Synopsis for Machiavelli The Prince PDF

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Synopsis for Machiavelli The Prince. Prof. DePlato...

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Synopsis for Machiavelli-The Prince This is a book written to a king, Machiavelli presents it as his greatest possession “an understanding of the deed of great men” (509). His first assertion is that in order for the lower class to understand the ruling class, or the ruling class to understand the lower class, they must have experience in the said class. So you must understand the other party in order to rule or be ruled. Chapter 1 discusses how there are republics and principalities. Principalities are either hereditary or new. And new ones are either entirely new or added on limbs from other states. Chapter 2 says that it is much easier to hold on to hereditary states because it is ruled by custom, which has strength in traditions. Also, a ruler who inherits power has few reasons and less cause to give offense, as such he will be liked more. Chapter 3; when starting a new principality via war you makes enemies of all those to whom you have given offense in acquiring power. One reason new rulers lose authority is when the people find themselves mistaken in their expectations and disappointed in their hopes of future benefit. Most newly added territories are either in the same region or speak the same language. This makes it easier to hold them especially if you don’t make new laws. However, if you acquire a territory in a land with different language and customs than you have a problem because you have no common tradition and you can’t hold them as well. But if you live in the said territory you will have a better chance of keeping it. R you could send colonies to settle there instead of your own presence. When ruling, people should either be “caresses or crushed, “ either they’ll love you or they wont have strength to rebel. One thing to keep in mind is that as soon as a foreign power enters into a region, the local weaker state ally themselves to it which only makes the invader stronger, so one must avoid this from happening in their own region. Machiavelli also mention that being a ruler is not easy but filled with “innumerable vexations and difficulties” (512). A wise ruler would foresee problems so they can be easily dealt with, the Romans are an example of one of the wise rulers. There are at least 6 things a king shouldn’t do: waste alliances with smaller states, increase the strength of one state, inviting powerful foreign states in. not living in the conquered state, not establishing settlements in the conquered state, and attacking too strong of enemies. He also suggests that a king should just fight out a war, the sooner the better, and get resolution. Because avoiding a war is really just deferring a war. Also, “he who is the cause of someone else’s becoming powerful is the agent of his own destruction” (514) because than the protégée will mistrust and destruct the empower-er. Chapter 4; in states governed by an individual the sovereign has more authority as opposed to one ruled by ministers creating dissension in the people’s affection for their rulers. If the ruler holds supreme authority , especially under traditions or hierarchy, than local authorities will not let you invade and others wont rebel around you, making ruling easier. It is easier to invade once you have the support of local nobles, because when there is under administrators attacking its easier, less loyalty to fight against. However, wiping out a bunch of nobles is harder than wiping out a single ruler. Also, with time people forget the old ruler and become secure in the new ruler’s possession. So conquering or ruling a territory is all about the loyalty of the people. The crucial factor in these outcomes is not the virtue or weakness of the conqueror but the characters of the conquered society. The success of conquering isn’t decided by the

