The prince by niccolo machiavelli is a political treatise by the Italian diplomat, historian and political theorist Niccolo 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 by machiavelli 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 how to consider politics and ethics. As shown by his letter of dedication, the prince niccolo machiavelli eventually came to be dedicated to Lorenzo di Piero de' Medici, grandson of "Lorenzo the Magnificent," and a member of the ruling Florentine Medici family, whose uncle Giovanni became pope Leo X in 1513. It is known from his personal correspondence that The Prince was written during 1513, the year after the Medici took control of Florence, and a few months after Machiavelli's arrest, torture, and banishment by the in-coming Medici regime. The Prince was discussed for a long time with Francesco Vettori, a friend of Machiavelli who he wanted to pass it and commend it to the Medici. The Prince had originally been intended for Giuliano di Lorenzo de' Medici, young Lorenzo's uncle, who however died in 1516. It is not certain that the Prince was ever read by any of the Medici before it was printed. Machiavelli describes the contents of The Prince as being an un-embellished summary of his knowledge about the nature of princes and "the actions of great men," based not only on reading but also, unusually, on real experience. In the Prince, Machiavelli emphasized the need for realism, as opposed to idealism. In The Prince he does not explain what he thinks the best ethical or political goals are, except the control of one's own fortune, as opposed to waiting to see what chance brings. Machiavelli took it for granted that would-be leaders naturally aim at glory or honor. He associated these goals with a need for "virtue" and "prudence" in a leader, and saw such virtues as essential to good politics and indeed the common good. That great men should develop and use their virtue and prudence was a traditional theme of advice to Christian princes. Princes who rise to power through their own skill and resources (their "virtue") rather than luck tend to have a hard time rising to the top, but once they reach the top they are very secure in their position. This type of Prince effectively crushes their opponents and earns great respect from everyone else. Because they are strong and more self-sufficient, they have to make fewer compromises with their allies. In the Prince, Machiavelli writes that reforming an existing order is one of the most dangerous and difficult things a prince can do. Part of the reason is that people are naturally resistant to change and reform. The Prince also deals with The Qualities of a Prince, the Reputation of the Prince and the Prudence of the Prince (machiavelli principe), prince machiavelli. machiavelli niccolo. Filled with infinite wisdom this really should be one of the college textbooks every student gets a chance to read."