home Tools Sovereign Machiavelli read online summary. Nicolo Machiavelli - sovereign. What do we subtract from “The Sovereign” in the 21st century?

Sovereign Machiavelli read online summary. Nicolo Machiavelli - sovereign. What do we subtract from “The Sovereign” in the 21st century?

The treatise “The Prince” by Machiavelli, a summary of which is in this article, is the most famous work of the Florentine thinker of the 16th century. In it, he describes in detail the methodology for seizing power, as well as methods of government, qualities that are necessary for an ideal ruler.

It is interesting that the book was originally called “On Principalities”. The treatise was created around 1513. But it first saw the light only in 1532, after Machiavelli’s death.

Rules of the Sovereign

First of all, in the treatise “The Prince” by Machiavelli, a summary of which you are now reading, the rules are given that the ruler must follow.

It is important that subjects feel important. As an example, the author invites the reader to imagine that a ruler captured a new territory during the Renaissance. The initial conditions couldn't be worse - the people consider you an occupier.

In order to correct this, it is necessary to personally come to your possessions as often as possible. As a last resort, send your subjects. In addition, measures must be taken to eliminate potential competitors. One method is to protect weak leaders ruling around new possessions. Such rulers will soon be happy to join you. This alliance can be so strong that it will allow you to challenge more powerful opponents of your power.

The third rule is to be alert to future threats. The disease is easier to stop at the very beginning, so opponents need to be stopped during the first attack.

Government

In the treatise “The Prince” by Niccolò Machiavelli, a summary of which is available in this article, it is argued that a paradoxical principle is always at work. If a state is easy to conquer, then it is difficult to govern, and if it is difficult to conquer, then there should be no problems with governing.

Machiavelli divides states into several types. For example, France is a baronial state. There the king rules through nobles who have personal interests. Such a system is extremely unstable and quickly leads to fragmentation. You just need to win over a few barons to your side. But in the future you may end up with exactly the same problems that befell your predecessor.

In a state built on the “ruler-servant” principle, the ruler begins by eliminating opponents with political ambitions. For example, Alexander did this when he conquered Persia. He had to eliminate Darius, who made power in Persia absolute, forcing all leaders to obey him. They had to fight long and fiercely, but when Persia was conquered, there were no independent leaders left who could stage a coup.

Acquisition of new territories

Machiavelli's book The Prince, which is summarized in this article, states that any ruler can gain control of a country in only two ways: through international agreements or the army. In any case, a favorable outcome requires a combination of good fortune and great merit.

In Machiavelli's The Prince, a summary of which you are now reading, it is argued that capturing a kingdom with the help of an army is useless unless you are lucky. At the same time, even if fate favors you, you need to prove yourself in order to competently manage the happy occasion.

What will help you become a sovereign?

In a summary of the chapters of “The Prince” by Machiavelli, it becomes clear that two components can help one become a ruler - popular love and atrocities.

Cunning and ruthlessness in decisions often brought rulers to the throne. But it is important to remember that cruelty must be used correctly. It should be rapid, the people will be outraged, but by gradually reducing the violence, you can calm the population.

The wrong tactics are both decency at the beginning of the reign and increasing cruelty over time. A ruler can gain power by protecting citizens and gaining their support. Then he can help people become wealthy enough to support you. The main thing is to make people think that they are in your debt.

Art of War

In the treatise “The Prince” by Niccolò Machiavelli, a chapter-by-chapter summary allows you to get acquainted with this work in detail. The author reminds that any ruler must master the art of war.

Diplomacy cannot always solve problems that arise. It is necessary to develop military skills even in peacetime, because the path of war is the most likely to lead to the loss of a state. No matter how good the laws and institutions you have built are, they are meaningless without the protection of a strong army.

Army composition

It is important that the army consists of citizens of the state. Only such troops will be able to effectively defend the country from external enemies.

Mercenaries who fight for money are often useless because they are not interested in the survival of the country and can leave the battlefield at any time.

In the treatise “The Prince” by N. Machiavelli, the summary you are now reading, the fate of Italy in the 15th-16th centuries is given as an example. The country constantly relied on mercenaries and was eventually conquered by the French.

Another mistake is to rely on allied forces. Once a foreign army is on your territory, it may refuse to return home.

Generosity and stinginess

The skillful combination of these two qualities is an important ability that any ruler should have, Machiavelli states in his treatise “The Prince,” and the summary allows you to verify this.

Showing generosity and politeness is necessary for a stable future of the state. At the same time, those qualities that are good for a common person may prevent you from becoming a skilled ruler.