ruler but by the type of nation/people attacked. Chapter 5; when you conquer a state with laws there is 3 ways to deal with it: lay them waste, go and live there, or let them live under their own laws. If you do option 3 they will knock you down. That leaves option 1 and 2, but option 1 is the most viable. Chapter 6; in new kingdoms the ruler has power depending on his level of skill because he has no old ruler to imitate. “both luck and skill enable you to overcome difficulties” (517) but skill is better, also a man with no kingdom is more likely to live in his new kingdom. A good ruler has chance to give them the first opportunity, but strength and virtue enables them to take advantage of it. Those who get their kingdom through virtue get it more difficultly but keep it easier because they are not imitating but relying on real skill and strength. The battle of a ruler who established a new system in an already traditional place is that those who do well under the old system wont like him and those who aren’t doing well under the old system will only kind of like him until they trust him. When a ruler can resort to force and overcome dangers he will succeed, but if he needs to be propped up or beg for support he will fail. You need an army to enforce your power. If they are unsuccessful at overcoming difficulties and dangers via virtue they will fail, but if they are successful than they are happy. Chapter 7; those who become rulers out of good luck acquire power with little trouble but can’t hold it because they didn’t get the people’s support while acquiring it. These kind of rulers are really puppets because they are dependent on the goodwill of whoever gave them the power. These rulers by luck crumple at the first crisis, except for those with extraordinary virtue. A foundation is needed to be a good ruler, and to maintain your rule. The politics of how Cesar got started and than maintained control of his land is discussed next. He got allies by flattery, with civil and military appointments appropriate to nobles standing. And he crushed his opposition before they were a threat. So a success example would be how he got rid of the leaders and won the peoples allegiance, and than laid a foundation for his future power. In order to bring initial order he put a cruel and efficient man in charge. But once the people disliked his cruelty, he blamed the cruel man for his cruelty and had him killed, so than the people liked the ruler instead. A good ruler must consider both policies for the immediate and the future. There are 4 things to do to keep power: eliminate all other rulers, acquire good allegiances, make a lot of allies, and acquire power quickly. Once you do those 4 things you switch from luck to skill. He provides an example of a duke who basically almost achieved greatness except that he fell ill at the wrong moment, other than that he had done everything with virtue and luck. A single mistake can destroy a ruler. Chapter 8; 2 other ways to get power are through a wicked scheme, or through when a private citizen gets the support of other citizens. Extreme wickedness can get power because that is a sign of a lot of strength. The first step to wicked takeover is kill all the old rulers. The wicked man works hard and is not just lucky. They go from the bottom up. Another evil way to get power is when a person thinks it is beneath them to serve another man as king. You must kill the rich and important to get power. The wicked, despite their faithlessness and cruelty, live safely in their homeland, instead of paranoid like a tyrant. There are two ways to be wicked, the good way is to use it so secure power and than not repeat it. The bad way is to abuse it and cause more bloodshed. A wicked ruler can never rely on his subjects cause they don’t trust him due to his constant attacks. So is this where the paranoia comes from? Chapter 9 is about when a private citizen becomes a ruler. He

either gets power by the support of the people or the favor of the elite. Class conflicts lead to rule by one man, liberty or anarchy. So one man comes to power when one of the classes fears the other and wants to control them. But if the masses give you power you are safer than if the elites give you power. If a citizen ruler gets the support of the masses and treats them well than he will also do well. A ruler needs the masses because if not than he cant fall back on anyone in crisis. Be good to the people and they’ll be good to you. A good ruler ensures that his citizens need him, in order to preserve his authority. Usually by being a dictator and benefactor, if the people need him to live than they will support him in a crisis. Make the people rely on you in order to survive. Chapter 10; there are 2 kinds of rulers: one who can defend themselves and one who have to rely on allies or strong defenses. The goal of being self sufficient is that no one will attack because you are so well fortified that enemies think it would be tedious to attack you. Even in a siege a good ruler can maintain loyalty via hope, fear, or other emotions. In a siege, if the people are provided for, than they will stay loyal. The key factor to ruling loyal people: you must be self-sufficient. Chapter 11; ecclesiastical rulers are special because they are founded in religion, they are secure and happy without building defenses or governing the subjects. So even when power is divided the goal is the same (don’t let the foreign powers get to big, don’t let internal powers get to big). Religious power is not all that it seems because popes live for such a short time they don’t make a big influence. But the pope Alexander is an exception to this. Julius was a noble pope because his goal was to build up the church, not an individual. Machiavelli agreed that strong military enforced papal power. Chapter 12; all government power is based on good laws and good armies, which go hand in hand. Mercenaries are useless because they aren’t really loyal to you. He also says that a good commoner and a bad commoner is bad, because a good one cant be trusted and a bad one will ruin you. Mercenary troops are a liability because they are not united like an individual sovereign or a republic is. The trouble with good mercenary commanders is that if they lose their motivation to fight, they are a threat, and so must be killed. Another reason paid troops are bad is that you get territory slowly, but lose it quickly. Italy is an example of states that were divided by loyalty to the church and independent states, and these states fought each other with paid troops. The troops like safe lives, nobody really likes to kill each other, and it is despicable because the troops are paid, not really loyal. Chapter 13; auxiliaries (armies from another ruler coming to assist you) are also useless. Because if the auxiliary loses their kingdom is still safe, and if they win, you are indebted to the other kingdom. With mercenaries the risk is cowardice (they wont fight) but with auxiliaries the risk is valor (they will than conquer you). So only a royal army is really effective, that’s the only way a ruler gets respect: by commanding their own troops. The different levels of effective troops are a mixed army of mercenaries and auxiliaries is better than just one, but a personal army that is loyal is the best. The key to success and security for a ruler is to have your own troops. Chapter 14; military strength is a virtue that not only keeps hereditary rulers in power and enables citizens to come to power. It is essential to all rulers as a virtue, a way to make you won luck. A disgrace for a ruler to avoid is contempt due to not having your own troops and disorganization of the militia. Two ways for a ruler to prepare for war during times of peace is thinking (to build knowledge) and doing (to build experience). A good ruler contemplates war during peace in order to be

