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The Prince

Niccolò Machiavelli · c. 1513 primary

passage 88 of 90 · CHAPTER I. HOW MANY KINDS OF PRINCIPALITIES THERE ARE, AND BY WHAT MEANS THEY ARE ACQUIRED > CHAPTER XXVI. (23/25)

in brief
After Castruccio’s death, he recommends and secures Pagolo as successor, Castruccio is mourned and buried at San Francesco in Lucca, and Pagolo eventually loses Pisa and Pistoia and only holds Lucca for a time.

I have told thee is true. And thou wilt be doubly indebted to me, in that I have left thee this realm and have taught thee how to keep it.”

After this there came to Castruccio those citizens of Pisa, Pistoia, and Lucca, who had been fighting at his side, and whilst recommending Pagolo to them, and making them swear obedience to him as his successor, he died. He left a happy memory to those who had known him, and no prince of those times was ever loved with such devotion as he was. His obsequies were celebrated with every sign of mourning, and he was buried in San Francesco at Lucca. Fortune was not so friendly to Pagolo Guinigi as she had been to Castruccio, for he had not the abilities. Not long after the death of Castruccio, Pagolo lost Pisa, and then Pistoia, and only with difficulty held on to Lucca. This latter city continued in the family of Guinigi until the time of the great-grandson of Pagolo.

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topics: civil war and rebellion · empire and the rule of provinces · forms of government

The Prince · Niccolò Machiavelli · 1513