For example, excessive generosity will lead to people becoming accustomed to the fact that they can afford whatever they want. The treasury will quickly be depleted, taxes will have to be raised, and there will be no benefit from generosity. Therefore, greed and charity must be carefully balanced.

It is reasonable to show generosity in countries where citizens themselves choose their ruler. But having become a sovereign, you need to demonstrate stinginess and increase your popularity without spending large sums on it.

Ultimately, people will be happy with low taxes.

Ruler's cruelty

In a retelling of the summary of chapter 8 of “The Prince” by Machiavelli, it is argued that the ruler must skillfully use cruelty. If you use it correctly, you can count on benefits and benefits.

For example, Hannibal severely punished his own intelligence officers when they provided incorrect information and frightened the soldiers so that they would rally in the most difficult times.

The desire to appear fair and merciful in the eyes of the people is not always reasonable. To unite a people, it is often necessary to instill awe in people.

It is better for a ruler to be feared rather than loved. After all, promises that are based on love are often broken, we know this even from our personal lives. But fear of harsh and cruel punishment can become an important deterrent.

Cruelty can be used most effectively when leading an army. Soldiers recognize that viciousness is necessary for order and discipline. Hannibal's triumph is an example of the proper use of cruelty.

It is important to use it to your advantage, but not to cross the dangerous line beyond which the hatred of citizens begins. It is important to find balance. It is better not to punish innocent residents, not to deprive them of their property without reason. In this case, people can rally against the ruler, creating instability for the country.

Deception

In The Prince, Niccolò Machiavelli admits that a successful ruler often has to use deception. It is important for him not only to have the strength of a lion, but also the cunning of a fox.

When making promises, it is not at all necessary to always keep your word. Honesty is of course important because laws are the foundation of government institutions. But you need to skillfully neglect principles for the sake of your own interests.

And when your conscience awakens, remind yourself that other people do the same, despite the promises they made. It is important that citizens do not see your insidious side of personality, so remain an outwardly respectable ruler who shares human and religious values.

It is worth being absolutely honest only in the international arena. When relations between two states are tense, it is necessary to choose a side and support only that side. The worst option in this situation is indecision. When everything is over, the winner will definitely attack you, knowing that you did not support him in difficult times.

Analysis of the summary of Machiavelli's "The Prince" helps to better understand and understand the essence of state institutions, how they are structured.

Every great leader needs competent advisors. After all, no ruler can be a jack of all trades. The way he assembles his team of advisors speaks volumes about his leadership qualities.

The sovereign himself must understand in which areas he feels weakest, and select the appropriate assistants and ministers. It is important to keep an eye on them at all times. As soon as you notice that one of your subordinates is acting for his own benefit, you need to fire him immediately. And those who serve faithfully should be rewarded with generous rewards.

At the same time, you need to be able to ask for advice. Advisors need to know that you value honesty and will not punish the truth, no matter how bitter it turns out to be. Otherwise, only flattery awaits you, because of which you will not be able to form a correct idea of the state of affairs in the country.

However, you should never listen to advice unconditionally. Because of this, people may soon begin to question any of your actions and decisions.

You can't rely on chance

In the last chapter of his treatise, Machiavelli calls on rulers not to rely on chance.

Luck is, of course, important for a sovereign, but you must always be prepared for the fact that it can turn away from you at any moment.

As an example, Machiavelli cites Father Julius II, who decided to start a war against Bologna. He advanced with troops without waiting for agreement from the allies. As a result, the campaign was a great success.

Conquered and inherited possessions may belong to

To one country and have one language. It is not difficult to hold the country, especially if the new subjects have not known freedom before. It is necessary to maintain power.

To eradicate the family of the former sovereign.
Maintain common customs.

To different countries and have different languages. Maintaining power is very difficult due to differences in language, customs and practices. It is necessary to maintain power.

Move to a new area to live. Only by living in the country can you notice the beginning of unrest and stop it in time. To rid the country of the robbery of officials, citizens will be able to directly appeal to the sovereign.
Establish colonies, connecting new lands with the main ones (preferable, since they are cheap, and offend a very small group of people whose land is occupied) or station a significant number of troops in the conquered country (very expensive, you will have to introduce new taxes for the conquered state, that is, everyone will be indignant population).
Become the leader and protector of weaker neighbors.
Try to weaken strong neighbors.
Avoid strengthening the weak too much.
Make sure that a foreign sovereign of equal strength does not enter the country under any pretext.. Such people are always called upon by dissatisfied people within the country: 1) out of ambition, 2) out of fear. When a foreign sovereign appears, all the weak join him out of envy.

