Chapter 7 Summary

Those who get to rule over a territory through good fortune gain their rulership easily, but only keep it through hard work. They may gain their new state either in exchange for money, as a favor, or by bribing the military. Their troubles begin once they start ruling. This type of prince depends entirely on the good will and good fortune of the one who put him in power. They don't know how to command, and they don't have loyal forces at their disposal. Unless such a prince can learn quickly, his dominion will wither in the first crisis.

There are two good examples of the two ways of rising from private citizen to powerful prince. Francesco Sforza rose from his private station to be the Duke of Milan purely through his own ability. He had to exert himself to gain it, but...