Given the tumultuous political era in which he lived, Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527), the Italian Renaissance author, philosopher, historian and diplomat, had a front-row seat to observe the political machinations, power struggles and dynastic changes in Renaissance Europe. He would compile these observations in ‘The Prince, ‘ which would swiftly gain a reputation both as a simple treatise on how to achieve and wield political power as well as an immoral, by-the-numbers account of how tyrants can seize and maintain dictatorships.
As a result of the teachings in this book, Machiavelli’s very name has become an adjective — ‘Machiavellian’ — that has come to denote political deception, cold-blooded calculation and the use of treachery as a means to seize power.
It is presented here in its original and unabridged format, translated from the Italian by Luigi Ricci.
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Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli (1469-1527) was an Italian Renaissance author, philosopher, historian and diplomat best known for his political treatise ‘The Prince, ‘ and the satirical play ‘The Mandrake.’ Often referred to as the father of political philosophy, Machiavelli was born to a wealthy family and received a classical education. Once he entered public life, he served as a senior official in the Florentine Republic and in his spare time began publishing various plays, songs and poetry. After the ruling Medici family was removed from power in Italy, Machiavelli became secretary to the Second Chancery of the Republic of Florence, serving in that position from 1498 to 1512.Given the tumultuous political era in which he lived, Machiavelli had a front-row seat to observe the political machinations, power struggles and dynastic changes in Renaissance Europe. He would compile these observations in ‘The Prince, ‘ which would swiftly gain a reputation both as a simple treatise on how to achieve and wield political power as well as an immoral, by-the-numbers account of how tyrants can seize and maintain dictatorships.As a result of the teachings in this book, Machiavelli’s very name has become an adjective — ‘Machiavellian’ — that has come to denote political deception, cold-blooded calculation and the use of treachery as a means to seize power.After the Medicis returned to rule Italy once more, Machiavelli was arrested for conspiracy, briefly imprisoned, tortured and then released. He retired to the countryside where he continued writing plays and poetry and kept up a healthy correspondence with politically connected friends, hoping in vain to return to public service.Machiavelli died in 1527 at the age of fifty-eight and is buried in the Church of Santa Croce in Florence.
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