Niccolo` Machiavelli

• Born 1469 in Florence

• Died in 1527 in exile just outside Florence in San Casciano

Tuscany

The Medici

• Cosimo’s reign (1434–1464)

• Piero the Gouty (1464–1469)

• Lorenzo “the Magnificent” (1469–1492) – After the Pazzi Conspiracy of 1478, a war

followed between Florence and the Pope.

• Piero “the Unfortunate” (1492–1494)

1494-1497 - Girolamo Savonarola and the republic

•Bonfire of the Vanities•War with Pisa •Excommunication of Savonarola

Machiavelli’s works

• Florentine Historiesor Istorie Florentine

• The Art of War

• The Prince

• The Mandragola

Florence: Santa Maria del Fiore

• Construcion begun in 1296 under Pope Boniface VIII

• Consacrated in 1436 by Pope Eugenius IV

What Florence and New Orleans have in common:

giglio – symbol of Florence

The Renaissance and Machiavelli

• Video

Machiavelli’ s bad reputation

• Machiavellian – deceitful, crafty

• ..\My Videos\RealPlayer Downloads\Engl401 - External links.flv

The Prince by Niccolo` Machiavelli

Chapter 1How Many Kinds Of Principalities There Are, And

By What Means They Are Acquired

• A state can be – a republic– or a principality

• hereditary• new

Chapter 2Concerning Hereditary Principalities

• An hereditary principality is stable because the natural prince has less reason and need to give offence

• and unless extraordinary vices cause him to be hated, it is reasonable to expect that his subjects will be naturally well disposed towards him.

Chapter 3Composite principalities

Difficulties occur in a new principality. A new prince is always compelled to injure those who have made him the new ruler, subjecting them to the troops and imposing the endless other hardships which his new conquest entails.

To enter a new territory one needs the goodwill of the inhabitants.

• If the states share the same language and culture, it is easy to hold them securely after destroying the line of the former ruling prince. The new prince should not change laws nor taxes.

• If they have different languages, one must go live there in person, or establish settlements.

• The new prince should also protect small neighbouring powers and weaken those which are strong.

• The prudent ruler anticipates political disorders.

Chapter 4Why The Kingdom Of Darius, Conquered By

Alexander, Did Not Rebel Against The Successors Of Alexander At His Death

Principalities can be governed in two different ways: either by a prince, with a body of servants, who assist him to govern the kingdom as ministers by his favour and permission; or by a prince and barons, who hold that dignity by antiquity of blood and not by the grace of the prince.In states governed by a prince and his servants, the prince has more authority.

CHAPTER 5Concerning The Way To Govern Cities Or

Principalities Which Lived Under Their Own Laws Before They Were Annexed

There are three courses for those who wish to hold states newly acquired: the first is to ruin them, the next is to reside there in person, the third is to permit them to live under their own laws, drawing a tribute, and establishing within it an oligarchy which will keep it friendly to you.

Chapter 6New Principalities Acquired by one’s own Arms

and Prowess• Prudent men should follow the example of great

men and they should aim higher than their objective.

• Opportunities provided by fortune allow private citizens to become princes, but their abilities enable them to seize the opportunities.

• Changes in a state’s constitution is dangerous and difficult.

• The new prince must be armed.

Chapter 7New Pricipalities Acquired with the Help of Fortune

and Foreign Armies

• Cesare Borgia acquired political power by fortune, eliminated all the families of the rulers he had displaced, used diplomacy to maintain his power by placing a cruel man in control of some of the territories, and then blamed him for the cruelties.

• Men do you harm because they fear you or because they hate you.

Chapter 8Those who come to Power by Crime

• To kill fellow citizens, to betray friends, toi be treacherous, pitiless, irreligious can win a prince power but not glory.

• Cruelty is used well when it is employed once for all. Benefits should be granted gradually.

• Cruelty is used badly if it grows in intensity rather than disappearing.

Chapter 9The Constitutional Principality

• When a private citizen becomes a ruler, by the favor of his fellow citizens, it is a constitutional principality.

• Power can be kept if the prince is a man of courage, who does not despair in adversity, who does not fail to take precautions, and who wins general allegiance by his personal qualities and the institutions he establishes.

• A wise prince must devise ways by which his citizens are always dependent on him. Then they will be faithful.

Chapter 10How the Power of each Principality should

measured• A prince who has a well-fortified city and does

not make himself hated cannot be attacked. • A powerful, courageous, prince will always be

able to overcome all such difficulties (siege), inspiring his subjects now with hope […], now with fear.

• The prince can easily inspire his subjects with determination during a siege, if he has adequate provisions and means of defense.

Chapter 10Ecclesiastic Principalities

• Ecclesiastical principalities are maintained by religious institutions, of such a poweful kind that, no matter how the ruler acts and lives, they safeguard his government.

• The Church has attained great temporal power with Pope Alexander VI.

Chapter 12Military Organization and

mercenary troops