The Prince Chapters 5-9

Chapter Four - Main Ideas

• Centralized Monarchies: one rule with ministers who owe everything to him (e.g., persia under dairus)

• Feudal States: nobles rule their own lands with hereditary privileges, only loosely tied to the prince

Chapter Four - Key Points

• Centralized Monarchies: Harder to conquer because everyone is loyal to one ruler, but easier to hold once conquered. Since there are no independent nobles with hereditary power to rebel

• Feudal states: easier to conquer (since nobles may betray the prince), but harder to keep because those nobles can stir rebellion

Chapter Five - Options for rulers of the free cities

• Destroy the entirely

• live there personally as a ruler

• let them keep their laws but under an oligarchy loyal to the prince

Machiavelli’s conclusion of Free cities

The only secure way to keep free cities is to destroy them

Why is it that the only way to rule a free city is to destroy them? (chapter 5)

Free cities remember their liberty and old institutions; they will always rebel when given the chance, using liberty as a rallying kind

What are some examples of this (free cities- rebelling)?

• Spartans tried ruling Athens and Thebes with oligarchies

• Romans destroyed capua, Carthage, and Numantia —> Succeeded in holding them

Chapter 7- Main Idea

Gaining power through luck or another’s power is unstable

Whats an example of this idea (Chapter 7 - Main idea)

Cesare Borgia (Duke Valentino), who rose through his father, Pope Alexander VI.

Whats the lesson of all of this (Chapter 7)

Even if you gain power through fortune, you must quickly build independent strength (army, laws, loyal subjects) to make it durable.

Chapter 8 - Main idea

Some rise to power through violence and wickedness

What are some examples of this theme (Chapter 8)

• Agathocles of Syracuse: Rose from humbling origins to prince by massacring the senate and citizens. Gained power but NOT glory

• Oliverotto da Fermo: Invited townsmen to a banquet, murdered them, and seized power

Key Distinction - Chapter 8

• Crimes can secure power, but they rarely bring honor or lasting glory

Well-used cruelty

executed all at once, followed by measures to stabilize and benefit subjects —> more effective

Poorly-Used Cruelties

Continued violence that breeds hatred and instability —> leads to ruin

Takeaway-Cruelty

Can be politically effective if swift, calculated, and not prolonged.

Chapter 9 - Main Idea

A prince may arise with the support of either: The nobles (great men) who want to oppress the people, or the people, who only wish not to be oppressed.

Safer Foundation: It is safer to rely on the people than nobles; nobles see themselves as equals, are ambitious, and harder to control

Types of Civil Princes

• Prince backed by nobles —> more dangerous; he owes them favors and may be dominated

• Prince backed by the people —> more stable; he becomes their protector

Chapter 9 - Lesson

A wise prince builds his rule upon the favor of the people, since their support provides a stronger and longer-lasting foundation