The Prince · Chapter
III: Concerning Mixed Principalities explained
Machiavelli discusses the difficulties of holding newly acquired territories that are part of a larger state, emphasizing the challenges of mixed principalities.
What happens
Machiavelli discusses the difficulties of holding newly acquired territories that are part of a larger state, emphasizing the challenges of mixed principalities. He uses the example of Louis XII of France losing Milan to illustrate the importance of managing conquered peoples, the need for a prince to reside in new territories, and the strategic use of colonies versus garrisons. He critiques Louis's errors, including aggrandizing the Church and bringing Spain into Italy, and concludes that a prince must avoid blunders that defer war to his disadvantage.
Themes in this chapter
Acquisition and Maintenance of Power
Discusses strategies for holding mixed principalities, including residing in the territory and using colonies.
Pragmatism Over Morality
Advises that men should be either well treated or crushed to avoid revenge, and that blunders should not be made to avoid war.
The Importance of Public Perception
Emphasizes the need for goodwill of natives and the danger of deceiving subjects' hopes.
Military Strength and Self-Reliance
Criticizes reliance on foreign powers and garrisons, advocating for colonies as a more effective and less costly measure.
Characters to notice
- Louis XII
King of France who lost Milan twice due to poor governance of a mixed principality.
- Lodovico Sforza
Duke who raised insurrections to cause France to lose Milan the first time.
- Pope Alexander VI
Pope whom Louis XII assisted in occupying the Romagna, weakening his own position.
- Cesare Borgia
Son of Pope Alexander VI, known as Valentino, who occupied the Romagna during Louis's reign.
- Ferdinand of Aragon
King of Spain with whom Louis XII divided the kingdom of Naples.
- Philip of Macedon
Historical figure referenced in the context of Roman management of conquered states.
- Antiochus
Historical figure driven out by the Romans, used as an example of controlling powerful neighbors.
Key passages
“men change their rulers willingly, hoping to better themselves, and this hope induces them to take up arms against him who rules: wherein they are deceived, because they afterwards find by experience they have gone from bad to worse.”
People willingly rebel against a ruler hoping for improvement, but often find their situation worsens.
Highlights the inherent difficulty in new principalities and the deception of subjects' expectations.
“men ought either to be well treated or crushed, because they can avenge themselves of lighter injuries, of more serious ones they cannot; therefore the injury that is to be done to a man ought to be of such a kind that one does not stand in fear of revenge.”
When harming someone, do so severely enough that they cannot retaliate, or else treat them well to avoid revenge.
A pragmatic principle for maintaining power by eliminating the threat of retribution.
“a blunder ought never to be perpetrated to avoid war, because it is not to be avoided, but is only deferred to your disadvantage.”
Never make a mistake just to avoid war, as war will come anyway, and delaying it only harms you.
Critique of Louis XII's errors, emphasizing that avoiding conflict through poor decisions leads to greater loss.
