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The Prince

by Nicolo Machiavelli

Translated by W. K. Marriott

DEDICATION

CHAPTER I. HOW MANY KINDS OF PRINCIPALITIES THERE ARE, AND BY WHAT MEANS THEY ARE ACQUIRED

All states, all dominions that have had an active part in the affairs of the world, have been republics or principalities. Principalities are either hereditary, in which the ruling family has long been established, or they are new. New ones are either entirely new, as Milan was to Francesco Sforza, or they are annexed as a member to an existing state, as the Kingdom of Naples was to the King of Spain. These principalities, when acquired, are either accustomed to live under a prince, or to live in freedom; and they are acquired either by one’s own arms or by those of others, by fortune or by ability.

CHAPTER II. CONCERNING HEREDITARY PRINCIPALITIES

I will not here discuss republics, for I have treated of them fully elsewhere; I shall deal only with principalities. I will assume that a prince of an established state needs little to concern himself about altering his system of government, because it is sufficient for him to follow the order of his ancestors, and to accommodate himself to the times as necessity dictates.

Even a prince of moderate ability will maintain his state if he does not recklessly depart from the institutions of his ancestors, and if he accommodates himself to fortune’s changes. But if a new prince succeeds to an ancient dominion, he will find it much harder to retain it than if he had succeeded to an entirely new state, because he has to satisfy the old nobility, whom he cannot afford to offend, while conciliating the masses, whom he must not displease. He must secure himself against the ill-will of his nobles, and at the same time secure himself against the masses.

A prince who inherits a state is praised if he maintains the structure of his state and his institutions, and merely adapts his policy to the circumstances of the time.

CHAPTER III. CONCERNING MIXED PRINCIPALITIES

The difficulties arise when a new state is added to a hereditary one. In the first place, if the new state is of a different language, customs, and laws, the difficulties are great, and to hold it one must have great fortune and ability. He who acquires it must either go and reside there to crush out the succession, or establish colonies, which are more loyal than garrisons. He who does not establish colonies must keep the aforesaid provinces heavily armed with his own troops, in which case the occupation will cost him more in the long run, and the acquisition will be a source of trouble.

Again, the prince who annexes a territory must consider whether the people there are accustomed to live under a prince or to live in freedom; and if they are accustomed to live under a prince, then being accustomed to the ruling family, it is easier to satisfy them by extinguishing the line of the former prince, provided the new prince does not materially alter the laws and the incidence of taxation. But if they live in freedom, the prince must be prepared to destroy them, or to go and live among them, so that incessant acts of aggression may prevent them from forgetting or trampling upon their new institutions.

CHAPTER IV. WHY THE KINGDOM OF DARIUS, CONQUERED BY ALEXANDER, DID NOT REBEL AGAINST THE SUCCESSORS OF ALEXANDER AT HIS DEATH

When states are acquired which are accustomed to liberty, there are three methods for holding them: the first is to lay them waste; the second is to go and reside there in person to check disorder; the third is to allow them to retain their own laws, drawing a tribute from them, and establishing within the state a small oligarchy which will keep the state friendly to the new prince. For this oligarchy, being the creature of the prince, knows that it cannot stand without his friendship and support, and it is therefore its duty to keep the state loyal. Cities that have been accustomed to freedom are more easily held by means of their own citizens than by any other means.

The Spartans and the Romans demonstrate this. The Spartans held Thebes and Boeotia; nevertheless, the only way they held them was by establishing an oligarchy in each city, for they would not endure the disorder that arises from absolute freedom.

CHAPTER V. CONCERNING THE WAY TO GOVERN CITIES OR PRINCIPALITIES WHICH LIVED UNDER THEIR OWN LAWS BEFORE THEY WERE ANNEXED

When states which have been accustomed to their own laws are acquired, there are three ways to proceed:

1. To bring about their ruin.
2. To go and reside there in person to check disorder.
3. To allow them to retain their own laws, living under civil government, and exacting a tribute.

The third method always leads to trouble, for if the prince does not crush the spirit of liberty, the people will never remain quiet. A city accustomed to freedom, if it is not utterly destroyed, will never be quiet, no matter what means may be employed to secure it.

If the city or province is acquired, it is safest to destroy it or to go and live there. If a prince chooses to occupy it and not destroy it, he must be very careful not to neglect the ancient laws or customs, and must not alienate the citizens by heavy taxation.

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