Initially denounced as a collection of sinister maxims and a recommendation of tyranny, this text has more recently been defended as the first scientific treatment of politics, challenging the traditions of ancient and medieval thought and morality.

Introduction A Note on the Translation Chronology Map The Prince Dedicatory Letter I: How Many Are the Kinds of Principalities and in What Modes They Are Acquired II: Of Hereditary Principalities III: Of Mixed Principalities IV: Why the Kingdom of Darius Which Alexander Seized Did Not Rebel from His Successors after Alexander's Death V: How Cities or Principalities Which Lived by Their Own Laws before They Were Occupied Should Be Administered VI: Of New Principalities That Are Acquired through One's Own Arms and Virtue VII: Of New Principalities That Are Acquired by Others' Arms and Fortune VIII: Of Those Who Have Attained a Principality through Crimes IX: Of the Civil Principality X: In What Mode the Forces of All Principalities Should Be Measured XI: Of Ecclesiastical Principalities XII: How Many Kinds of Military There Are and Concerning Mercenary Soldiers XIII: Of Auxiliary, Mixed, and One's Own Soldiers XIV: What a Prince Should Do Regarding the Military XV: Of Those Things for Which Men and Especially Princes Are Praised or Blamed XVI: Of Liberality and Parsimony XVII: Of Cruelty and Mercy, and Whether It Is Better to Be Loved Than Feared, or the Contrary XVIII: In What Mode Faith Should Be Kept by Princes XIX: Of Avoiding Contempt and Hatred XX: Whether Fortresses and Many Other Things Which Are Made and Done by Princes Every Day Are Useful or Useless XXI: What a Prince Should Do to Be Held in Esteem XXII: Of Those Whom Princes Have as Secretaries XXIII: In What Mode Flatterers Are to Be Avoided XXIV: Why the Princes of Italy Have Lost Their States XXV: How Much Fortune Can Do in Human Affairs, and in What Mode It May Be Opposed XXVI: Exhortation to Seize Italy and to Free Her from the Barbarians App: Machiavelli's Letter of December 10, 1513 Glossary Bibliography Index of Proper Names