According to the type of system, states governed by autocracy are divided into two types

States where the sovereign rules surrounded by servants, who, by his grace and permission, were placed in the highest positions and help him govern the state. In this case, the sovereign has more power, since the entire population knows only one gentleman. Such a state is extremely difficult to conquer, but once conquered it is easy to maintain.
States where the sovereign rules surrounded by barons, ruling not by the grace of the sovereign, but by virtue of the antiquity of the family. These barons have hereditary states and subjects, who recognize their power over themselves and have a natural attachment to them. In this case, the sovereign has less power. Such a state is easy to conquer, but once conquered it is difficult to maintain.

Inherited State

It is much easier to maintain rule, since the subjects have managed to get used to the ruling house. To retain power it is enough:

do not violate established laws and regulations;
without haste to adapt to new circumstances.

The reason for this is that the sovereign who inherited power has fewer reasons and needs

New State

By type of novelty

The new state as a whole.

A state where subjects are accustomed to obeying the sovereign.
A state where subjects lived freely from time immemorial. There are three ways to retain a conquered state that was previously living freely and according to its own laws.
- Destroy it.
- Move there to live.
- Grant the right to citizens to live according to their own laws, imposing tribute and entrusting the rule to a small number of persons who would vouch for the friendliness of the sovereign.

The first method is the most effective. The third is the most dangerous, since states accustomed to living freely will not forget freedom and the old order even after a long time.

New part annexed to inherited state.

In the case of mixed states, maintaining power is more difficult due to possible coups. The main reason for the coup: people, believing that the new ruler will be better, willingly rebel against the old one, but soon they are convinced by experience that they were deceived, because the new ruler always turns out to be worse than the old one. Naturally, the conqueror oppresses his subjects, imposing various kinds of duties on them and burdening them with military downtime.

In this case, the conqueror makes enemies both among those whom he oppressed and among those who contributed to the conquest, since he cannot repay them in accordance with his expectations, but also cannot apply harsh measures to them, being obliged to them.

By method of acquisition

A state acquired by its weapons. A state acquired by someone else's weapons.

According to the characteristics of the sovereign

A state acquired by the grace of fate. It is easy to acquire power, but difficult to maintain it. Such sovereigns include those who received power for money or were granted as a sign of favor. In these cases, sovereigns are entirely dependent on the will and fortune of those to whom they owe power.
State acquired by valor. It takes great effort to win power and little effort to retain it. The main difficulty lies in the fact that it is always necessary to introduce new regulations and orders. You need to know that there is no business that is more difficult to organize, more dangerous to conduct, and more doubtful of success than replacing old orders with new ones. Sovereigns can be divided into:
- those, who should begging to achieve a goal (most likely doomed to failure);
- those, who can use force (with a high probability they will be lucky).

People's character is fickle, and while it is easy to convert them to your faith, it is difficult to keep them in it. Therefore, we must be prepared to force them to believe when the people’s faith dries up.

Civil autocracy

Autonomy is established either by the nobility or by the people. It is more difficult for one who comes to power with the help of the nobility to retain power than for one who was brought to power by the people, since if the sovereign is surrounded by nobility who consider themselves equal to him, he can neither command nor have an independent course of action. Whereas the one who was brought to power by the people rules alone and there is no one or almost no one around him who would not want to obey him.

It is impossible to honestly, without infringing on others, satisfy the claims of the nobility, but it is possible to satisfy the demands of the people.
The people have a more honest goal than the nobility: the nobility wants to oppress the people, but the people do not want to be oppressed.
Nothing can be done with a hostile people, because they are numerous, but with the nobility, nothing can be done, because they are few in number.
The sovereign is not free to choose the people, but he is free to choose the nobility, for his right is to punish and pardon, to bring them closer or to subject them to disgrace.
Noble people should be treated as they act.
Regardless of who brought the sovereign to rule, he must first of all secure the friendship of the people, that is, take the people under his protection.

Troops

The basis of power in all states - both inherited, mixed and new - are good laws and a good army. There are no good laws where there is no good army, and vice versa, where there is a good army, there are good laws.

The sovereign should have no other thoughts, no other concerns, no other business than war, military regulations and military science, for war is the only duty that a ruler cannot assign to another.

Types of troops.

Own.
Allied.
Salaried.
Mixed.

