Biography

(Niccolò Macchiavelli. Florence 1469- 1527) Born of an ancient but impoverished family, he began his carrer in the goverment of the Republic of Florence after the fall of Girolamo Savanarola. He carried out delicate diplomatic missions at the court of France (1504, 1510-11), the Holy Seat (1506) and the German Imperial Court (1507-1508), which gave him the opportunity to know many princes and observe their differences in government and political trends.

Macchiavelli was particularly interested in the political cunning and iron fist displayed by Cesare Borgia. Against mercenary militia, he advised the prince to enroll soldiers from the city of Florence and the towns around it. These people would have certainly been more eager in their fight in defense of their land. When in 1512 the Medici, supported by the Spanish army, returned to Florence, Machiavelli was removed from office and imprisoned out of the borders. Once free, Machiavelli attempted to win back the favours of the Medici family, though he never again was appointed to the prominent position in the government he had covered in the past. His vast experience on state and government affairs enabled him to outline the figure of the ideal ruler which he depicted in his most famous work “Il Principe” (written in 1513-14 and published in 1532).

According to Macchiavelli a prince must only take into consideration the power of government and must not be anchored by ethical norms which could jeopardize the positive outcome of a political action. “The ends justify the means” is the key phrase of his thouht. Many saw Cesare Borgia in the figure of his main character, especially for his tyrannical and despotic manners. Machiavelli wrote other essays and dialogues on politics and the art of governing such as “Discorsi Sopra la rima Deca Di Tito Livio” (1513-1517), “Dell’arte della Guerra” also known as “Re Militari” (1519-20). The eight books on “Istorie Fiorentine” (1520-26) commissioned by the Medici, treat of the history of Florence from the fall of the Roman Empire to the death of Lorenzo il Magnifico, particularly focusing on the fights between the Guelfi and the Ghibellini. Machiavelli also wrote “Dialogo Intorno alla Nostra Lingua”(1515), “Via di Castruccio Castracani” (1520), poems, short stories and comedies. In his play “La Mandragola” (1518) he analyzes human nature and corruption. In the cool passion of his analysis his contemporaries saw a form of cynical amorality which was particularly condemned by the more religious. In truth the author had invented the art of politics – a modern vision which revolutionized all medieval concepts.