Machiavelli: Renaissance Political Analyst And Author (Makers of the Middle Ages and Renaissance) PDF
Preview Machiavelli: Renaissance Political Analyst And Author (Makers of the Middle Ages and Renaissance)
makers of The middle Ages and Renaissance Machiavelli Renaissance Political Analyst and Author Chaucer Celebrated Poet and Author Dante Poet, Author, and Proud Florentine Eleanor of Aquitaine Heroine of the Middle Ages Galileo Renaissance Scientist and Astronomer Machiavelli Renaissance Political Analyst and Author The Medicis A Ruling Dynasty Michelangelo Painter, Sculptor, and Architect Thomas More and His Struggles of Conscience Queen Elizabeth and England’s Golden Age Leonardo da Vinci Artist, Inventor, and Renaissance Man makers of The middle Ages and Renaissance makers of The middle Ages and Renaissance Machiavelli Renaissance Political Analyst and Author Heather Lehr Wagner COVER: Portrait of Niccolo` Machiavelli, Casa del Machiavelli, Sant Andrea, in Percussina, Italy. CHELSEA HOUSE PUBLISHERS VP, NEWPRODUCTDEVELOPMENT Sally Cheney DIRECTOROFPRODUCTION Kim Shinners CREATIVEMANAGER Takeshi Takahashi MANUFACTURINGMANAGER Diann Grasse Staff forMachiavelli EXECUTIVEEDITOR Lee Marcott EDITORIALASSISTANT Carla Greenberg PRODUCTIONEDITOR Noelle Nardone COVERANDINTERIORDESIGNER Keith Trego LAYOUT 21st Century Publishing and Communications, Inc. © 2006 by Chelsea House Publishers, a subsidiary of Haights Cross Communications. All rights reserved. Printed and bound in the United States of America. www.chelseahouse.com First Printing 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Wagner, Heather Lehr. Machiavelli : Renaissance political analyst and author/Heather Lehr Wagner. p. cm.—(Makers of the Middle Ages and Renaissance) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-7910-8629-1 (hard cover) 1. Machiavelli, Niccolò, 1469-1527—Juvenile literature. 2. Statesmen—Italy— Florence—Biography—Juvenile literature. 3. Intellectuals—Italy—Florence— Biography—Juvenile literature. 4. Florence (Italy)—History—1421-1737—Juvenile literature. 5. Florence (Italy)—Biography—Juvenile literature. 6. Renaissance— Italy—Florence—Juvenile literature. I. Title. II. Series. DG738.14.M2W29 2005 320.1'092—dc22 2005007047 All links and web addresses were checked and verified to be correct at the time of publication. Because of the dynamic nature of the web, some addresses and links may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. Contents 1 Portrait of a Political Philosopher 1 2 Early Years in Florence 15 3 Diplomatic Career 36 4 Decline of the Republic 57 5 76 6 A Scholar and a Student of History 91 7 107 Chronology & Timeline 124 Notes 127 Bibliography 129 Further Reading 130 Index 131 Portrait of a Political Philosopher D uring the earliest years of the sixteenth century, Italy was not a single unified country, but rather a collection of warring city-states, each forming alliances with other city-states or with outside powers to further its influence and control. As their homeland spun into political chaos, Italian philosophers and artists were 1 2 Machiavelli revolutionizing the world with their great work. Governments revolved between monarchies and republics, wars were frequent, and tyrants quickly rose to power through skillful alliances and military might. In an age in which the fate of a city-state—and the well-being of its citizens—rested on its ability to form useful alliances while thwarting invasions and attacks, diplomacy became a critical tool for survival. At this crucial time, diplomat Niccolò Machiavelli developed the theories and philosophies that would make him, for a brief period, one of the most signif- icant political figures of the Renaissance. More than 500 years after Machiavelli was born, his name is still recognized as a synonym for polit- ical ruthlessness, cunning, and even treachery and deceit. His writings in The Prince—shocking in their endorsement of an uncompromising willingness to do whatever necessary to retain power—offered his own formula for political policies that would ensure lasting governments. Machiavelli was more than a ruthless political schemer. His ideas were based on solid observa- tions, years of diplomacy, and the study of those he felt were highly successful political leaders. Portrait of a Political Philosopher 3 Machiavelli’s political theories, at times shocking, were based on solid observations, years of diplomacy, and the study of those he felt were the most successful political leaders. During his lifetime, representing the powers in Florence, he met with King Louis XII and Emperor Maximilian. He studied the successful campaigns of Cesare Borgia, and traveled with Pope Julius II. 4 Machiavelli When the powerful Medici family regained control of Florence, Machiavelli was imprisoned and tor- tured. He spent most of the rest of his life attempting to recapture the power he had lost, courting the Medicis, and writing about politics and the history of Florence. Machiavelli has been depicted as an evil advisor, a man who shaped his plans based not on what was best for the state or the people, but on ensuring that power remained in the control of the ruler he happened to be advising. While all of this may be true, Machiavelli—and his writings—must be under- stood in the context of the age in which he lived and wrote. The Italian city-states, including Machiavelli’s own city-state of Florence, were in a nearly-constant state of political crisis during his lifetime, victims (Machiavelli believed) of incompe- tent rulers and the ambitions of foreign nations. Machiavelli’s aim was to restore Florence to its former greatness, to protect it from invading and occupying armies, and to ensure its continued via- bility as an independent city-state. Sadly he would not succeed, but his political theories would bring him a great deal of acclaim.
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