The Prince · Chapter
XXVI: An Exhortation to Liberate Italy from the Barbarians explained
Machiavelli concludes The Prince with a passionate appeal to the Medici family to unite and liberate Italy from foreign domination.
What happens
Machiavelli concludes The Prince with a passionate appeal to the Medici family to unite and liberate Italy from foreign domination. He argues that the present moment is uniquely favorable for a new prince to establish a new order, drawing parallels to Moses, Cyrus, and Theseus. He emphasizes the need for a national army composed of Italian citizens, critiques the weaknesses of Swiss and Spanish infantry, and urges the Medici to seize the opportunity to restore Italian glory.
Themes in this chapter
Military Strength and Self-Reliance
Machiavelli argues that a prince must rely on his own citizen army rather than mercenaries or foreign troops to secure and liberate the state.
The Role of Fortune and Virtù
The chapter emphasizes that while fortune has created an opportunity, it is virtù (skill and bold action) that must seize it, as God does not do everything.
Acquisition and Maintenance of Power
The exhortation is a call to acquire power over all Italy by establishing a new order and leading a national liberation.
Characters to notice
- Lorenzo de' Medici
Addressed directly as the hope for Italy's redemption; urged to lead the liberation.
- Moses
Cited as an example of a leader who emerged when his people were captive.
- Cyrus
Cited as an example of a leader who arose when the Persians were oppressed.
- Theseus
Cited as an example of a leader who emerged when the Athenians were dispersed.
- Niccolò Machiavelli
Author of the exhortation; voice of the plea for Italian unity and military reform.
Key passages
“And if, as I said, it was necessary that the people of Israel should be captive so as to make manifest the ability of Moses; that the Persians should be oppressed by the Medes so as to discover the greatness of the soul of Cyrus; and that the Athenians should be dispersed to illustrate the capabilities of Theseus: then at the present time, in order to discover the virtue of an Italian spirit, it was necessary that Italy should be reduced to the extremity that she is now in.”
Just as great leaders like Moses, Cyrus, and Theseus emerged only when their peoples faced extreme hardship, Italy's current desperate condition is the necessary backdrop for a new Italian hero to arise.
Machiavelli uses historical parallels to argue that crisis creates opportunity for a redeemer.
“God is not willing to do everything, and thus take away our free will and that share of glory which belongs to us.”
Divine providence provides opportunities, but humans must act on their own to achieve glory; God leaves room for human initiative.
This emphasizes the balance between fortune and free will central to Machiavelli's philosophy.
“Therefore it is necessary to be prepared with such arms, so that you can be defended against foreigners by Italian valour.”
The only reliable defense is a national army of Italian citizens, not mercenaries or foreign allies.
Reinforces the theme of military self-reliance and the need for a native militia.