Mercenary and allied troops are useless and dangerous; The power that relies on a mercenary army will never be strong or durable. Allied troops can serve their sovereign well and usefully, but for those who call on them for help, they are almost always dangerous, for their defeat threatens the sovereign with death, and victory - with dependence. In a mercenary army, negligence is more dangerous, in an allied army - valor.

Without its own army, the state is fragile - moreover, it is entirely dependent on the whims of fortune. Your own troops are those that are made up of subjects, citizens or people loyal to you, while all others are either allied or hired.

Qualities of a sovereign

Generosity and Thrift. It is good to have the reputation of a generous sovereign, however, the one who shows generosity in order to be known as generous harms himself. If you show it wisely and properly, it will not be known, and you will still be accused of stinginess, therefore, in order to spread the fame of your generosity among people, you will have to invent yourself in magnificent undertakings, but in doing so you will deplete the treasury , after which, not wanting to part with the glory of a generous ruler, you will be forced to overburden the people with taxes and resort to unseemly methods of raising money. Since the sovereign cannot, without prejudice to himself, show generosity in such a way that it is recognized, would it not be more prudent for him to reconcile himself with the glory of a stingy ruler? In order not to rob his subjects, to have means for defense, not to become poor, not to arouse contempt and not to become involuntarily greedy, the sovereign must neglect the glory of a stingy ruler, for stinginess is one of those vices that allow him to rule. You can spend either your own or someone else's. In the first case, frugality is useful, in the second, as much generosity as possible.
Hardness and Mercy. Instill fear or love? The sovereign, if he wants to keep his subjects in obedience, should not reckon with accusations of cruelty. Having carried out several massacres, he will show more mercy than those who, out of excess, indulge in disorder. The entire population suffers from the disorder that gives rise to robberies and murders, while only certain individuals suffer from the punishments imposed by the sovereign. The sovereign should not be gullible, suspicious and quick to take revenge; in all his actions he should be restrained, circumspect and merciful. People are less afraid of offending someone who inspires them with love than someone who inspires them with fear. Love is supported by gratitude, which people, being bad, can neglect for their own benefit, while fear is supported by the threat of punishment, which cannot be neglected. The sovereign must instill fear in such a way that, if not to gain love, then at least to avoid hatred, for it is quite possible to instill fear without hatred. Without being known as cruel, it is impossible to maintain the unity and combat effectiveness of the army. They love sovereigns at their own discretion, and fear them at the discretion of sovereigns, therefore it is better for a wise ruler to count on what depends on him, and not on someone else; The only important thing is to under no circumstances incur the hatred of your subjects.
How sovereigns should keep their word. We know from experience that in our time great things were achieved only by those who did not try to keep their word and knew how to deceive whoever was needed. A reasonable ruler cannot and should not remain faithful to his promise if this harms his interests and if the reasons that prompted him to make the promise have disappeared. For the sake of preserving the state, the sovereign is often forced to go against his word, against mercy, kindness and piety. Let him appear to those who see and hear him as the very essence of mercy, loyalty, integrity, humanity and piety, especially piety.
How to avoid hatred and contempt. The sovereign must ensure that nothing happens that could arouse hatred or contempt of his subjects. Sovereigns arouse hatred by predation and encroachment on the property and women of their subjects. Princes arouse contempt through inconstancy, frivolity, effeminacy, cowardice and indecisiveness. These qualities must be guarded like fire, trying, on the contrary, to show generosity, fearlessness, thoroughness and firmness in every action. The decision of the sovereign regarding the private affairs of his subjects must be irrevocable, and the opinion about it must be such that it would not occur to anyone that it is possible to deceive or outwit the sovereign. Good deeds can incur hatred in the same way as bad ones, therefore the sovereign, as I have already said, is often forced to deviate from good in order to preserve the state.
How to act to be respected. Nothing can inspire such respect for a sovereign as military enterprises and extraordinary deeds. When someone does something significant in civil life, good or bad, it is useful to reward or punish him in such a way that it will be remembered as long as possible. The main thing for the sovereign is to try with all his actions to create for himself the glory of a great man, endowed with an outstanding mind. A sovereign is respected when he openly declares himself an enemy or a friend, that is, when he does not hesitate to stand for one against the other. The sovereign must also show himself to be the patron of talents, welcome gifted people, and show honor to those who have distinguished themselves in any craft or art. The sovereign must encourage citizens to calmly indulge in trade, agriculture and crafts, so that they can improve their possessions without fear that these possessions will be taken away from them. The sovereign must also entertain the people with festivals and shows at the appropriate time of year. Respecting the guilds, or tribes, into which every city is divided, the sovereign must sometimes participate in their meetings and set an example of generosity and magnanimity, but at the same time firmly guard his dignity and greatness, which must be present in his every act.

