Divide and rule facts for kids

Many believe the idea of "divide and rule" came from Philip II of Macedon. His saying in Ancient Greek meant "divide and rule."

Divide and rule (also called divide and conquer) is a clever way to gain and keep power. It means making groups of people or countries fight among themselves. This stops them from joining forces against a ruler or government.

Throughout history, many empires used this strategy to grow and control their lands. It can be hard to tell if leaders just took advantage of existing problems or if they actively created new ones.

This strategy has been used for a very long time. For example, in ancient times, Aulus Gabinius split the Jewish nation into five parts. The Romans also treated different states in the Achaean League differently. This helped them slowly break up the league.

Here are some ways this technique works:

• Creating or encouraging arguments between groups. This stops them from forming strong teams that could challenge the ruler.
• Helping and promoting people who are willing to work with the ruler.
• Making local leaders distrust and dislike each other.
• Encouraging groups to spend money on things that don't help them politically or militarily.

Understanding Divide and Rule

This strategy helps a ruler control different groups of people who might otherwise team up against them. Niccolò Machiavelli, a famous writer, talked about a similar idea in military strategy. He said a captain should try to split the enemy's forces. This could be done by making the enemy suspicious of their own trusted soldiers or by forcing them to divide their troops, making them weaker.

The saying divide et impera (which means "divide and rule" in Latin) is often linked to Philip II of Macedon. It was also used by famous leaders like Julius Caesar and Napoleon.

Many rulers, from Louis XI of France to the House of Habsburg, have been linked to this strategy. Even James Madison, an American founding father, mentioned it. He said that while it's often seen as a bad thing used by tyrants, it can sometimes be the only way to run a republic fairly.

How Countries Use Divide and Rule

Countries can use "divide and rule" to weaken their enemies' alliances. They might spread propaganda to make allied countries doubt each other. If the alliance breaks apart, the country using the strategy can become much stronger militarily.

In politics, this idea means breaking up existing power groups. It especially stops smaller groups from joining together. It creates rivalries and arguments among people. This prevents them from starting a rebellion against the leaders. The goal is often to make different groups fight each other, so they don't unite and challenge the powerful.

Historical Examples of Divide and Rule

This strategy has been seen all over the world.

Asia

Mongol Empire

The Mongols were a powerful empire. They used a "divide and rule" tactic by having foreigners manage conquered lands. For example, they sent Central Asian Muslims to work as administrators in China. At the same time, they sent Chinese people to manage Muslim populations in Central Asia. This stopped local people from gaining too much power.

Indian Subcontinent

Many historians say the British Raj (British rule in India) often used "divide and rule." They did this to keep control and stop the Indian independence movement. One British official, Mountstuart Elphinstone, even said, "Divide et impera was the old Roman maxim, and it should be ours."

Some Indian historians believe that before 1857, Hindus and Muslims in India lived together peacefully. They shared festivals and helped each other. But after the Great Mutiny where both groups fought the British, the British government decided to create divisions. They would secretly pay religious leaders to speak against the other group, causing conflict.

However, other historians argue that divisions already existed in India. They say the British didn't necessarily create them, but rather managed them. They believe that without understanding and dealing with these existing divisions, British rule would have been impossible.

Europe

• The ancient Greek historian Herodotus believed that if the Thracians had united, they would have been the strongest nation.
• The Romans defeated King Perseus and then split Macedonia into four separate republics. These republics were not allowed to have much contact with each other or other Greek states.
• During the Gallic Wars, Julius Caesar used a "divide and conquer" strategy to defeat the Gauls. The Gauls were already divided, which made Caesar's job easier. By the time they united under Vercingetorix, it was too late.
• In Revolutions of 1848, governments used this tactic to stop rebels.
• The British colonial rulers in British Cyprus sometimes encouraged the Turkish minority to weaken protests from the Greek majority. This policy made the existing tensions between the two groups worse. The island remains divided today.
• The splitting of Ireland in 1921 is also seen by some as an example of this strategy.

See also

In Spanish: Divide y vencerás para niños