# III: Concerning Mixed Principalities explained — The Prince > Chapter companion for The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli. ## 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. ## Character check-ins ### 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 lines > 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._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_prince_se/chapters/iii-concerning-mixed-principalities - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_prince_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_prince_se/chapters