CHAP. XXI.
By what means a Prince may become esteemed.
Nothing is more likely to make a prince esteemed than great enterprises, and in general extraordinary actions. Ferdinand, the present King of Spain, may be considered as a new prince, since from being simply king of a weak state he is from his great actions become the first monarch in Christendom. Now, if we examine his actions, we shall throughout the whole perceive a character of grandeur, and some of them are indeed most splendid.
Scarcely was this prince seated on the throne when he turned his arms against the kingdom of Grenada; and this war laid the foundation of his greatness, inasmuch as the nobles of Castile thought of nothing but fighting, and entirely disregarded his political innovations, and were also far from perceiving the authority which this prince was every day acquiring at their expence, by paying with the church's and people's money those armies which have raised him to his present high state of power. Afterwards to enable him to undertake enterprises still more brilliant, he dexterously assumed the mask of religion, and by a cruel piety drove the Moors out of his dominions.
