The Prince

Lore & Background

From Machiavelli's correspondence, a version was being written in 1513, using a Latin title, De Principatibus (Of Principalities). However, the printed version was not published until 1532, five years after Machiavelli's death. This was carried out with the permission of the Medici pope Clement VII, but 'long before then, in fact since the first appearance of The Prince in manuscript, controversy had swirled about his writings'. Although The Prince was written as if it were a traditional work in the mirrors for princes style, it was generally agreed as being especially innovative.

This is because Machiavelli appears to distance his book from all of the classical works of political philosophy, as he viewed that they were too concerned with the ideal regime. Machiavelli illustrates his reasoning using remarkable comparisons of classical, biblical, and medieval events, including many positive references to the murderous career of Cesare Borgia, which occurred during Machiavelli's own diplomatic career. The Prince is sometimes claimed to be one of the first works of modern philosophy, especially modern political philosophy, in which practical effect is taken to be more important than any abstract ideal.

Its worldview came in direct conflict with the dominant Catholic and scholastic doctrines of the time, particularly those on politics and ethics. This short treatise is the most remembered of Machiavelli's works, and the most responsible for the later pejorative use of the word 'Machiavellian'. In subject matter, it overlaps with the much longer Discourses on Livy, which was written a few years later. In its use of near-contemporary Italians as examples of people who perpetrated criminal deeds for political ends, Leo Strauss compared the lesser-known work, the Life of Castruccio Castracani, to The Prince.

Reader's Guide

Each part of The Prince has attracted extensive commentary over centuries. Machiavelli's writings continue to provoke examination of leadership and government, posing age-old issues regarding the nature of power and the decisions that rulers must make to preserve it. The work includes a letter to Lorenzo de' Medici, Duke of Urbino, and chapters covering new princedoms, mixed princedoms, conquered kingdoms, conquered free states, and totally new states.

Did You Know?

• Many commentators have viewed that one of the main themes of The Prince is that immoral acts are sometimes necessary to achieve political glory.
• The Prince contributed to the modern negative connotations of the words 'Machiavellian' in Western countries.
• Machiavelli uses the word 'state' (Italian stato) in the first sentence to cover all forms of organization of supreme political power.