It is necessary to arm the residents. If it is impossible to arm everyone, then you need to take a closer look and select some, showing them honor for taking on more risks. In this way we will acquire our own army.
When appearing as new sovereigns or founding a new state, you should always create your own army.
When annexing a territory to an existing state, you should disarm everyone who was captured, except those who contributed to the seizure.
For those sovereigns who fear the people more than external enemies, fortresses are useful; and those of them who are more afraid of external enemies than of the people do not need fortresses. The best of all fortresses is not to be hated by the people.
The minister, in whose hands the affairs of the state are in charge, is obliged to think not about himself, but about the sovereign, and not to appear to him with anything that does not belong to the sovereign. But the sovereign, for his part, must try to maintain the loyalty of his minister, rewarding him according to his deserts, increasing his fortune, tying him to himself with ties of gratitude, sharing duties and honors with him, so that he sees that the sovereign cannot do without him, and so that , having enough wealth and honors, did not desire new wealth and honors, and also that, while occupying various positions, he was afraid of coups.
A prudent sovereign should, having distinguished several wise people, give them alone the right to express everything they think, but only about what you yourself ask and nothing more; however, you need to ask about everything and listen to the answers, but make the decision yourself and at your own discretion. The sovereign must always consult with others, but only when he wishes, and not when others wish.
People should either be caressed or destroyed. For a person can take revenge for a small evil, but not for a large one. The offense inflicted on a person should be calculated so as not to be afraid of revenge.
If an incipient illness is detected in a timely manner, which is given only to wise rulers, then it is not difficult to get rid of it, but if it is so neglected that everyone can see it, then no medicine will help.
War cannot be avoided, it can only be delayed - to the benefit of the enemy.
Truly, the passion for conquest is a natural and common thing; and those who take into account their capabilities will be approved by everyone or no one will condemn them; but a reprehensible mistake is made by those who do not take into account their capabilities and strive for conquest at any cost
Those who relied less on the mercy of fate remained in power longer.
Insults must be inflicted at once: the less they are tried, the less harm they cause.
It is useful to provide benefits little by little, so that they are tasted as best as possible.
The most important thing for the sovereign is to behave with his subjects in such a way that no event - neither bad nor good - forces him to change his treatment of them, since, if difficult times happen, it is too late to do evil, and good is useless, because it will be considered forced and they will not repay him with gratitude.
The nobility wants to subjugate and oppress the people, the people do not want to be subjugated and oppressed; the clash of these principles is resolved in three ways: either by autocracy, or by lawlessness, or by freedom
People are such that, seeing good from those from whom they expected evil, they become especially attached to benefactors.
A wise sovereign must take measures to ensure that citizens always and under any circumstances have a need for the sovereign and the state - only then can he rely on their loyalty.
People by nature are such that they are no less attached to those to whom they have done good than to those who have done good to them.
The distance between how people live and how they should live is so great that the one who rejects the real for the sake of what should be acts more to his own detriment than to his good, since, wanting to profess goodness in all cases of life, he will inevitably perish. encountering many people who are alien to goodness.
It can be said about people in general that they are ungrateful and fickle, prone to hypocrisy and deception, that they are scared away by danger and attracted by profit.
Love is supported by gratitude, which people, being bad, can neglect for their own benefit, while fear is supported by the threat of punishment, which cannot be neglected.
Onslaught is better than caution, for fortune is a woman, and whoever wants to deal with it must beat and kick it - it succumbs more quickly to such than to those who coldly get down to business. Therefore, she, as a woman, is a friend of the young, for they are not so careful, they are more courageous and they tame her with greater audacity.

