In Machiavellis The Prince, the author wrote about how to obtain and

maintain political power. With an open letter dedicated to Lorenzo de Medici, he

intends and hopes to enlighten the Medici Family and discuss in plain language the
conduct of great men and the principles of the government. The book has 26
chapters that can be divided in to four parts: the different types of principalities
(Chapters 1-11), the different types of armies and the appropriate conduct of the
prince as a military leader (Chapters 12-14), the behavior of the prince and his
characteristics (Chapters 15-26) and Italys political situation.
In other words, the book is written to prove his proficiency in the art of the
state. He justified ruling by force rather than by law. A study of power how to
obtain it, expand it and use it effectively. Of course Politics is different from
Republics, he made this a point by stating that Of Republics I shall not now speak,
having elsewhere spoken of them at length. Here I shall treat exclusively of
Principalities, and, filling in the outline above traced out, shall proceed to examine
how such States are to be governed and maintained. He highlights war craft as
both an academic discipline (that can be studied through historical examples) and
as a matter of practical experience. For him, all affairs of government are viewed
through a military lens, because the ultimate goal of a government is selfpreservation; military defense -- embracing ideas of strategy, diplomacy, and
geographyis the means by which governments preserve themselves. Machiavelli
does not conceive of the prince as a man skilled in many disciplines, but rather as
one whose sole responsibility is to ensure the stability of the state that he governs.
In the final chapters, the book focuses on Italys disunity. The book is to
persuade the Medici family to lead Italy out of foreign domination using a strong
centralized leadership due to the failure of past Italian rulers. A notable point with
the rest of the book is the repeated invocation of God who has just been present in
this point. God favors the Medici, God wants the people to use free will, and God
sends sign to show that the time is near. The author even refers to the man who
was thought to have been ordained by God to save Italy, namely Cesare Borgia,
who but for his rotten luck would have unified Italy. Italy still waits for this promised
savior. Machiavelli believes that only Lorenzo deMedici can restore Italys pride and
honor. All of Machiavelli's observations and advice about the state and the prince
have been directed toward this goal, to bring forth the leader who will liberate Italy
from the barbarians and unify it. Then Italy will be the peaceful, prosperous state
Machiavelli envisions, with a prince who works for the security and stability his
subjects need.