Chapter 10

It now remains to treat of a tyranny; not that there is [1295a] much to be said on that subject, but as it makes part of our plan, since we enumerated it amongst our different sorts of governments. In the beginning of this work we inquired into the nature of kingly government, and entered into a particular examination of what was most properly called so, and whether it was advantageous to a state or not, and what it should be, and how established; and we divided a tyranny into two pieces when we were upon this subject, because there is something analogous between this and a kingly government, for they are both of them established by law; for among some of the barbarians they elect a monarch with absolute power, and formerly among the Greeks there were some such, whom they called sesumnetes. Now these differ from each other; for some possess only kingly power regulated by law, and rule those who voluntarily submit to their government; others rule despotically according to their own will. There is a third species of tyranny, most properly so called, which is the very opposite to kingly power; for this is the government of one who rules over his equals and superiors without being accountable for his conduct, and whose object is his own advantage, and not the advantage of those he governs; for which reason he rules by compulsion, for no freemen will ever willingly submit to such a government. These are the different species of tyrannies, their principles, and their causes.

It remains to discuss tyranny, not because there is [1295a] much to say about it, but because our plan includes it. We listed tyranny among the different forms of government. At the beginning of this work, we examined the nature of kingship. We looked closely at kingship in the strictest sense, asking whether it benefited a state. We also asked what form it should take and how it should be established. During that discussion, we divided tyranny into two types because both have something in common with kingship. Both types are established by law. Among some non-Greek peoples, an elected monarch holds absolute power. There were also rulers of this kind among the Greeks in earlier times, called sesumnetes. These rulers differ from one another. Some hold only royal power limited by law and govern people who willingly accept their rule. Others rule as despots, according to their own will. There is a third type of tyranny, which most properly deserves the name and is the exact opposite of kingship. In this form, one person rules over his equals and superiors without being accountable for his actions. He seeks his own advantage, not the advantage of those he governs. For this reason, he rules by force, since no free people will ever willingly accept such a government. These are the different types of tyranny, their principles, and their causes.