Niccolo’ Machiavelli’s (1469 – 1527) thought reflects the fascination with power that was characteristic of the Italian Renaissance. Living in a tumultuous era, he was, throughout his life, preoccupied with the welfare of his country and of his native city, Florence.
The cause of a strong government was extremely important to Machiavelli, and he longed for a leader who would free his country from the disunity and corruption that plagued her. A republican who sought to serve Florence, Niccolo’ Machiavelli occupied several official posts following the expulsion of Piero de Medici from the city in 1494. During his eighteen years of service, he showed himself to be unfailingly devoted to the public good. However, following the return of the Medici in 1512, Machiavelli, despite his attempts to ingratiate himself with them, was dismissed from office and later arrested and tortured as a conspirator. After his release, he retired to his farm outside the city to dedicate himself to study and writing. Ultimately, the Medici turned to Machiavelli for counsel, and upon Giulio de Medici’s becoming Pope, Machiavelli represented him on a number of diplomatic assignments. When the Medici again was driven from Florence in 1527, he appeared on the threshold of a new career of service for the new republican government, but suddenly died after falling ill of a digestive ailment at the age of 58.
CHAPTER ONE: Niccolo’ Machiavelli – Introduction
Niccolo’ Machiavelli occupies a unique place in the development of modern political philosophy with his attempt to remove political thought from the realm of the abstract and the ideal by developing concrete principles of governance to be applied in the real world. This project gradually led Machiavelli toward the creation of an innovative political schema, which recognized both the inadequacy of the classical approach to governing and the necessity of developing a different philo...