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around him； to such an extent that he was murdered in the midst of his
army by a centurion。 And here it must be noted that such… like deaths；
which are deliberately inflicted with a resolved and desperate courage；
cannot be avoided by princes； because any one who does not fear to die
can inflict them； but a prince may fear them the less because they are very
rare； he has only to be careful not to do any grave injury to those whom he
employs or has around him in the service of the state。 Antoninus had not
taken this care； but had contumeliously killed a brother of that centurion；
whom also he daily threatened； yet retained in his bodyguard； which； as it
turned out； was a rash thing to do； and proved the emperor's ruin。
But let us come to Commodus； to whom it should have been very easy
to hold the empire； for； being the son of Marcus； he had inherited it； and he
had only to follow in the footsteps of his father to please his people and
soldiers； but； being by nature cruel and brutal； he gave himself up to
amusing the soldiers and corrupting them； so that he might indulge his
rapacity upon the people； on the other hand； not maintaining his dignity；
often descending to the theatre to compete with gladiators； and doing other
vile things； little worthy of the imperial majesty； he fell into contempt with
the soldiers； and being hated by one party and despised by the other； he
was conspired against and was killed。
It remains to discuss the character of Maximinus。 He was a very
warlike man； and the armies； being disgusted with the effeminacy of
Alexander； of whom I have already spoken； killed him and elected
Maximinus to the throne。 This he did not possess for long； for two things
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made him hated and despised； the one； his having kept sheep in Thrace；
which brought him into contempt （it being well known to all； and
considered a great indignity by every one）； and the other； his having at the
accession to his dominions deferred going to Rome and taking possession
of the imperial seat； he had also gained a reputation for the utmost ferocity
by having； through his prefects in Rome and elsewhere in the empire；
practised many cruelties； so that the whole world was moved to anger at
the meanness of his birth and to fear at his barbarity。 First Africa rebelled；
then the Senate with all the people of Rome； and all Italy conspired against
him； to which may be added his own army； this latter； besieging Aquileia
and meeting with difficulties in taking it； were disgusted with his cruelties；
and fearing him less when they found so many against him； murdered him。
I do not wish to discuss Heliogabalus； Macrinus； or Julian； who； being
thoroughly contemptible； were quickly wiped out； but I will bring this
discourse to a conclusion by saying that princes in our times have this
difficulty of giving inordinate satisfaction to their soldiers in a far less
degree； because； notwithstanding one has to give them some indulgence；
that is soon done； none of these princes have armies that are veterans in
the governance and administration of provinces； as were the armies of the
Roman Empire； and whereas it was then more necessary to give
satisfaction to the soldiers than to the people； it is now more necessary to
all princes； except the Turk and the Soldan； to satisfy the people rather the
soldiers； because the people are the more powerful。
From the above I have excepted the Turk； who always keeps round
him twelve thousand infantry and fifteen thousand cavalry on which
depend the security and strength of the kingdom； and it is necessary that；
putting aside every consideration for the people； he should keep them his
friends。 The kingdom of the Soldan is similar； being entirely in the hands
of soldiers； it follows again that； without regard to the people； he must
keep them his friends。 But you must note that the state of the Soldan is
unlike all other principalities； for the reason that it is like the Christian
pontificate； which cannot be called either an hereditary or a newly formed
principality； because the sons of the old prince are not the heirs； but he
who is elected to that position by those who have authority； and the sons
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remain only noblemen。 And this being an ancient custom； it cannot be
called a new principality； because there are none of those difficulties in it
that are met with in new ones； for although the prince is new； the
constitution of the state is old； and it is framed so as to receive him as if he
were its hereditary lord。
But returning to the subject of our discourse； I say that whoever will
consider it will acknowledge that either hatred or contempt has been fatal
to the above…named emperors； and it will be recognized also how it
happened that； a number of them acting in one way and a number in
another； only one in each way came to a happy end and the rest to
unhappy ones。 Because it would have been useless and dangerous for
Pertinax and Alexander； being new princes； to imitate Marcus； who was
heir to the principality； and likewise it would have been utterly destructive
to Caracalla； Commodus； and Maximinus to have imitated Severus； they
not having sufficient valour to enable them to tread in his footsteps。
Therefore a prince； new to the principality； cannot imitate the actions of
Marcus； nor； again； is it necessary to follow those of Severus； but he ought
to take from Severus those parts which are necessary to found his state；
and from Marcus those which are proper and glorious to keep a state that
may already be stable and firm。
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CHAPTER XX
ARE FORTRESSES； AND MANY OTHER THINGS TO WHICH
PRINCES OFTEN RESORT； ADVANTAGEOUS OR HURTFUL？
1。 Some princes； so as to hold securely the state； have disarmed their
subjects； others have kept their subject towns distracted by factions； others
have fostered enmiti