The Prince was written in 1513 but published only in 1532, after Machiavelli's death. It was written at a time of political conflict, violence, instability and intrigue, when Italy was repeatedly won and controlled by foreigners. It was meant to be a practical guide to the Italian leader, Lorenzo Di Medici to act in this environment, though unfortunately the former did not really agree with the suggestions in this book.

Highly controversial, the book won for Machiavelli the reputation of amoral cynicism and diabolicism.

His belief that politics had its own rules so stunned readers that a new term came to be used for political manoeuvers marked by cunning and duplicity-Machiavellian.