The Prince Niccolo’ Machiavelli

Machiavelli & His Beloved FlorenceNiccolo Machiavelli

Life Span: 1469 – 1527: 58 yoEducation: Attended The University of FlorenceOccupation: The Second Chancellor of the Republic of Florence (Gov’t Position) & worked for the Borgias (Rome)Writings: The Prince in 1513, but was not published until after his death in 1532. Also wrote The Art of War (1521) and The History of FlorenceOf Interest: (Wrongly) Exiled after being accused of conspiring against the Medici

Historical ContextItaly was a collection of city-states each with its own court and ruler, attempting to gain power and RETAIN POWER, and was not a unified countryFrench, Spanish, Germans, & Catholic Church all vied for power over ItalyFlorence: A Republican Gov’t led by the Borgias, then the Medici Family who were driven from power, then REGAINED power in 1512 with the help of Spanish Troops

Machiavelli & Florence

What was Machiavelli’s Purpose for Writing The Prince?

To ingratiate himself with the new Florentine Prince Giuliano de’ Medici to be returned to service in the Florentine government as had been his colleagues (He wrote letters for over 14 years asking to return)Using his political experience and his wide knowledge in history and philosophy, he offers Medici an expert handbook on how to: AQUIRE and MAINTAIN POWER! (Machiavelli knew from first-hand experience that goodness and right were not sufficient to win and maintain political office, thus he seeks to teach the rules of political power)The Medici NEVER allowed his return, NEVER READ The Prince, and even after the Medici were removed from power and Florence once again returned to a Republic, because the book was dedicated to the Medici, the new government never allowed his return.

Structure of The PrinceDivided into Four (4) Parts

1. Chapters 1 – 11 Catalogues the different types of Principalities

and the ways they are established and maintained2. Chapters 12 – 14 Describes the role of Military Power plays in

safeguarding a Prince3. Chapters 15 – 23 Lists the general Characteristics and Personal

Qualities needed to be an effective ruler4. Chapters 24 – 26 Both a historical glimpse of the political

climate of Italy in Machiavelli’s time and emotional appeal by Machiavelli for a future ruler who can UNITE the forces of ITALY and LIBERATE the country from foreign rule

Chapter Structure of The PrinceEach chapter contains two

things: 1) Machiavelli’s Advice; AND 2) Specific & Detailed Examples to Support

His Advice.

Part One: The PrinceChapterONE

TWO

THREE

FOUR

TitleOf the Various Kinds of Princedom,

and of the Ways in Which They Are Acquired

Of Hereditary Princedoms

Of Mixed Princedoms

Why the Kingdom of Darius, Conquered

By Alexander, Did Not, on Alexander’s

Death, Rebel against His Successors

Part One: The PrinceChapterFIVE

SIX

SEVEN

EIGHT

TitleHow Cities or Provinces Which before Their Acquisition Have Lived under

Their Own Laws Are to Be Governed

Of New Princedoms Which a Prince Acquires with His Own Arms and by

Merit

Of New Princedoms Acquired by the Aid of

Others and by Good Fortune

Of Those Who by Their Crimes Come to Be

Princes

Part One: The PrinceChapter

NINE

TEN

ELEVEN

TitleOf the Civil Princedom

How the Strength of All Princedoms Should

Be Measured

Of Ecclesiastical Princedoms

Part Two: The PrinceChapterTWELVE

THIRTEEN

FOURTEEN

TitleHow Many Different Kinds of Soldiers There Are, and of Mercenaries

Of Auxiliary, Mixed, and National Arms

Of the Duty of a Prince in Respect of Military Affairs

Part Three: The PrinceChapterFIFTEEN

SIXTEEN

SEVENTEEN

EIGHTEEN

NINETEEN

TitleOf the qualities in Respect of Which Men,

and Most of All Princes, Are Praised or Blamed

Of Liberality and Miserliness

Of Cruelty and Clemency, and Whether It Is

Better to Be Loved or Feared

How Princes Should Keep Faith

That a Prince Should Seek to Escape Contempt

And Hatred

Part Three: The PrinceChapterTWENTY

TWENTY-ONE

TWENTY-TWO

TWENTY-THREE

TitleWhether Fortresses, and Certain Other Expedients to Which Princes Often Have Recourse, Are Profitable or Hurtful

How a Prince Should Bear Himself So as to

Acquire Reputation

Of the Secretaries of Princes

That Flatterers Should Be Shunned

Part Four: The PrinceChapterTWENTY-FOUR

TWENTY-FIVE

TWENTY-SIX

TitleWhy the Princes of Italy Have Lost

Their States

What Fortune Can Effect in Human Affairs,

and How She May Be Withstood

An Exhortation to Liberate Italy from the

Barbarians

Genre of The Prince?Political Pamphlet: written to educate and

instructreaders in the general nature of the proper rules

of political conduct, political strategy, and the

political process; ORLaudatory Treatise: A flattering expression of

praise dedicated to a well-known personality; OREssay: a long and detailed one that discussesdifferent aspects of one theme in separate

chapters. That one theme is, of course, how to rule; ORLetter: a long one written to a friend and

intended to share personal confidences and mutual

concerns.

View Point #1: Machaivelli as Immoral/Amoral

• Immoral: Not conforming to standards of morality

• Amoral: Unconcerned with Right or Wrong

• Some view Machaivelli as a “Teacher of Evil”• The term “MACHIAVELLIAN” was coined to mean: cunning; scheming;

deceitful; unscrupulous(esp. in politics or in advancing one’s

career)(characteristic of doing whatever is

expedient)

Modern-day Connection: Rapper Tupac Shakur “Makaveli”

Although a student at Baltimore’s School of the Arts, Tupac read and studied The Prince (more than once while in Prison)

Makaveli became Tupac’s Alter-Ego and he knew the word Machiavelli was associated with controversyLast album released called Makaveli Afeni Shakur, Tupac’s mother created a line of Makaveli Clothing in 2005.

View Point #2: Machiavelli as a Realist/Pragmatist

Realist: The tendency to present or express things as they really arePragmatist: Philosophy of dealing or concerned with facts or actual occurrences