By 1512, the republic fell as the Medici were restored. Machiavelli was sacked, seen as a conspirator, imprisoned and tortured for 22 days but then released after an general amnesty. Niccolo retired with his family to a farm the north of the city. Machiavelli placed great faith in the value of a citizens' republic which accorded with human nature. He advises a monarch, or small elite, who governs a people possessing no active political life he feels that the monarch would best preserve power by using violence carefully and economically, by respecting the persons, property, and traditions of his subjects, and by promoting material prosperity.
New territories offer problems.
Even though a conqueror's armies are powerful the goodwill of the pople is still needed. A prince must take harsh action to ensure that there is no fear of revenge. They continue to smoulder and seek revenge. The ruler has to be more than persuasive. They have force the issue if necessary on their own without depending on others.