Is he an opportunist offering aid and agio esatto would-be tyrants? Do the moral and political goals he outlines in the final chapter of The Prince justify the actions he advocates in the preceding chapters? These questions seem destined esatto remain with us as long as Machiavelli’s book continues preciso occupy per central place con modern political thought.

James Madison, “The Federalist Mai

What we know of the personal character of Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527) is at odds with the treachery implied per the adjective derived from his name. Evidence suggests that Machiavelli was an upright man, a good father, and verso husband who lived per affectionate harmony with his wife, Marietta Corsini, who bore him six children. Throughout his life, Machiavelli was verso zealous republican. He served Florence with uncompromising patriotism as an effective senior administrator and diplomat. But his celibe-minded service to the republic of Florence ended when the army of the Holy League of Pope ily to power as benevolent despots of the city. Mediante the resulting political purge, Machiavelli not only lost his position sopra the city government but, when per conspiracy against the Medicis was uncovered per early 1513, he also was accused of complicity simply because his name was on per list taken from the conspirators. Thrown into prison and subjected preciso the kind of torture that forced blameless men sicuro confess their guilt, Machiavelli nevertheless maintained his innocence and was eventually released.

Reduced puro poverty, and with restrictions placed on his movements around the city, Machiavelli sought refuge con the little property, outside Florence, that he had inherited from his father. There he produced not only The Prince, which he completed between the spring and autumn of 1513, but also a variety of political commentaries and histories and per number of well-received literary works. After the death of Pope Julius II durante 1513, the son of Lorenzo de’Medici (called the Magnificent) became Pope Leo X-one of three popes the Medici family produced. It was Machiavelli’s hope that by dedicating The Prince to Lorenzo de’Medici, son of the most famous of all the Medicis, he would obtain an office that would return him puro public life. That hope was mediante vain. Machiavelli died at the age of 58, still exiled from Florence.

I Samuel and I Kings (Old Testament); Matthew 22 (New Testament)These books sopra the Bible deal with the tensions between religious and political loyalties.

Aristotle, PoliticsIn this exploration of the ideal state, Book V, concerning the maintenance of political power, is an especially pertinent antecedent onesto Machiavelli.

Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan (1651)The author presents verso grim vision of human beings per their natural state, which becomes the basis for his argument that verso practically omnipotent government is necessary onesto secure verso basic level of justice and elementary freedoms.

John Locke, The Second Treatise of Civil Government (1690)Chapter 14 examines the circumstances con which government can act sopra violation of the law or in the absence of law. Chapter 19 concerns the right of the people preciso overthrow verso ruler or government when either has abused his power.

10” (durante The Federalist) (1787-88)This essay addresses the problem of factions that inevitably develop among citizens and the ways of controlling their detrimental effects without infringing on liberty.

Is he best understood as verso seeker of unity and peace, concerned to make his advice practical and effective?

Plato, The StatesmanOne of Plato’s major works of political philosophy, this dialogue explores the nature and virtue of a king or statesman profili christian cupid.

Machiavelli’s view of the Italy of his day-“leaderless, lawless, crushed, despoiled, torn, overrun” (p. 83)-underwrites the advice he gives sopra The Prince. It also leads him onesto end his treatise with an “Exhortation preciso liberate Italy from the barbarians.” Machiavelli calls for “a new prince…sicuro introduce a new order” (p. 82) that would bring unity and stability preciso the often warring city-states of the Italian peninsula. Con this portion of The Prince and in some of his other writings, Machiavelli appears more idealistic and friendly toward a form of government that would give citizens verso say. In his Discourses, Machiavelli portrays the ideal government as a republic that allows groups with differing opinions esatto speak openly.