Machiavelli's "The Prince," written in 1513 as a letter of recommendation from the politically sidelined author to the designated prince of Florence, is considered a classic of world literature and is regarded as the first work of modern political philosophy. While formally still rooted in the tradition of medieval mirrors for princes, it discusses the principles of political rule and examines the moral qualities of the ruler as well as various techniques of governance aimed at achieving the most efficient order. However, Machiavelli was not a Machiavellian: the justification of ruthless rigor in pursuing one's own interests, even the phrase "the end justifies the means," is nowhere to be found in Machiavelli's work. Instead, it stems from the reactions of his influential critics. While Machiavelli seeks to establish an autonomous and, above all, amoral concept of politics, he does not advocate for immorality in political action. His ethos of the political actor is pragmatically oriented: the political agent is dependent on the contingency of the historical situation, on the feasibility of the purpose that their actions are meant to serve, and on the real possibilities of making their ethos politically effective. Necessità (insight into necessity), Fortuna (skill based on historical and practical knowledge), and Virtù (the ability to act autonomously) are the foundational virtues of the ideal sovereign ruler. For the commented new edition of Machiavelli's influential main work, the two oldest surviving manuscripts, as well as the historical sources used by Machiavelli, such as Livy and Thucydides, have been included in the critical review. The Italian text is provided according to the critical edition by Giorgio Inglese.