The prince by sir niccolo machiavelli 3 - Book Report/Review Example

Arrested on a charge of conspiracy in 1513, and put to the torture, he disclaimed all knowledge of the alleged conspiracy. Although pardoned, he was obliged to retire from public life and devoted himself to literature. It was not until 1519 that he was commissioned by Leo X to draw up his report on a reform of the state of Florence. In 1521-25, he was employed in diplomatic services and as historiographer. After the defeat of the French at Pavia (1525), Italy was helpless before the advancing forces of the Emperor Charles V and Machiavelli strove to avert from Florence the invading army on its way to Rome.

In May 1527 the Florentines again drove out the Medici and proclaimed the republic -- but Machiavelli, bitterly disappointed that he was to be allowed no part in the movement for liberty, and already in declining health, died on June 22”. (Steven) Niccolo Machiavelli is mainly famous for his masterpiece book Principie; Prince, he wrote the book in 1514 but the book was published 5 years after his death, in 1532.The major theme addressed in the book is “ how a prince can / should establish and maintain an iron hold on his people and govern the state”. . The author has specifically covered two perspectives of running the state, these include “of princedoms won by merit” and “princedoms won otherwise than by merit” .

According to his time and assessment author has categorized states into Republics and Princedoms. Princedoms are either hereditary or new. New Princedoms are difficult to handle. A princedom where rebellion has occurred can be suppressed easily using pretext of rebellion. If bloodline of old Prince is eliminated and there is uniformity in language and geography, new states are easy to control. In new states, Prince should protect his weak neighbors without making them strong enough. State previously run by a Prince with help of barons is difficult to control by a new emperor.

When the newly acquired state has hitherto lived under its own laws and in freedom, there are three ways of holding it. The first is to destroy it; the second to reside in it; the third to leave it under its own laws, choosing for its governors from the inhabitants such as will be friendly to you. However, the safest course is either to destroy it or to go and live in it. Well Armed Prince will prevail than the one who is not well armed. Those who rise to princedom by mere good fortune have much trouble to maintain themselves; some lack both knowledge and the power to do so.

Yet even this happens, he may lose what he has won, like Cesare Borgia. A man may rise, however, to a princedom by paths of wickedness and crime; that is, not precisely by either merit or fortune. To slaughter fellow citizens, to betray friends, to be devoid of honor, pity and religion cannot be counted as merit. But the achievements of Agathocles can certainly not be ascribed to fortune. On seizing a