The Prince is a 16th-century political treatise, by the Italian diplomat and political theorist, Niccol Machiavelli. From correspondence a version appears to have been distributed in 1513, using a Latin title, De Principatibus (About Principalities). However, the printed version was not published until 1532, five years after Machiavelli's death. This was done with the permission of the Medici pope Clement VII, but long before then, in fact since the first appearance of The Prince in manuscript, controversy had swirled about his writings

The Prince is sometimes claimed to be one of the first works of modern philosophy, especially modern political philosophy, in which the effective truth is taken to be more important than any abstract ideal. It was also in direct conflict with the dominant Catholic and scholastic doctrines of the time concerning politics and ethics. Although it is relatively short, the treatise is the most remembered of Machiavelli's works and the one most responsible for bringing the word Machiavellian into usage as a pejorative. It even contributed to the modern negative connotations of the words politics and politician in western countries.

Discourses on the First Decade of Titus Livius

The Prince is widely regarded as one of the most influential books on politics, especially on the acquisition, perpetuation, and use of political power in the western world. Machiavelli's observations continue to resonate with politicians, students, and scholars. Not intending his writing to be a scholarly treatise on political theory, Machiavelli wrote The Prince to gain the favor of the ruling Medici family, offering advice on how a prince might gain and keep power.

Il Principe (The Prince) is a political treatise by the Florentine public servant and political theorist Niccol Machiavelli. Originally called De Principatibus (About Principalities), it was written in 1513, but not published until 1532, five years after Machiavelli's death. The treatise is not representative of the work published during his lifetime, but it is the most remembered, and the work responsible for bringing Machiavellian into wide usage as a pejorative term. It has also been suggested by some critics that the piece is, in fact, a satire.

Il Principe (The Prince) is a political treatise by the Florentine public servant and political theorist Niccol Machiavelli. Originally called De Principatibus (About Principalities), it was written in 1513, but not published until 1532, five years after Machiavelli's death. The treatise is not representative of the work published during his lifetime, but it is the most remembered, and the work responsible for bringing Machiavellian into wide usage as a pejorative term. It has also been suggested by some critics that the piece is, in fact, a satire.

Machiavelli's The Prince is, perhaps, the most notorious piece of political philosophy ever written. Intended as a practical guide for princes, based on his own observations of Renaissance politics, Machiavelli discounted any notion of ethics, virtue, or even purpose, to politics other than mere expediency. This is the book that inspired the term Machiavellian and, some say, even spurred on the modern world's distaste for politics in general.