In Southern and Western Europe, 1475-1550
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 Niccolò Machiavelli (1469-1527)
served 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 Il
Principe (The Prince), stating that rejectable methods like corruption and
murder are acceptable if it is the interest of the ruler.
The Prince: The Struggle of House Borgia is a colorful
card game, 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, gain 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.
Author: Alexander S. Berg
Length: 90 minutes
Vendor: Phalanx Games
Contains:
