The Prince:Niccolò Machiavelli

The Prince is a classic text on leadership, written by the Italian diplomat and political theorist Niccolò Machiavelli in the 16th century. This is an essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the politics of power.

It is still a powerful read in the modern day because “the lion cannot protect himself from traps and the fox cannot defend himself from the wolves. One therefore must be a fox to recognise traps, and a lion to frighten wolves”.

The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli is a book which made the author’s name so popular which brings a different meaning when one mentions his name and the term “Machiavellian”.

It was written during the time of political disunity in Florence Italy; at a time when Italy consisted of many warring city-states.

Machiavelli wanted to see Italy unified as a single country under a strong leader.

The book is a direct appeal to Lorenzo de’ Medici, who is a member of the then ruling Florentine family in Italy, to use whatever powers he has to acquire and conquer the many principalities in Italy and maintain political power.

The original version appears to have been distributed in 1513, using a Latin title, De Principatibus (About Principalities). However, the printed version was not published until 1532, five years after Machiavelli's death. This was done with the permission of the Medici pope Clement VII.

The book, The Prince, includes 26 chapters and an opening dedication to Lorenzo de Medici.

The dedication declares Machiavelli's intention to discuss the conduct of great men and the principles of princely government.

An extract from the dedication page:

“..if it be diligently read and considered by you, you will learn my extreme desire that you should attain that greatness which fortune and your other attributes promise.”

The book's 26 chapters is roughly divided into four sections:

- Chapters 1-11 discuss the different types of principalities or states

- Chapters 12-14 discuss the different types of armies and the proper conduct of a prince as military leader

- Chapters 15-23 discuss the character and behavior of the prince (the personal qualities that a leader should have, and virtues he should pretend to have), and

- Chapters 24-26 discuss Italy's desperate political situation.

The final chapter Chapter 26 titled “An exhortation to liberate Italy from the barbarians”, is a plea for the Medici family to supply the prince who will lead Italy out of humiliation.

Machiavelli's ideas on how to accrue honor and power as a leader had a profound impact on political leaders throughout the modern west.

The book made the author’s name so popular which brings a different meaning when one mentions his name.

The term Machiavellian is defined in Dictionary.com as “being or acting in accordance with the principles of government analyzed in Machiavelli's The Prince, in which political expediency is placed above morality and the use of craft and deceit to maintain the authority and carry out the policies of a ruler is described.”

Machiavellian is also characterized by “subtle or unscrupulous cunning, deception, expediency, or dishonesty, especially with reference to techniques of political manipulation.”

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This version of the book is translated into English by W.K. Marriott.

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