# The Prince — Character guide

> Key figures in The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli.

- [Niccolò Machiavelli](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_prince_se/characters/niccolo_machiavelli.md): Author and narrator, reflecting on political power and statecraft.
- [The Prince](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_prince_se/characters/the_prince.md): The central figure of the treatise, embodying ideal princely rule.
- [Cesare Borgia](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_prince_se/characters/cesare_borgia.md): Duke of Valentinois, exemplar of ruthless ambition and political cunning.
- [Pope Alexander VI](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_prince_se/characters/alexander_vi.md): Corrupt pope and father of Cesare Borgia, wielding immense political influence.
- [Pope Julius II](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_prince_se/characters/julius_ii.md): Warrior pope who expanded papal territories through military campaigns.
- [Francesco Sforza](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_prince_se/characters/francesco_sforza.md): Mercenary captain who became Duke of Milan through ability and fortune.
- [Lorenzo de' Medici](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_prince_se/characters/lorenzo_de_medici.md): Ruler of Florence and dedicatee of The Prince.
- [Agathocles](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_prince_se/characters/agathocles.md): Sicilian tyrant who rose from low birth to kingship through crime.
- [Oliverotto da Fermo](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_prince_se/characters/oliverotto_da_fermo.md): Ruthless mercenary who seized Fermo by murdering his uncle.
- [Severus](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_prince_se/characters/severus.md): Roman emperor who seized power through military force and cunning.
- [Cyrus](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_prince_se/characters/cyrus.md): Founder of the Persian Empire, model of virtuous princely conquest.
- [Moses](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_prince_se/characters/moses.md): Biblical prophet who led Israelites out of Egypt, armed by divine will.
- [Romulus](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_prince_se/characters/romulus.md): Mythical founder of Rome, exemplar of founding through violence.
- [Theseus](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_prince_se/characters/theseus.md): Athenian hero who unified Attica, model for princely founders.
- [David](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_prince_se/characters/david.md): Biblical king who slew Goliath, symbol of divinely favored ruler.
- [Philopoemen](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_prince_se/characters/philopoemen.md): Greek general who reformed Achaean military tactics and discipline.
- [Alexander the Great](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_prince_se/characters/alexander_the_great.md): Macedonian conqueror who built a vast empire through military genius.
- [Darius](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_prince_se/characters/darius.md): Persian king defeated by Alexander, whose kingdom remained stable after conquest.
- [Antoninus Caracalla](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_prince_se/characters/caracalla.md): Roman emperor known for cruelty and military campaigns in Gaul.
- [Commodus](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_prince_se/characters/commodus.md): Roman emperor whose decadence led to his assassination and civil war.
- [Pertinax](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_prince_se/characters/pertinax.md): Roman emperor who tried to reform the Praetorian Guard and was murdered.
- [Maximinus](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_prince_se/characters/maximinus.md): Thracian soldier who became Roman emperor through military revolt.
- [Albinus](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_prince_se/characters/albinus.md): Roman governor who claimed the throne after Pertinax's death.
- [Niger](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_prince_se/characters/niger.md): Roman rival emperor defeated by Severus in the civil war.
- [Louis XII](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_prince_se/characters/louis_xii.md): French king who invaded Italy and lost Naples through poor policy.
- [Charles VIII](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_prince_se/characters/charles_viii.md): French king who invaded Italy in 1494, sparking Italian Wars.
- [Ferdinand of Aragon](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_prince_se/characters/ferdinand_of_aragon.md): Spanish king who used religion as pretext for conquest and expansion.
- [Maximilian I](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_prince_se/characters/maximilian_i.md): Holy Roman Emperor known for indecisiveness and military overreach.
- [Girolamo Savonarola](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_prince_se/characters/savonarola.md): Dominican friar who ruled Florence through prophecy and was executed.
- [Pandolfo Petrucci](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_prince_se/characters/pandolfo_petrucci.md): Ruler of Siena who maintained power through cunning and manipulation.
- [Giovanni Bentivogli](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_prince_se/characters/giovanni_bentivogli.md): Ruler of Bologna who lost power due to internal factionalism.
- [Messer Annibale Bentivogli](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_prince_se/characters/annibale_bentivogli.md): Bolognese ruler murdered by the Canneschi family in a conspiracy.
- [Giovanni Fogliani](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_prince_se/characters/giovanni_fogliani.md): Uncle of Oliverotto da Fermo, murdered by his nephew for power.
- [Messer Ramiro d'Orco](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_prince_se/characters/ramiro_dorco.md): Cruel governor of Romagna executed by Cesare Borgia to appease the people.
- [Vitellozzo Vitelli](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_prince_se/characters/vitellozzo_vitelli.md): Condottiero betrayed and strangled by Cesare Borgia at Senigallia.
- [Pagolo Vitelli](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_prince_se/characters/pagolo_vitelli.md): Mercenary captain executed by Florence for suspected betrayal.
- [Carmignuola](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_prince_se/characters/carmignuola.md): Famous condottiero who served Venice and was later executed by them.
- [Giovanni Acuto](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_prince_se/characters/giovanni_acuto.md): English mercenary captain who fought in Italy for various states.
- [Filippo Casavecchio](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_prince_se/characters/filippo_casavecchio.md): Florentine friend and correspondent of Machiavelli, minor political figure.
- [Guido Ubaldo](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_prince_se/characters/guido_ubaldo.md): Duke of Urbino, deposed by Cesare Borgia in 1502.
- [Lodovico Sforza](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_prince_se/characters/lodovico_sforza.md): Duke of Milan who invited French into Italy and later lost his state.
- [Charles VII](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_prince_se/characters/charles_vii.md): French king who expelled English from France with Joan of Arc's help.
- [Philip of Macedon](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_prince_se/characters/philip_of_macedon.md): Father of Alexander the Great, who unified Greece through military reform.
- [Antiochus](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_prince_se/characters/antiochus.md): Seleucid king who fought Rome and was defeated at Thermopylae.
- [Queen Johanna of Naples](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_prince_se/characters/queen_johanna.md): Neapolitan queen who adopted Louis of Anjou as heir, causing conflict.
- [Niccolò Orsini](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_prince_se/characters/niccolo_orsini.md): Condottiero and member of the powerful Orsini family in Rome.
- [Giuliano de' Medici](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_prince_se/characters/giuliano_de_medici.md): Brother of Lorenzo, murdered in the Pazzi conspiracy of 1478.
- [Charles V](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_prince_se/characters/charles_v.md): Holy Roman Emperor who sacked Rome and dominated Italy in 1520s.
- [Caesar Alexander](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_prince_se/characters/caesar_alexander.md): Roman emperor Alexander Severus, known for his mild rule and military failures.
- [Marcus Aurelius](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_prince_se/characters/marcus_aurelius.md): Stoic Roman emperor and philosopher, model of virtuous rule.
- [Fortunati](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_prince_se/characters/fortunati.md): Minor figure mentioned in context of political fortune and success.

HTML index: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_prince_se/characters