Nicolo Machiavelli

Sovereign

Nicolo Machiavelli - His Lordship Lorenzo de' Medici

Usually, wanting to gain the favor of a ruler, people send him as a gift what they have most dear, or what they hope to give him the greatest pleasure, namely: horses, weapons, brocade, precious stones and other decorations worthy of the greatness of sovereigns. I, intending to testify to my devotion to Your Lordship, did not find among what I own anything more expensive and more valuable than my knowledge regarding the deeds of great people, acquired by me through many years of experience in present affairs and incessant study of past affairs. Having put a lot of time and diligence into thinking over what I had learned, I have concluded my reflections in a small work, which I send as a gift to Your Lordship. And although I believe that this work is unworthy to appear before you, I nevertheless believe that, by your condescension, you will deign to accept it, knowing that it is not in my power to present you with a gift greater than the means to comprehend in the shortest possible time what I myself have learned at the cost of many dangers and worries. I did not care here about the beauty of the style, nor about the pomp and sonority of the words, nor about any external decorations and ideas with which many like to color and equip their works, for I wanted my work either to remain in obscurity, or to receive recognition solely for its unusualness and the importance of the subject. I would also like it not to be considered insolence that a person of low and insignificant rank undertakes to discuss and direct the actions of sovereigns. Just as an artist, when he paints a landscape, must go down into a valley in order to take in the sight of the hills and mountains, and climb up a mountain in order to take in the valley with his eyes, so here: in order to comprehend the essence of the people, one must be a sovereign, and in order to comprehend the nature of sovereigns, one must belong to the people.

May Your Lordship accept this modest gift with the feeling that moves me; If you deign to carefully read and ponder my work, you will feel how boundlessly I wish Your Lordship the greatness that fate and your merits promise you. And if, from the peak to which Your Lordship has ascended, your gaze ever turns to the lowlands where I find myself, you will see how undeservedly I suffer the great and constant blows of fate.

HOW MANY TYPES OF STATES ARE THERE AND HOW THEY ARE ACQUIRED

All states, all powers that had or have power over people were and are either republics or states governed by sole authority. The latter can be either inherited - if the family of the sovereign ruled for a long time, or new. Either the state as a whole can be new - this is Milan for Francesco Sforza; or a part of it annexed to the inherited state as a result of conquest - such is the Kingdom of Naples for the King of Spain.

The new states are divided into those where the subjects are accustomed to obeying the sovereigns, and those where they have originally lived freely; states are acquired either by their own or by someone else’s weapons, or by the grace of fate, or by valor.

ABOUT HERITABLE UNITY

I will not touch upon the republics, for I speak about them in detail elsewhere. Here I will go straight to autocratic government and, following the order outlined above, I will analyze in what ways princes can govern states and maintain power over them.

Let me start with the fact that it is much easier for the hereditary sovereign, whose subjects have managed to get used to the ruling house, to retain power than for a new one, because for this it is enough for him not to violate the customs of his ancestors and subsequently to apply himself to new circumstances without haste. With this course of action, even a mediocre ruler will not lose power unless he is overthrown by a particularly powerful and formidable force, but even in this case he will regain power at the first failure of the conqueror.

In Italy, an example is the Duke of Ferrara, who retained power after the defeat inflicted on him by the Venetians in 1484 and Pope Julius in 1510, only because his family had ruled in Ferrara from time immemorial. For the sovereign who has inherited power has fewer reasons and less need to oppress his subjects, which is why they pay him with greater love, and if he does not reveal excessive vices that cause hatred, then he naturally enjoys the goodwill of the citizens. Long-standing and successive rule makes one forget about the former revolutions and the reasons that caused them, while every change paves the way for other changes.

ABOUT MIXED STATES

It is difficult for a new sovereign to retain power. And even the hereditary sovereign, who has annexed a new possession - so that the state becomes, as it were, mixed - finds it difficult to maintain power over it, primarily due to the same natural reason that causes revolutions in all new states. Namely: people, believing that the new ruler will be better, willingly rebel against the old one, but soon they are convinced by experience that they have been deceived, for the new ruler always turns out to be worse than the old one. Which, again, is natural and logical, since the conqueror oppresses new subjects, imposes various kinds of duties on them and burdens them with army billets, as inevitably happens during conquest. And thus he makes enemies in those whom he oppressed, and loses the friendship of those who contributed to the conquest, for he cannot reward them to the extent that they expected, but he cannot apply harsh measures to them, being obliged to them - after all, without With their help, he could not enter the country, no matter how strong his army was. It was for these reasons that Louis XII, King of France, quickly occupied Milan and also quickly lost it. And that’s why Duke Ludovico managed to recapture Milan with his own forces that time. For the people, who themselves opened the gates for the king, soon realized that they had been deceived in their hopes and calculations, and refused to tolerate the oppression of the new sovereign.

True, if a rebellious country is conquered again, then it is easier for the sovereign to establish his power in it, since the rebellion gives him a reason to punish the guilty with less caution, incriminate suspects, and take protective measures in the most vulnerable places. So for the first time France surrendered Milan, as soon as Duke Ludovico made a noise on its borders, but for the second time France held Milan until all the Italian states took up arms against her and scattered and expelled her troops from the borders of Italy, which happened for the reasons mentioned above. However, France lost Milan both times. I have given the reason for the king's first failure, common to all similar cases; it remains to find out the reason for the second and figure out what means Louis - and anyone in his place - had to strengthen the conquest more accurately than France did.

