The Prince: For real or a satire?

I have no idea #googleimages

October 1, 2012:

In talking about The Prince today, a few people have asked about the theory that Machiavelli wrote it as a satire intended to sabotage the rule of Lorenzo de Medici. 

Checking out Wikipedia where many people have said they've seen this theory, I find that much of the section on The Prince as satire depends upon two sources--Ian Johnston, a retired professor at Vancouver Island University and Mary Dietz, a professor at Northwestern University.  

While I can't completely  rule out the possibility that they may be right, it seems more likely to be rooted in the pet theories of these two individuals.  Wikipedia does mention Rousseau and some other 18th century people that may also have thought this way, but there isn't much in the way of citations to support the claim.

In absence of overwhelming evidence to the contrary, I'm going to go with what is the generally accepted interpretation.  Machiavelli was in part trying to get himself into the Medici's good graces, and, I think, to actually express what he thought the ideal prince would be.  This premise is backed up by most of the accepted sources, including the Encyclopedia of Renaissance History in the following quotation:

• Machiavelli had before him the model of Rome—not of imperial Rome, but of the Roman Republic. In his personal political convictions, Machiavelli ardently favored republics. Nonetheless he perceived the potential benefits of a constitutional monarchy and looked to France as a model of such a state. He thought that there were times when only a monarch could hold in check the corruption of the populace at large. [Emphasis added] He also believed that at times of imminent danger to the state no consideration of justice or injustice, pity or cruelty, or praise or blameworthiness should inhibit a ruler from acting in the best interests of the state.

If you find anything different, please don't hesitate to share with me and with the class.  It's an interesting idea that he might have intended the text to be some kind of elaborate trap.