In 1513, Nicholas Machiavelli wrote a political treatise describing various methods by which a prince could obtain and maintain political power. This work of literary art caused much controversy and was later banned by Pope Clement VIII because it went against the normal traditional ethics of the time. According to Machiavelli, a prince should only care about power and the means leading to the success of his policy. actions. Modern scholars feel that the book was not written as a true guide on how to govern, but rather as a satirical work of art on how not to govern a country. Machiavelli originally only wrote this letter in hopes of working as an advisor to the Medici family who, at the time, ruled Florence, Italy. In chapter 13 of Machiavelli, The Prince begins by talking about the army and the difference between mercenaries and auxiliaries. . The comparison indicates that the auxiliaries represent much more of a danger to the country than a mercenary, because they have ulterior motives. Mercenaries are professional soldiers hired and paid to serve in a foreign army, while an auxiliary is an army employed by a prince in times of need. Machiavelli warns of the dangers of the auxiliaries because, whatever the outcome of the war, the country that receives the army's aid will meet a horrible fate. In the event that the country wins the war, it risks becoming a captive of the auxiliaries, which will lead to negative consequences no matter what. In speaking about the dangers of receiving help from such a negative force, Machiavelli lets his distrust of them shine through. To try to make the reader understand, Machiavelli uses historical examples of people who previously...... middle of paper...... and he should not be in the position of a prince. Throughout the chapter, Machiavelli repeatedly speaks of virtù, one of the concepts he is known for theorizing about. The word itself comes from the Latin word virtus which are simply qualities that one finds charming in a man. Machiavelli made virtù a concept that would be described as traits that a ruler should possess in order to maintain order in a country and accomplish great things. Machiavelli also mentions the word fortuna which is actually the Greek goddess of luck and fortune in Roman culture. In the context where he uses the word fortuna, he is actually talking about destiny and justice. Unfortunately, The Prince shows how contradictory the two words are, because in the right situations, virtù triumphs over fortune..