Machiavelli opens The Prince describing the two principal types of governments: monarchies and republics. His focus in The Prince is on monarchies. Machiavelli notes that monarchs have either just recently come to power, or else they are rulers from a long hereditary line. Thus a state is either ruled by a prince or it is simply a free state and when a prince annexes them, he wins them either by force, luck or special ability. Machiavelli addresses the issue of governing a state that previously lived under its own laws. He suggests that there are three ways to successfully hold states that are accustomed to having their own laws. He says that such states must be pillaged. He believes that the ruler must go in and take what he desires without reservation or concern for those members of the state. He also suggests that the ruling authorities must live there in person. He believes that one cannot rule from afar. He also suggests that they are permitted to keep their own laws, but!
             tribute must be taken from them. He says to set up a government of a few to keep the nation friendly to you. Machiavelli says that these few will undoubtedly be friendly to the price because they need his protection. They could not survive without his security. The surest way to keep a city, though, is to ravage it. Machiavelli states that whoever becomes ruler of a free city and does not destroy it, will be destroyed by it. No matter what is done for these people, they can never forget their former liberties and customs, and this induces them to rebel. Machiavelli also adds one important fact about governing a state that was previously under its own laws. He says that cities that have lived under a prince have become used to obeying. This makes it easy for a prince to control them without fear of rebellion. But republics have more life and hatred, and traditions of liberty and therefore must be ravaged. , or the prince must live there. The Athenians, before ...