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The Prince

by Niccolò Machiavelli (1469–1527)

  • Free to read
  • 2 hours to read
  • 27 chapters
  • Reading level: College-level

"The Prince" by Niccolò Machiavelli is a political treatise written in 1513. Designed as an instruction guide for new rulers, it boldly argues that immoral acts may sometimes be necessary to achieve political power and glory. Written in Italian rather than Latin, this controversial work breaks from traditional advice literature by focusing on practical effectiveness over abstract ideals. Its unflinching examination of power and leadership challenged the dominant Catholic doctrines of its time and gave birth to the term "Machiavellian."

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  • State, The · Early works to 1800
  • Political science · Philosophy · Early works to 1800
  • Political ethics · Early works to 1800

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Chapter I

THE VARIOUS KINDS OF GOVERNMENT AND THE WAYS BY WHICH THEY ARE ESTABLISHED

All states and dominions which hold or have held sway over mankind are either republics or monarchies. Monarchies are either hereditary ones, in which the rulers have been for many years of the same family, or else they are those of recent foundation. The newly founded ones are either entirely new, as was Milan to Francesco Sforza, or else they are, as it were, new members grafted on to the hereditary possessions of the prince that annexes them, as is the kingdom of Naples to the King of Spain. The dominions thus acquired have either been previously accustomed to the rule of another prince, or else have been free states, and they are annexed either by force of arms of the prince, or of others, or else fall to him by good fortune or merit.

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Contents

Show all 27 chapters
  1. Preface
  2. Chapter I
  3. Chapter II
  4. Chapter III
  5. Chapter IV
  6. Chapter V
  7. Chapter VI: Of New Dominions Which Have Been Acquired by One's Own Arms and Powers
  8. Chapter VII: Of New Dominions Acquired by the Power of Others or by Fortune
  9. Chapter VIII: Of Those Who Have Attained the Position of Prince by Villainy
  10. Chapter IX
  11. Chapter X
  12. Chapter XI
  13. Chapter XII
  14. Chapter XIII
  15. Chapter XIV
  16. Chapter XV
  17. Chapter XVI
  18. Chapter XVII
  19. Chapter XVIII
  20. Chapter XIX
  21. Chapter XX
  22. Chapter XXI
  23. Chapter XXII
  24. Chapter XXIII
  25. Chapter XXIV
  26. Chapter XXV: How Much Fortune Can Do in Human Affairs and How It May Be Opposed
  27. Chapter XXVI

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About this edition

This free edition of The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli comes from Project Gutenberg eBook #57037, released 2018-04-23. It is in the public domain in the United States, so you can read it here in full at no cost, on any phone, tablet or computer. Genre: History - Early Modern (c. 1450-1750), Philosophy & Ethics, Politics.

Other editions: eBook #1232 (most read).

Summary provided by Project Gutenberg (automatically generated).

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