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The Prince
The Prince
Nicolo Machiavelli
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The Prince
Nicolo Machiavelli, born at Florence on 3rd May
1469. From 1494 to 1512 held an official post at Florence
which included diplomatic missions to various European
courts. Imprisoned in Florence, 1512; later exiled and
returned to San Casciano. Died at Florence on 22nd June
1527.
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INTRODUCTION
Nicolo Machiavelli was born at Florence on 3rd May
1469. He was the second son of Bernardo di Nicolo
Machiavelli, a lawyer of some repute, and of Bartolommea
di Stefano Nelli, his wife. Both parents were members of
the old Florentine nobility.
His life falls naturally into three periods, each of which
singularly enough constitutes a distinct and important era
in the history of Florence. His youth was concurrent with
the greatness of Florence as an Italian power under the
guidance of Lorenzo de’ Medici, Il Magnifico. The
downfall of the Medici in Florence occurred in 1494, in
which year Machiavelli entered the public service. During
his official career Florence was free under the government
of a Republic, which lasted until 1512, when the Medici
returned to power, and Machiavelli lost his office. The
Medici again ruled Florence from 1512 until 1527, when
they were once more driven out. This was the period of
Machiavelli’s literary activity and increasing influence; but
he died, within a few weeks of the expulsion of the
Medici, on 22nd June 1527, in his fifty-eighth year,
without having regained office.
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YOUTH Aet. 1-25—1469-94
Although there is little recorded of the youth of
Machiavelli, the Florence of those days is so well known
that the early environment of this representative citizen
may be easily imagined. Florence has been described as a
city with two opposite currents of life, one directed by the
fervent and austere Savonarola, the other by the
splendour- loving Lorenzo. Savonarola’s influence upon
the young Machiavelli must have been slight, for although
at one time he wielded immense power over the fortunes
of Florence, he only furnished Machiavelli with a subject
of a gibe in ‘The Prince,’ where he is cited as an example
of an unarmed prophet who came to a bad end. Whereas
the magnificence of the Medicean rule during the life of
Lorenzo appeared to have impressed Machiavelli strongly,
for he frequently recurs to it in his writings, and it is to
Lorenzo’s grandson that he dedicates ‘The Prince.’
Machiavelli, in his ‘History of Florence,’ gives us a
picture of the young men among whom his youth was
passed. He writes: ‘They were freer than their forefathers
in dress and living, and spent more in other kinds of
excesses, consuming their time and money in idleness,
gaming, and women; their chief aim was to appear well
dressed and to speak with wit and acuteness, whilst he
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who could wound others the most cleverly was thought
the wisest.’ In a letter to his son Guido, Machiavelli shows
why youth should avail itself of its opportunities for study,
and leads us to infer that his own youth had been so
occupied. He writes: ‘I have received your letter, which
has given me the greatest pleasure, especially because you
tell me you are quite restored in health, than which I
could have no better news; for if God grant life to you,
and to me, I hope to make a good man of you if you are
willing to do your share.’ Then, writing of a new patron,
he continues: ‘This will turn out well for you, but it is
necessary for you to study; since, then, you have no longer
the excuse of illness, take pains to study letters and music,
for you see what honour is done to me for the little skill I
have. Therefore, my son, if you wish to please me, and to
bring success and honour to yourself, do right and study,
because others will help you if you help yourself.’
OFFICE Aet. 25-43—1494-1512
The second period of Machiavelli’s life was spent in the
service of the free Republic of Florence, which flourished,
as stated above, from the expulsion of the Medici in 1494
until their return in 1512. After serving four years in one
of the public offices he was appointed Chancellor and
Secretary to the Second Chancery, the Ten of Liberty and
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