prepared. A wise ruler will not relax during peace but will take advantage of the opportunities peace presets. One must always be ready to fight, its like survival of the fittest. Chapter 15; a man who wants to be good in all circumstances will be ruined, because not all circumstances are good. To every virtue there is a corresponding vice. So even a good ruler must have some evil in order to be a ruler. Some good deeds hurt you while some wicked deeds help. It’s a balancing act. Chapter 16; a good virtue that will hurt you in the end is generosity, because it wastes resources and leads to crushing taxes. Better to be miserly, because in the long run miserly turns into generosity die to lack of new taxes. Miserliness is a vice that makes for successful government. Seizing new wealth should make a ruler generous, because that is how they get the soldiers to keep conquering new resources. A ruler cant be too generous because that will lead to being hated and despised, the two worse things a ruler can face. Chapter 17; another vice that leads to good is cruelty, because than the people are law-abiding and successful. Compassion leads to disorder. Sounds like he’s arguing a tyrant is a wise ruler. He says it is safer to be feared than loved because men will offend someone they love but not someone they fear. Also, fear stays forever and compels men to keep their promises. But he must be feared while not provoking hatred. Avoid hatred by killing (with reason) but never take people’s property. Cruelty leads to loyalty via admiration and fear. A wise ruler can control fear, so he should rely on the emotion he can control: fear (not love) so a wise ruler is feared (buy not hated), sounds like a tyrant to me! Chapter 18; sometimes a good ruler must act like an animal and break the rules in order to win. A ruler must imitate the cunning of the fox and the ferocity of a lion, and it must be a mix of these not one or the other. Also, they must conceal their craftiness so no one will think you a hypocrite. Why is a good ruler supposed to be deceptive? This idea seems counter-productive to the happiness of the masses. Also, reputation is more important than true character. So long as the masses see you are a good ruler they will think you are, only the elites will know your true character but they wont snitch because the masses believe you and wont listen to them. Chapter 19; don’t tale what the people prize most, or their possessions, or they will hate you. To keep ambitious people down you must make an image of strength that they don’t want to face, like incumbents in congress do. 2 things a ruler should fear, their subjects and other rulers. Control these fears with an army and a strong reputation. An assassin won’t kill you if they don’t have the approval of the people. So if the people don’t hate you than you are safe. The best way to avoid conspiracy is for the people to like you. To sum up “I conclude that a ruler need not worry much about conspiracies as long as the people wish him well; but if the people are hostile to him and hate him, then he should fear everything and everyone” (540). Rulers should delegate responsibility for unpopular decisions to others, while taking responsibilities for popular decision, hence the creation of parliament. Most people know they cant please both the people and the soldiers, so they please the soldiers because they are a real threat. Since rulers are bound to be hated by one group, it is better to be hated by the less powerful. One can be hated for the good they do, just like for the bad. It may be good to keep an ally but bad because they are corrupt. To satisfy the soldiers, they hurt the populace. This eventually led to their demise. Severus was an awesome ruler, fox and lion, feared and respected, not hated by the armies. All rulers should fear an assassin who is willing to die, you can avoid this kind of assassin by not offending too many and making wise

