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contented under the former government； and are therefore his enemies；
than of those who； being discontented with it； were favourable to him and
encouraged him to seize it。
6。 It has been a custom with princes； in order to hold their states more
securely； to build fortresses that may serve as a bridle and bit to those who
might design to work against them； and as a place of refuge from a first
attack。 I praise this system because it has been made use of formerly。
Notwithstanding that； Messer Nicolo Vitelli in our times has been seen to
demolish two fortresses in Citta di Castello so that he might keep that state；
Guido Ubaldo； Duke of Urbino； on returning to his dominion； whence he
had been driven by Cesare Borgia； razed to the foundations all the
fortresses in that province； and considered that without them it would be
more difficult to lose it； the Bentivogli returning to Bologna came to a
similar decision。 Fortresses； therefore； are useful or not according to
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circumstances； if they do you good in one way they injure you in another。
And this question can be reasoned thus： the prince who has more to fear
from the people than from foreigners ought to build fortresses； but he who
has more to fear from foreigners than from the people ought to leave them
alone。 The castle of Milan； built by Francesco Sforza； has made； and will
make； more trouble for the house of Sforza than any other disorder in the
state。 For this reason the best possible fortress isnot to be hated by the
people； because； although you may hold the fortresses； yet they will not
save you if the people hate you； for there will never be wanting foreigners
to assist a people who have taken arms against you。 It has not been seen in
our times that such fortresses have been of use to any prince； unless to the
Countess of Forli；＇*＇ when the Count Girolamo； her consort； was killed；
for by that means she was able to withstand the popular attack and wait for
assistance from Milan； and thus recover her state； and the posture of
affairs was such at that time that the foreigners could not assist the people。
But fortresses were of little value to her afterwards when Cesare Borgia
attacked her； and when the people； her enemy； were allied with foreigners。
Therefore； it would have been safer for her； both then and before； not to
have been hated by the people than to have had the fortresses。 All these
things considered then； I shall praise him who builds fortresses as well as
him who does not； and I shall blame whoever； trusting in them； cares little
about being hated by the people。
＇*＇ Catherine Sforza； a daughter of Galeazzo Sforza and Lucrezia
Landriani； born 1463； died 1509。 It was to the Countess of Forli that
Machiavelli was sent as envy on 1499。 A letter from Fortunati to the
countess announces the appointment： 〃I have been with the signori；〃 wrote
Fortunati； 〃to learn whom they would send and when。 They tell me that
Nicolo Machiavelli； a learned young Florentine noble； secretary to my
Lords of the Ten； is to leave with me at once。〃 Cf。 〃Catherine Sforza；〃 by
Count Pasolini； translated by P。 Sylvester； 1898。
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CHAPTER XXI
HOW A PRINCE SHOULD CONDUCT HIMSELF SO AS TO
GAIN RENOWN
Nothing makes a prince so much esteemed as great enterprises and
setting a fine example。 We have in our time Ferdinand of Aragon； the
present King of Spain。 He can almost be called a new prince； because he
has risen； by fame and glory； from being an insignificant king to be the
foremost king in Christendom； and if you will consider his deeds you will
find them all great and some of them extraordinary。 In the beginning of his
reign he attacked Granada； and this enterprise was the foundation of his
dominions。 He did this quietly at first and without any fear of hindrance；
for he held the minds of the barons of Castile occupied in thinking of the
war and not anticipating any innovations； thus they did not perceive that
by these means he was acquiring power and authority over them。 He was
able with the money of the Church and of the people to sustain his armies；
and by that long war to lay the foundation for the military skill which has
since distinguished him。 Further； always using religion as a plea； so as to
undertake greater schemes； he devoted himself with pious cruelty to
driving out and clearing his kingdom of the Moors； nor could there be a
more admirable example； nor one more rare。 Under this same cloak he
assailed Africa； he came down on Italy； he has finally attacked France； and
thus his achievements and designs have always been great； and have kept
the minds of his people in suspense and admiration and occupied with the
issue of them。 And his actions have arisen in such a way； one out of the
other； that men have never been given time to work steadily against him。
Again； it much assists a prince to set unusual examples in internal
affairs； similar to those which are related of Messer Bernabo da Milano；
who； when he had the opportunity； by any one in civil life doing some
extraordinary thing； either good or bad； would take some method of
rewarding or punishing him； which would be much spoken about。 And a
prince ought； above all things； always endeavour in every action to gain
for himself the reputation of being a great and remarkable man。
A prince is also respected when he is either a true friend or a
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downright enemy； that is to say； when； without any reservation； he
declares himself in favour of one party against the other； which course will
always be more advantageous than standing neutral； because if two of
your powerful neighbours come to blows； they are of such a character that；
if one of them conquers； you have either to fear him or not。 In either case
it will always be more advantageous for you to declare yourself and to
make war strenuously； because； in the first case； if you do not declare
yourself； you will invariably fall a prey to the conqueror； to the pleasure