Changes

===Military strategy===

===Military strategy===

''The Art of War'' is the first major work on modern military thought, and the only major book that appeared before Machiavelli's death.<ref>Christopher Lynch, in Introduction to ''Art of War'' (2003) p. xiii</ref>. In seven volumes it examines military strategy and the relationship between war and politics.

''The Art of War'' is the first major work on modern military thought, as the world's first systematic treatise on military strategy.<ref>Although the Greeks invented military history, and the Chinese were famous for collections of aphorisms. European military thought was most influenced by Machiavelli. Peter Peret et al, eds. ''Makers of Modern Strategy: From Machiavelli to the Nuclear Age'' (1986), esp. ch 1 by Felix Gilbert, "Machiavelli".</ref>  His only major book that appeared before Machiavelli's death. its seven volumes examines military strategy and the relationship between war and politics.<ref>Christopher Lynch, in Introduction to ''Art of War'' (2003) p. xiii</ref>.  

Italy could not be freed by hiring soldiers because:  

Italy could not be freed by hiring soldiers because:  

:"Mercenaries and auxiliaries are useless and dangerous. And if a prince holds on to his state by means of mercenary armies, he will never be stable or secure; for they are disunited, ambitious, without discipline, disloyal; they are brave among friends; among enemies they are cowards; they have no fear of God, they keep no faith with men; and your downfall is deferred only so long as the attack is deferred; and in peace you are plundered by them, in war by your enemies. The reason for this is that they have no other love nor other motive to keep them in the field than a meager wage, which is not enough to make them want to die for you. They love being your soldiers when you are not making war, but when war comes they either flee or desert.<ref> ''The Prince'' ch 12. Florence indeed had a bad experience but most historians feel that in general the mercenary system usually worked effectively. Skinner, ''Machiavelli'' (2000) p 36. </ref>  

:"Mercenaries and auxiliaries are useless and dangerous. And if a prince holds on to his state by means of mercenary armies, he will never be stable or secure; for they are disunited, ambitious, without discipline, disloyal; they are brave among friends; among enemies they are cowards; they have no fear of God, they keep no faith with men; and your downfall is deferred only so long as the attack is deferred; and in peace you are plundered by them, in war by your enemies. The reason for this is that they have no other love nor other motive to keep them in the field than a meager wage, which is not enough to make them want to die for you. They love being your soldiers when you are not making war, but when war comes they either flee or desert.<ref> ''The Prince'' ch 12. Florence indeed had a bad experience but most historians feel that in general the mercenary system usually worked effectively. Skinner, ''Machiavelli'' (2000) p 36. </ref>  

Allies were not much better, for, "the arms of another man either slide off your back, weigh you down, or tie you up." <ref> ''The Prince'' ch 13</ref>  

Allies were not much better, for, "the arms of another man either slide off your back, weigh you down, or tie you up." <ref> ''The Prince'' ch 13</ref>

 

Machiavelli was the great promoter of the citizens' militia.  He organized the first one in Florence and examined it in detail, concluding that the defence of a republic depended on the fighting ability and willingness of its citizens. Hired armies or mercenaries, he concluded, could not defend freedom.  His ideas influenced the British "County Party" and the Americans before 1776 as they prepared to use their militias to defend freedom.<ref> Gilbert, "Machiavelli" in Paret, ed. ''Makers of Modern Strategy''  pp. 19-22</ref>

===The Prince===

===The Prince===