2) Discuss the success and failures of King Louis.

The Prince , written by Niccolo Machiavelli , is considered to be one of the greatest philosophical works of the Renaissance period , and of history in general . Completed when Machiavelli was in exile from Florence , it was meant to serve as both a way back into the political world of Florence and as a guide for Lorenzo de ' Medici on how to be a strong ruler

Machiavelli began discussing principalities in the first two chapters He did not spend much time on the latter , but took time to explain the former . He stated that

principalities were either hereditary or new Furthermore , hereditary principalities are much easier to hold on to than new ones are , for the people of hereditary principalities are used to the ruling family . The same cannot be said of a new principality , in which both the people and the ruler must adjust to each other

In the third chapter , Machiavelli discussed mixed principalities , which are defined as being both the old possessions of a prince , as well as his new territories . He continued by stating that many are often difficult to rule , and therefore tend to experience a great deal of political turmoil , not just from the newly conquered but also from the original followers of the new ruler . To emphasize this particular point Machiavelli turned to the rule of King Louis XII of France , who conquered the city-state of Milan , but could not gain the support of its citizens . The

technique of using a historical figure as a tool to emphasize his points is seen throughout the text

Machiavelli began his example of King Louis XII by stating that he came into Italy by way of the Venetians , who wanted to use him to gain control of half of Lombardy . Because he had no other options , he was forced to enter Italy in this manner . As a result , he was able to gain control not just of Lombardy , but also over almost two-thirds of Italy

However , once he was in power , he made five fatal flaws : he destroyed the minor powers , he increased the strength of one of the greater powers in Italy , he brought in a foreign power , he did not settle in the country , he did not send colonies (Machiavelli . These mistakes were direct contradictions of what Machaivelli wrote should be done when a ruler gains control of a new territory

The personal quest for power that King Louis XII embarked on resulted in his losing all the territory and power he had gained in Italy However , that loss of power could have been avoided had he not attempted to deprive the Venetians of their own territorial possessions . Doing this turned the city-state of Venice against him , and sealed his fate of losing power . Machiavelli concluded his discussion on King Louis XII and his ill-fated conquest of Lombardy by making the following remark

From this a general rule is drawn which never or rarely fails : that he who is the cause of another becoming powerful is...