Machiavelli's Abuse Of Power

Machiavelli was a well-connected diplomat in Florence during the Florentine Renaissance. When the Medici family returned to power, Machiavelli was terminated from his position, leaving him to reside outside of the city. During this time, he wrote The Prince –essentially a book written to win the favour of Lorenzo Medici, the governor of Florence, and to “advance himself as a candidate for a political role in the Medician government” (Morgan, 505). Machiavelli states that a morally virtuous ruler is not what makes the best leader; rather, he advises Medici that political leaders must be prepared to lie, deceive, and do whatever it takes to protect one’s power. Moreover, Machiavelli argues that immoral and cruel actions are necessary for the …show more content…
He writes that principalities are either hereditary or new. According to Machiavelli, a hereditary ruler will never lose his state, but if he does, will regain his power and territory,
“For a ruler who inherits power has few reasons and less cause to give offense; as a consequence he is more popular; and as long as he does not have exceptional vices that make him hateful, it is to be expected he will naturally have the goodwill of his people. Because the state has belonged to his family from one generation to another, memories of how they came to power, and motives to overthrow them, have worn away. For every change in government creates grievances that those who wish to bring about further change can exploit” (Machiavelli, …show more content…
The inhabitants of the new principality will expect swift changes, but new rulers cannot do everything as expected by the citizens. He states that people willingly change their ruler hoping that this will bring about change for the better, but when the changes do not manifest, the citizens will turn on their ruler. He writes that if a ruler has acquired a new principality where the language and customs are different, many problems will arise and one will need good fortune and resourcefulness to secure it. One of the best policies, according to Machiavelli, is for new rulers to go and live amongst the people in the new territory, as “this will make his grasp on them more secure and more lasting … if you are there in person, your territory will not be plundered by your officials … subjects can appeal against their exactions to you, their ruler. As a consequence they have more reason to love you, if they behave themselves, and, if they do not, more reason to fear you.” (511). The second best policy is to send colonies to settle in the new principalities or to occupy it with a sizable army. He states that very few inhabitants will be offended by the seizures of property to give to the prince’s settlers, but will not be able to retaliate as they will have become “scattered and poor” and too afraid to react “for they will have before them the fate of their neighbors as an example of