decisions. 2 things to always avoid is being despised by the soldiers and hated by the people. You must maintain strong loyalties so that people wont lose their fear of you and kill you. Modern rulers problem is that they are so concerned about the populace because they have become the greater threat. Hereditary rulers also get loyal followers since tradition is on their side. A good ruler will pick and choose qualities from past rulers in order to really be successful. Chapter 20; when getting a new kingdom arming the people builds loyalty, but if you take way their arms they hate you. Keep your loyal followers happy and loyal, than the people with arms will fight for you. A ruler may secretly create opposition to take down so that when he conquers his “enemies” he will appear “powerful”. Those who oppose your seizure of power are easier to please because you can at least convince them you are worthy. Those who support your seizure will be harder to please because they will constantly expect more from you. There are many factors which determine if a ruler should or shouldn’t have a fortress, it depends on the circumstances. It is safer for the people to love you than to build a fortress. Chapter 21; a ruler gets a good reputation by great undertakings and remarkable things, an example would be using religion and war to justify cruelty and gain power/fear. Good domestic policy also helps a ruler, like rewards/punishments for loyalty. Also, one must not be neutral but choose alliance or enmity. If you are neutral you’re at the mercy of the other warring states. Your enemy will encourage you to be neutral, and your ally will encourage you to take sides because you enemy knows it is easier to conquer you when you’re neutral. It is best to pick a side and have a friend, either in victory or defeat. Prudence requires knowing which side to pick by assessing the risks. Improving and investing in the city should be rewarded; this will keep the people happy, loyal, and functioning. Chapter 22; assess a rulers ability by looking at his advisors, because who he picks as advisors says if he can recognize someone’s ability and keep them faithful. There are 3 types of brains: understands a matter for itself, understands after explanation, on does not understand at all. The first brain is an advisor and a ruler should at least be type 2. A bad advisor looks to their own interest and aims for their own benefit. Keep advisors happy so they’ll stay loyal. Chapter 23; there is no way to protect yourself against flattery and so be used and deceived. In order to make good decisions a wise ruler should fin an alternative to flattery or frankness. He should designate certain advisors to tell the truth and than act resolutely on his decisions. If he does not than he changes his mind every day and the people cant trust him and so they despise him. An unwise ruler cant get good advise because they wont recognize, listen, or adhere to good advise without wisdom. A rulers food judgment allows them to discern and act upon good advice. Chapter 24; a good ruler should know better and plan for future crisis in peaceful times. The best method of defense depends on your own decisions and your own strength. Back to self-reliance, a good ruler has it, a bad ruler trusts strangers and allies and the good will of the populace. Chapter 25; so chance or god does control some of a rulers life, but our own virtue is still important. A ruler must adjust their policy as the world changes. It is a good virtue for a ruler to change as chance changes the world. Success happens based on the character of the times, which may or may not suit a rulers style. So a rulers decisions must relate to the times. If one knew how to changes ones character as circumstances change than they would succeed. This is the ideal ruler, but he could never exist because people don’t change. Even someone who seemed ideal would not

have adapted in time to changing times if they had lived long enough to be put to the test. Men flourish when their behavior suits the times and fail when it does not, but the best course of action (since people don’t change) is to be headstrong and bold. Chapter 26; he argues that the time is now to free Italy. His true motive for the book perhaps? The circumstance for boldness are now. He wants them to fight for Italy using his ideas. And he uses religion to encourage them. He says Italy is a mess because it has no good rulers, they are the rulers to be obeyed, because they have virtue. So he is using flattery to convince them and stressing the importance of loyal troops. He stresses the weaknesses of the other armies and says he knows how to beat them. He says that...