A translation of The Prince. Preface ix Abbreviations Used in This Work xii Introduction Machiavelli's Life and the History of Florence 2(29) Machiavelli's Uses of the Past: Ancient History 31(6) Machiavelli's Uses of the Past: Contemporary History 37(20) Machiavelli's Conceptual Framework 57(21) Method and Style: The Creative Machiavelli 78(19) The Prince Dedicatory Letter 93(4) The Various Kinds of Princedoms and How They May Be Acquired 97(2) Concerning Hereditary Princedoms 99(4) Concerning Mixed Princedoms 103(24) Why the Kingdom of Darius, Conquered by Alexander, Did Not Rebel Against Alexander's Successors After His Death 127(10) How One Should Govern Cities or Princedoms That Lived Under Their Own Laws Before They Were Conquered 137(6) Concerning New Princedoms Acquired by One's Own Arms and Virtu 143(12) Concerning New Princedoms Acquired by Other Men's Armed Forces and Fortune 155(22) Concerning Those Who Became Princes Through Iniquity 177(14) Concerning the Civil Princedom 191(12) How the Strength of Any Princedom Ought To Be Assessed 203(8) Concerning Ecclesiastical Princedoms 211(8) Concerning the Various Kinds of Armies and Mercenaries 219(16) Concerning Troops That Are Auxiliary, Those That Are Mixed, and Those That Are A Prince's Own 235(12) What a Prince Should Do About Military Affairs 247(8) Concerning Matters for Which Men, and Particularly Princes, Are Praised or Blamed 255(6) Concerning Generosity and Frugality 261(8) Concerning Ruthlessness and Compassion: Whether It Is Better To Be Loved Than Feared, or Feared Than Loved 269(10) How Princes Should Keep Their Word 279(8) How To Avoid Contempt and Hatred 287(30) Whether Fortresses and Sundry Other Resources Used Regularly by Princes Are Useful or Useless 317(14) How a Prince Should Act to Obtain Prestige 331(12) Concerning the Prince's Confidential Staff 343(6) How To Avoid Flatterers 349(6) Why Italian Princes Have Lost Their States 355(6) The Power of Fortune in Human Affairs and How She Can Be Countered 361(12) An Exhortation to Seize Italy and Free Her From the Barbarians 373(44) Appendices A. Textual Variants 387(5) B. Passages From Other Works Relevant to The Prince 392(25) Index 417