Machiavelli opens by discussing the various forms of governments, which he divides into Republics and Principalities.  Of the latter some may be hereditary and some acquired.  Of hereditary states he says little and quotes but one, the Duchy of Ferrara.  He then turns to his true subject, the acquisition and preservation of States wholly new or new in part, States such as he saw himself on every side around him.  Having gained possession of a new State, he says, you must first extirpate the family of your predecessor.  You should then either reside or plant colonies, but not trust to garrisons.  ’Colonies are not costly to the Prince, are more faithful and cause less offence to the subject States:  those whom they may injure being poor and scattered, are prevented from doing mischief.  For it should be observed that men ought either to be caressed or trampled out, seeing that small injuries may be avenged, whereas great ones destroy the possibility of retaliation:  and so the damage that has to be inflicted ought to be such that it need involve no fear of reprisals.’  There is perhaps in all Machiavelli no better example of his lucid scientific method than this passage.  There is neither excuse nor hypocrisy.  It is merely a matter of business calculation.  Mankind is the raw material, the State is the finished work.  Further you are to conciliate your neighbours who are weak and abase the strong, and you must not let the stranger within your gates.  Above all look before as well as after and think not to leave it to time, godere li benefici del tempo, but, as did the Romans, strike and strike at once.  For illustration he criticises, in a final and damning analysis, the career of Louis XII. in Italy.  There was no canon of statecraft so absolute that the King did not ignore it, and in inevitable Nemesis, there was no ultimate disaster so crowning as not to be achieved.

[Sidenote:  Conquests.]

After observing that a feudal monarchy is much less easy of conquest than a despotism, since in the one case you must vanquish many lesser lordships while in the other you merely replace slaves by slaves, Machiavelli considers the best method of subjugating Free Cities.  Here again is eminent the terrible composure and the exact truth of his politics.  A conquered Free City you may of course rule in person, or you may construct an oligarchy to govern for you, but the only safe way is to destroy it utterly, since ’that name of Liberty, those ancient usages of Freedom,’ are things ’which no length of years and no benefits can extinguish in the nation’s mind, things which no pains or forethought can uproot unless the citizens be utterly destroyed.’

Hitherto the discussion has ranged round the material politics of the matter, the acquisition of material power.  Machiavelli now turns to the heart of his matter, the proper character and conduct of a new Prince in a new Principality and the ways by which he shall deal most fortunately with friend and foe.  For fortune it is, as well as ability, which go to the making of the man and the maintenance of his power.