All states all powers that have held and hold rule over men have been and are either republics or principalities.
Principalities are either hereditary in which the family has been long established; or they are new. The new are either entirely new as was Milan to Francesco Sforza or they are as it were members annexed to the hereditary state of the prince who has acquired them as was the kingdom of Naples to that of the King of Spain.
Such dominions thus acquired are either accustomed to live under a prince or to live in freedom; and are acquired either by the arms of the prince himself or of others or else by fortune or by ability.