Page 78 - All About History 48 - 2017 UK

Hero or Villain?
NICCOLÒ MACHIAVELLI

The Prince was titled and published five
years after Machiavelli’s death

Revered in Italy, a statue of Machiavelli 15th-century Florence, where Machiavelli
stands outside the Uffizi Gallery in Florence thrived during the Medicis’ exile

manenteredsuchahighpositioningovernment part one of a two-part poetry epic on the history of dear – he was banned from the city of Florence and
without known prior experience confounds Florence – was finished a year later. Yet behind the ordered to retire to his family estate on the outskirts
historians to this day, but his tenure lasted until 1512, scenes of Machiavelli’s high-flying diplomatic career of the city. It was during this exile that Machiavelli
when the Medicis returned to power. there were cunning forces at work. Pope Julius II began to pen his most famous works, including the
DuringtheeightyearsthattheMedici had enlisted Spain in his war against France controversial comment on politics that still rings true
family was exiled, Machiavelli’s political under the Holy League, and in early to this day, The Prince.
career went from strength to September, he commanded his Confined to his estate outside of Florence,
strength.Hewonthefavour general, Ramón de Cardona, Machiavelli pondered how to weave his way back in
of the chief magistrate Defining to seize Florence. With that to the political landscape of the city and came to a
(gonfalonier), Piero Soderini, moment achievement, the House of conclusion: he would write a guide to politics as he’d
whom he convinced Arrest and torture Medici was restored. experienced it during his diplomatic career. In 1513,
to found a militia in After the Medicis’ return to the city, This spelled catastrophe he completed The Prince and dedicated it to Lorenzo
Machiavelliwasaccusedofconspiring
1505, which reduced for Machiavelli. Falsely the Magnificent, the newly proclaimed ruler of
against them and incarcerated. This wrongful
thecity’srelianceon accusation and subsequent torture of accused of conspiracy, he Florence and head of the Medici family. To this day,
mercenaries. Created by Machiavelli arguably influenced the creation of was arrested and tortured the exact purpose of the dedication is debated – was
his most renowned work, The Prince, a year
Soderini, the militia was by his captors, allegedly it to flatter the ruler in an attempt to have himself
later.Someclaimthatthewritingswerea
runbyMachiavelli.On reaction to the trauma that Machiavelli on a rack. He fiercely reinstated, or was it an intellectual satire, mocking the
topofthis,Machiavelli hadbeensubjectedtoatthehands denied any involvement politics of the city from which he’d been exiled?
made visits to renowned oftheMedicifamilyaftertheir in the plots against the Either way, the book was enough to cause scandal
return to power.
figures, including Cesare 1512 Medici, but Machiavelli was when it was published in 1532, five years after
Borgia (whose political prowess kept imprisoned. Yet fortune Machiavelli’s death. In The Prince, Machiavelli split
influencedmuchofMachiavelli’s was on the diplomat’s side, as his work in to two parts – the first was devoted to
earlywriting,andlaterinspiredpartof Pope Julius II died in February the methods of gaining power, while the second (and
hismostnotoriouswork, The Prince), Charles VIII following year. Under the new pope, Leo X – who arguably most important) section offered advice on
of France and several reigning popes of their time. incidentally hailed from the line of ruling Medicis how to hold on to power when you had it. It was
Itwasin1503thatMachiavellibegantowrite – celebrations were organised and an amnesty was this book and its controversial statements for which
seriously.Hispoem–thefirst Decennali,whichwas agreed. Machiavelli was free. The cost, however, was Machiavelli is best remembered – and not fondly.
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