieve your aristeia if you give up.
4. You must be willing to take risks (when appropriate and necessary, of course). Greatness doesn’t come without risk. Doing nothing is the biggest risk of all, as it means letting something else dictate your life- a sure marker on the road to mediocrity.
5. The cultivation of enduring friendship is vital, both for happiness and fulfilling success. As Marlborough showed with Eugene (and vice-versa), high-status, valuable men do not get jealous of other valuable men. They complement each other. You won’t maximize your own potential without others helping you along the way. While Marlborough and Eugene were both military geniuses with astounding solo successes, they achieved far more together than either could have accomplished alone.
6. Your social circle will make or break you.
7. It is never too late to become a great, valuable man. Marlborough reached his aristeia when he was 54 years old. Many people at that time didn’t even live that long. It is only too late when your mind is gone or when your corpse is burned or buried.

John Churchill Duke of Marlborough life profile