To begin with, the conquered and inherited possessions can belong either to the same country and have the same language, or to different countries and have different languages. In the first case, it is not difficult to retain what has been won, especially if the new subjects did not know freedom before. In order to strengthen power over them, it is enough to eradicate the family of the former sovereign, for with the community of customs and the preservation of the old orders, no disturbance can arise from anything else. This is how we know things were in Brittany, Burgundy, Normandy and Gascony, which long ago became part of France; True, their languages are somewhat different, but thanks to the similarity of customs they live peacefully with each other. In such cases, the conqueror should take only two precautions: firstly, ensure that the family of the former sovereign is eradicated, and secondly, preserve the old laws and taxes - then the conquered lands will in the shortest possible time merge into one whole with the original state of the conqueror .

But if the conquered country differs from the inherited one in language, customs and order, then it is truly difficult to maintain power; it requires both great luck and great art. And one of the surest and most direct means for this is to move there to live. Such a measure would strengthen and secure the conquest - this is exactly what the Turkish Sultan did with Greece, who, no matter how hard he tried, would not have kept Greece in his power if he had not moved his capital there. For only by living in the country can you notice the beginning of unrest and stop it in a timely manner, otherwise you will find out about it when it has gone so far that it will be too late to take action. Having settled in the conquered country, the sovereign, in addition, will save it from the robbery of officials, for the subjects will have the opportunity to directly appeal to the court of the sovereign - which will give the obedient more reasons to love him, and the disobedient to fear. And if one of the neighbors was planning an attack, now he will show great caution, so that the sovereign is unlikely to lose the conquered country if he moves there to live.

It's the Renaissance era. The conquest of new territories began. And you are the king who gave all these orders, but for some reason everyone considers you an evil and very bad person. The people do not obey, it is felt that there will soon be unrest. What to do in this case? So, here are a few rules to resolve this difficult situation:

The first rule that a sovereign needs:

It is best to personally visit your new possessions and meet new people. This will help win over the people and help get rid of enemies. If, however, this option is excluded, then it is best to send your subjects, who will also be able to get along with the people.

Rule 2

It is very important to eliminate any competitors for power. Try to attract influential people to your side in order to create a powerful alliance that can defeat the most powerful countries.

Rule 3

If someone does go against you, then it is best to immediately eliminate this problem so that there are no big difficulties later.

Alexander the Great conquered the Persian Gulf, and then died, but his people managed to rule the Persians for a long time, how did this happen? First, it’s worth considering the types of rulers:

The first is the baron. Such a country remains in danger all the time - the government here easily changes, but after that everything will go the same way.

The second type is the servant. Here the sovereign begins his reign by completely eliminating all his competitors; the people remain friendly with him and are ready to support him at any moment.

But the sovereign can gain power only in two ways: with the help of the army and agreement between peoples. In any of these cases, you need to act very skillfully and carefully.

Acting to harm others is another way to gain power. But such cruelty should not happen all the time; a special approach is needed here - one single blow that will solve all problems.

What should every ruler be able to do? This, of course, is to know military affairs, to command and manage your army well. Not knowing diplomacy is a big disadvantage that can lead to defeat. You also need to always keep the army ready, you need to train people so that they can eliminate the enemy.

Rule 4

Another rule is to have a population that is equipped with weapons and can operate them. This rule helped both the Swedes and the Spartans. Hired people are the worst option, they usually fight for money, and if the treasury is empty, you can quickly lose support.

Any given person expects a reward from his ruler, so it is important to be generous, but stinginess will not hurt either. It’s better to do it this way - first it’s good to show that you are a generous person, and after receiving power, start stingy and increase taxes.

Any ruler must be able to use cruelty in his favor. The population must at least somehow fear their ruler in order to avoid betrayal.

But can a ruler lie? Yes, but in such a way that no one notices. White lies also have positive qualities if no one knows this.

Every ruler throughout history has had a circle of close associates with whom he consulted. That is why it is best to create a circle of people you can completely trust.

But the most important point in governing a country is to know the history of your country in order to avoid mistakes that have already happened. Analyze the actions of other rulers and listen to the advice of the winners.

This book teaches how to properly govern a country so as not to suffer defeat in a short time and remain in power for as long as possible, having good authority. He also teaches what qualities any ruler should have.

