MACHIAVELLI

MACHIAVELLI


A. Niccolo Machiavelli was a member of the impoverished branch of a distinguished

family, and endured a childhood of happy civilization and peace. He entered the

political service of the Florentine republic and rose rapidly in importance after the

invasion of King Charles VIII, which caused his father to go bankrupt from economic

decline. As defense secretary he substituted a citizens' militia for the mercenary

system then prevailing in Italy. This reform sprang from his conviction, set forth in

his major works, that the employment of mercenaries had largely contributed to the

political weakness of Italy. Machiavelli became acquainted with power politics

through his important diplomatic missions. The Medici returned and caused

Machiavelli’s militia to surrender without a fight and forced the Republic to an end

and his dismissal. He was briefly imprisoned and was tortured for his alleged

complicity in a plot against...