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prince is endangered along with them。
It is necessary； therefore； if we desire to discuss this matter
thoroughly； to inquire whether these innovators can rely on themselves
or have to depend on others： that is to say； whether； to consummate
their enterprise； have they to use prayers or can they use force？ In the
first instance they always succeed badly； and never pass anything；
but when they can rely on themselves and use force； then they are rarely
endangered。 Hence it is that all armed prophets have conquered； and the
unarmed ones have been destroyed。 Besides the reasons mentioned； the
nature of the people is variable； and whilst it is easy to persuade
them； it is difficult to fix them in that persuasion。 And thus it is
necessary to take such measures that； when they believe no longer； it
may be possible to make them believe by force。
If Moses； Cyrus； Theseus； and Romulus had been unarmed they could not
have enforced their constitutions for long as happened in our time to
Fra Girolamo Savonarola； who was ruined with his new order of things
immediately the multitude believed in him no longer； and he had no means
of keeping steadfast those who believed or of making the unbelievers to
believe。 Therefore such as these have great difficulties in consummating
their enterprise； for all their dangers are in the ascent； yet with
ability they will overe them； but when these are overe； and those
who envied them their success are exterminated； they will begin to be
respected； and they will continue afterwards powerful； secure； honoured；
and happy。
To these great examples I wish to add a lesser one； still it bears some
resemblance to them； and I wish it to suffice me for all of a like kind：
it is Hiero the Syracusan。 This man rose from a private station to be
Prince of Syracuse； nor did he； either； owe anything to fortune but
opportunity； for the Syracusans； being oppressed； chose him for their
captain； afterwards he was rewarded by being made their prince。 He was
of so great ability； even as a private citizen； that one who writes of
him says he wanted nothing but a kingdom to be a king。 This man
abolished the old soldiery； organized the new； gave up old alliances；
made new ones； and as he had his own soldiers and allies； on such
foundations he was able to build any edifice： thus； whilst he had
endured much trouble in acquiring； he had but little in keeping。
CHAPTER VII
CONCERNING NEW PRINCIPALITIES WHICH ARE ACQUIRED EITHER BY THE ARMS OF
OTHERS OR BY GOOD FORTUNE
THOSE who solely by good fortune bee princes from being private
citizens have little trouble in rising； but much in keeping atop； they
have not any difficulties on the way up； because they fly； but they have
many when they reach the summit。 Such are those to whom some state is
given either for money or by the favour of him who bestows it； as
happened to many in Greece； in the cities of Ionia and of the
Hellespont； where princes were made by Darius； in order that they might
hold the cities both for his security and his glory； as also were those
emperors who； by the corruption of the soldiers； from being citizens
came to empire。 Such stand simply upon the goodwill and the fortune of
him who has elevated them two most inconstant and unstable things。
Neither have they the knowledge requisite for the position； because；
unless they are men of great worth and ability； it is not reasonable to
expect that they should know how to mand； having always lived in a
private condition； besides； they cannot hold it because they have not
forces which they can keep friendly and faithful。
States that rise unexpectedly； then； like all other things in nature
which are born and grow rapidly； cannot have their foundations and
relations with other states fixed in such a way that the first storm
will not overthrow them； unless； as is said； those who unexpectedly
bee princes are men of so much ability that they know they have to be
prepared at once to hold that which fortune has thrown into their laps；
and that those foundations； which others have laid before they became
princes； they must lay afterwards。
Concerning these two methods of rising to be a prince by ability or
fortune； I wish to adduce two examples within our own recollection； and
these are Francesco Sforza and Cesare Borgia。 Francesco； by proper means
and with great ability； from being a private person rose to be Duke of
Milan； and that which he had acquired with a thousand anxieties he kept
with little trouble。 On the other hand； Cesare Borgia； called by the
people Duke Valentino； acquired his state during the ascendancy of his
father； and on its decline he lost it； notwithstanding that he had taken
every measure and done all that ought to be done by a wise and able man
to fix firmly his roots in the states which the arms and fortunes of
others had bestowed on him。
Because； as is stated above； he who has not first laid his foundations
may be able with great ability to lay them afterwards； but they will be
laid with trouble to the architect and danger to the building。 If；
therefore； all the steps taken by the duke be considered； it will be
seen that he laid solid foundations for his future power； and I do not
consider it superfluous to discuss them； because I do not know what
better precepts to give a new prince than the example of his actions；
and if his dispositions were of no avail； that was not his fault； but
the extraordinary and extreme malignity of fortune。
Alexander VI； in wishing to aggrandize the duke； his son； had many
immediate and prospective difficulties。 Firstly； he did not see his way
to make him master of any state that was not a state of the Church； and
if he was willing to rob the Church he knew that the Duke of Milan and
the Venetians would not consent； because Faenza and Rimini were already
under the protection of the Venetians。 Besides this； he saw the arms of
Italy； especially those by which he might have been assisted； in hands
that would fear the aggrandizement of the Pope； namely； the Orsini and
the Colonna and their following。 It behoved him； therefore； to upset
this state of affairs and embroil the powers； so as to make himself
securely master of part of their states。 This was easy for him to do；
because he found the Venetians； moved by other reasons； inclined to
bring back the French into Italy； he would not only not oppose this； but
he would render it more easy by dissolving the former marriage of King
Louis。 Therefore the king came into Italy with the assistance of the
Venetians and the consent of Alexander。 He was no sooner in Milan than
the Pope had soldiers from him for the attempt on the Romagna； which
yielded to him on the reputation of the king。 The duke； therefore；
having acquired the Romagna and beaten the Colonna； while wishing to
hold that and to advance further； was hindered by two things： the one；
his forces did not appear loyal to him； the other； the goodwill of
France： that is to say； he feared that the forces of the Orsini； which
was using； would not stand to him； that not only might they hinder him
from winning more； but might themselves seize what he had won； and that
the King might also do the same。 Of the Orsini he had a warning when；
after taking Faenza and attacking Bologna； he saw them go very
unwillingly to that attack。 And as to the king； he learned his mind when
he himself； after taking the duchy of Urbino； attacked Tuscany； and the
king made him desist from that undertaking； hence the duke decided to
depend no more upon the arms and the luck of others。
For the first thing he weakened the Orsini and Colonna parties in Rome；
by gaining to himself all their adherents who were gentlemen； making
them his gentlemen； giving them good pay； and； according to their rank；
honouring them with office and mand in such a way that in a few
months all attachment to the factions was destroyed and turned entirely
to t