Prince Notes
Machiavelli notes that it is easier to govern a hereditary state than a new principality for two main reasons.
-First, those under the rule of such states are familiar with the prince’s family and are therefore accustomed to their rule. The natural prince only has to keep past institutions intact, while adapting these institutions to current events.
-Second, the natural disposition of subjects in a hereditary state is to love the ruling family, unless the prince commits some horrible act against his people. Even if a strong outsider succeeds in conquering a prince’s hereditary state, any setback the outsider encounters will allow the prince to reconquer the state.
Machiavelli explains why maintaining a new principality is more difficult than maintaining a hereditary state.
-In the first place, people will willingly trade one recently arrived ruler for another, hoping that a new ruler will be better than the present one. This expectation of improvement will induce people to take up arms against any relatively unestablished prince.
One of the prince’s most effective options is to take up residence in the new state. -By living there, the prince can address problems quickly and efficiently. • He can prevent the local officials from plundering his territory. -The subjects will be in close contact with the prince. • Therefore, those who are inclined to be good will have more reason to show their allegiance to the prince • Those who are inclined to be bad will have more reason to fear him.
LAWS
Machiavelli describes three ways to hold states that have been accustomed to living freely under their own laws. • The first is to devastate them. • The second is for the conqueror to occupy them. • The third is to allow the state to maintain its own laws, but to charge taxes and establish an oligarchy to keep the state friendly. o The third option is advantageous because the newly
-First, those under the rule of such states are familiar with the prince’s family and are therefore accustomed to their rule. The natural prince only has to keep past institutions intact, while adapting these institutions to current events.
-Second, the natural disposition of subjects in a hereditary state is to love the ruling family, unless the prince commits some horrible act against his people. Even if a strong outsider succeeds in conquering a prince’s hereditary state, any setback the outsider encounters will allow the prince to reconquer the state.
Machiavelli explains why maintaining a new principality is more difficult than maintaining a hereditary state.
-In the first place, people will willingly trade one recently arrived ruler for another, hoping that a new ruler will be better than the present one. This expectation of improvement will induce people to take up arms against any relatively unestablished prince.
One of the prince’s most effective options is to take up residence in the new state. -By living there, the prince can address problems quickly and efficiently. • He can prevent the local officials from plundering his territory. -The subjects will be in close contact with the prince. • Therefore, those who are inclined to be good will have more reason to show their allegiance to the prince • Those who are inclined to be bad will have more reason to fear him.
LAWS
Machiavelli describes three ways to hold states that have been accustomed to living freely under their own laws. • The first is to devastate them. • The second is for the conqueror to occupy them. • The third is to allow the state to maintain its own laws, but to charge taxes and establish an oligarchy to keep the state friendly. o The third option is advantageous because the newly