The Prince

The Struggle of Borgia

Phalanx

Design: Alexander S. Berg

Made in Germany

Play Time: 90 Minutes

Players: 3-5

Includes: 60 playing cards, 30 cardinals game pieces, "ducats" game money, 5 family bases, 5 victory point markers, 1 Pope playing figure, 1 game turn indicator, 1 election pad and 1 rule booklet.

The Prince 

In Southern and Western Europe , 1475-155- was a period of Renaissance, a new cultural and social movement inspired by the Classical Era. Italy was in turmoil, and rival city states, controlled by influential families, vied for power. Some well-known names of that period are: de Medici, della Rovere, Colonna, Orsini, and the most infamous of them all: the originally Spanish House of Borgia.

The Florentine statesman Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527) served a as a diplomat under Cesare Borgia, and saw from up close the devilish methods with which this ruler expanded his wealth-and power. Rodrigo Borgia, later Pope Alexander I, has been named "the best incarnation of the devil on earth." Based on his experiences with the Borgias Machiavelli wrote his controversial II Principe (The Prince), stating that rejectable methods like corruption and murder are acceptable if it is in the interest of the ruler:

The Prince: The Struggle of House Borgia is a colorful cardgame, in which the players represent one of the great, powerful Italian families in Renaissance Italy. Making the best of available resources, and using the political influence of your family, you pave the way for your ultimate goal, which will guarantee your family fame, wealth and even more power: The Papacy. The road to becoming Pope is long and twisted: you will need to connive with other families, game fame by becoming patron of remarkable artists, gain Papal offices, strongholds in the patrimony of St. Peter, and vast sums of money, mind your military power, and jostle for position and political leverage until the time comes for the elector cardinals to retreat into their enclave and cast their votes for a new Pope.