TL;DR: On Mixed Principalities

New principalities are difficult to acquire and maintain. People, self-interested, only accept change of rulers if they see the benefits, which actually sets them up for the worse, as not all expectations will be met. Enemies are inevitable; those you conquered are spited and those aided your conquest are ambitious. When appending a new principality with similar language and customs, the only two concerns lie in liquidating the youth of the former prince’s bloodline and maintaining their former laws and taxes. Disparity in language and customs calls for a residing physical presence in order to nip issues immediately at the bud. Otherwise, establishing colonies will serve as an inexpensive but effective remedy over military bases. The Romans succeeded to acquire and maintain power from establishing colonies, weakening neighboring states, and upholding a balance of their resources. On the other hand, King Louis XII failed miserably after the minor initial success with the Venetians. The king began to empower those that came to threaten his power; losing his Venetian friends by empowering the Pope, and making himself vulnerable to disloyalty from giving power to the foreign King of Spain. TL;DR: when conquering people: be smart, swift, and firm.

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