For this section, students should read Chapters 11-14 of The Prince.
Content Summary for Teachers
Chapter 11: Ecclesiastical Principalities
In Chapter 11, Machiavelli backtracks to discuss a rather exceptional form of principality: ecclesiastical principalities. The most significant examples of this are the Papal States, that is, the regions of Italy governed by the Latin Church (a.k.a. the Roman Catholic Church). These kinds of principalities are maintained by ancient religious institutions; they are exceptional because they have no true "prince" and are not defended by any army, and yet they remain secure and successful.
Machiavelli says that ecclesiastical principalities are...
