Suppose the Mad King is mentally unstable, ineffective, and brutally oppressive. For these reasons, Robert leads a rebellion, backed by a majority of the people, and kills the Mad King in battle. Further, Robert captures the Mad King's only surviving children (and potential heirs to the thrown). After the battle, the people appoint Robert the new king.
He must now decide what to do with the Mad King's children. He correctly believes that the only way to avoid another civil war, and thus secure his rule and peace in the country, is to execute the children (ages 5 and 2), but the children have not (yet) done anything to merit execution. According to Machiavelli, should Robert kill the Mad King's Children?