Detailed retelling of Machiavelli's Prince

The times of the beginning of the Renaissance from the dark years of the Middle Ages were marked by complex processes occurring in society. Sentiments changed radically, culture, morality and philosophy were rethought. Until the path of further development was determined, the mood of society was shaken, and world events tossed the poor inhabitants of a difficult era from side to side.

The great thinker Niccolo Machiavelli grew up on this soil. He impartially observed what was happening from the side and then carefully comprehended what he saw. The thinker gained fame and his wise advice, almost always error-free, was listened to by most of the rulers of Europe during the Renaissance.

In 1513, Nicollo Machiavelli sent as a gift to the Prince of Florence, Lorenzo dei Medici, a written treatise with advice on government. The book turned out to be so informative and useful that many great rulers, like Napoleon, kept it as a desk reference. A subtle politician and diplomat, Machiavelli conveyed through his work the basic knowledge of the subtle art of government, which he relished during his long life.

In his work, Machiavelli talks about the forms of government of states that, in his opinion, exist. He divides them into monarchies and republics and reveals the features of these forms of government. Machiavelli talks about luck as a way to achieve power, but calls it insufficient, so he pays great attention to the power of weapons and the virtue of the ruler. Weapons and virtue, according to Machiavelli, complement each other, which is the key to success.

The author talks about the features of religious states, which he identifies as a separate category. The author talks about ways to retain them and the intricacies of their life treasure, which you need to know in order to retain the state.

The book talks about the character traits that should be inherent in a ruler. The author talks about animal qualities that a good ruler should have. Of course, the use of animals, like a lion or a fox, is simply a metaphor needed to more clearly describe what a ruler should be like.

Speaking about virtue, Machiavelli highlights kindness, generosity, humanity, mercy. The author describes in detail the influence of these traits on the image of the ruler, his actions and the dependence of the attitude of his subjects towards their ruler on them. It is worth noting that the author identifies reputation as a virtue and impartially explains how, thanks to it, hatred or contempt of the people is formed.

The author tells, using the example of history and the actions of past rulers, how certain systems of correct or incorrect management work. He describes in detail the skillful and magnificent techniques that brought success or failure to their creators. Impartial, unprincipled and free from all prejudices, Machiavelli skillfully describes every detail with subtlety.

In addition to conquest, Machiavelli talks about the rules for maintaining power and ways to combat the old orders that can destroy the new system of government. Machiavelli can be cruel and inhuman in his reasoning, but this is the payment for the gifts of the position of ruler, in the opinion of the thinker.

Speaking about the sources of his knowledge, the author calls experience the only source. And it is impossible to disagree with this statement, because Machiavelli spent his entire life in observations, both simply from the outside and in his diplomatic work, which he was tirelessly engaged in throughout his life. Based on observations, he gained his precious knowledge, which he outlined in his work.

The author deals with the issues of conducting war by a good ruler. He talks about the methods of commanding an army, its formation and maintenance. The author talks about the types of troops, their advantages and ways to effectively use them in combat to gain an advantage in battle. The author talks about the important rules of war strategy and the balance of power in politics. He provides important business advice and provides useful examples of strategy in action. For example, Machiavelli talks about the advantages of fortresses and whether the ruler needs them or does not need them for defense.

The author also does not shy away from economic issues. The book contains useful tips on how to save a huge amount of money and not engage in useless waste, but spend money effectively when ruling a state and waging war.

Also, the book describes the rules for conducting behind-the-scenes struggle and diplomacy, in which the author is undoubtedly an expert. Machiavelli gives instructions about which people are worth listening to and which ones are not, and how not to be led astray by the sweet speeches of eloquent advisers. The author highlights the priority importance of this word by the ruler and the need for its implementation.

One can note the author’s rude and dismissive tone in relation to the established moral standards of humanity. But it was the author’s impartiality that made it possible to develop an important work that opened the eyes of the sovereigns who read it to their own craft and allowed them to rule for a long time and measuredly. Despite the fact that Machiavelli's name is often used as a synonym for betrayal and political permissiveness, his work reveals to us a deep sense of humor, albeit a rather bitter one.

So, the work of the great thinker presents us with valuable knowledge about the methods of governing the state and the rules of conducting a skillful dialogue with the world, presenting himself as a wise ruler. The book tells how not to lose the glory you have gained and what you should pay attention to when waging a complex struggle for power and priority in government. The reader will learn the secrets of the unsurpassed skill of the great maestro of diplomacy. Machiavelli turns politics into an unsurpassed art and creates for us a prototype of the ideal ruler to strive for.

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