The Prince

by Niccolo Machiavelli

The Prince is a simple and straight forward political guidebook for the ruling of autocratic regimes based on the first-hand experiences of Niccolo Machiavelli.

The Prince was originally published in 1513 and represented an important departure from previous thought. It is seen as part of a larger transition from medieval scholasticism to Renaissance humanism.

Source: Machiavelli, N. (1916). The Prince New York: The Macmillan Company

Dedication: The author's dedication to Lorenzo Di Piero De' Medici.
Chapter 1: How Many Kinds of Principalities There Are, and by What Means They are Acquired: A description of the different kinds of states.
Chapter 2: Concerning Hereditary Principalities: A discussion of the various methods that can be used to govern principalities.
Chapter 3: Concerning Mixed Principalities: A discussion of the difficulties of running a new principality, as opposed to a hereditary principality.
Chapter 4: Why the Kingdom of Darius, Conquered by Alexander, Did Not Rebel Against the Successors of Alexander at His Death: A continued discussion of the methods used to govern a principality.
Chapter 5: Concerning the Way to Govern Cities or Principalities Which Lived Under Their Own Laws Before They Were Annexed: A description of the three ways to maintain states that have been occupied.
Chapter 6: Concerning new Principalities Which Are Acquired By One's Own Arms and Ability: How princes should behave when ruling states acquired by force, and the difficulties of maintaining states acquired by inheritance.
Chapter 7: Concerning New Principalities Which Are Acquired Either by the Arms of Others or by Good Fortune: Maintaining power when it is achieved by the use of wealth, and the importance of loyalty.
Chapter 8: Concerning Those Who Have Obtained a Principality by Wickedness: The acquiring of power through criminal means.
Chapter 9: Concerning a Civil Principality: The rise of power by the means of fellow citizens, and the different aspects of a prince created by the people as opposed to a noble prince.
Chapter 10: Concerning the Way in Which the Strength of All Principalities Ought to be Measured The Prince: The importance of inspiring patriotism and increasing favor with the citizens of the principality.
Chapter 11: Concerning Ecclesiastical Principalities: The acquisition and governing of principalities governed by religious doctrine.
Chapter 12: How Many Kinds of Soldiery There Are, and Concerning Mercenaries: How the maintenance of a standing army is essential in the enforcement of laws.
Chapter 13: Concerning Auxiliaries, Mixed Soldiery, and One's Own: The risks of using auxiliary troops to defend ones state.
Chapter 14: That Which Concerns a Prince on the Subject of the Art of War: The importance of being educated in the art of war.
Chapter 15: Concerning Things for Which Men, and Especially Princes, are Praised or Blamed: The behavior of the prince as to achieve the greatest benefit for the principality.
Chapter 16: Concerning Liberality and Meanness: How being miserly will benefit a prince in maintaining power over a principality. A discussion on the pitfalls of excessive generosity.
Chapter 17: Concerning Cruelty and Clemency, and Whether it is Better to Be Loved than Feared: How the use of compassion and the inducement of fear should be employed to preserve power.
Chapter 18: Concerning the Way in Which Princes Should Keep Faith: Honor and the use of laws and force to succeed in acquiring and maintaining power.
Chapter 19: That One Should Avoid Being Despised and Hated: The prevention of internal and external insurrections by protecting ones reputation.
Chapter 20: Are Fortresses, and Many Other Things to Which Princes Often Resort, Advantageous or Hurtful?: The many methods employed to maintain power, and which are most effective.
Chapter 21: How a Prince Should Conduct Himself So As to Gain Renown: How a prince can increase his prestige with the people of the principality.
Chapter 22: Concerning the Secretaries of Princes: How representatives of the prince can increase or decrease the prestige of the prince.
Chapter 23: How Flatterers Should Be Avoided: How the prince should receive the advice of his ministers while still maintaining their respect.
Chapter 24: Why the Princes of Italy Have Lost Their States: The author gives explanation for the many princes who have lost their states.
Chapter 25: What Fortune Can Effect in Human Affairs and How to Withstand Her: How fortune can affect the outcome of affairs and the importance of free-will.
Chapter 26: An Exhortation to Liberate Italy From the Barbarians: The author gives advice in hopes of creating a strong, independent Italian state.

Year Published: 1916

Language: English

Country of Origin: Italy

Readability:

Flesch–Kincaid Level: 12.0

Word Count: 31,026

Genre: Philosophy

Keywords: history, philosophy, politics, society

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