Niccolò Machiavelli (1469-1527)

### Education

Received a typical education for a boy of the middle class, learning Latin and reading the classical Roman and Greek authors, particularly the histories. He studied under the priest Paolo da Ronciglione, a famous teacher who instructed many prominent humanists, and may have studied later under Marcello di Virgilio Adriani, a professor at the University of Florence.

### Occupation

Political philosopher, diplomat, author, historian, musician, poet, and romantic comedic playwright

### Family

Father: Bernardo Machiavelli
Mother: Bartolomea di Stefano Nelli

Siblings: Margherita Machiavelli, Spring Machiavelli, and Totto Machiavelli

Children: Baccina Machiavelli, Bernardo Machiavelli, Guido Machiavelli, Lodovico Machiavelli, Piero Machiavelli, Primerana Machiavelli, and an unnamed child who died in infancy.

### Religion

Some argue that he was an atheist or a pagan, while others suggest that he was a Christian who believed in a religion of virtue.

### Best Known For

His political ideas, particularly his books The Prince and the Discourses on Livy, which were published after his death.

## About

Niccolò Machiavelli (1469-1527) was an Italian diplomat, author, philosopher, and historian who lived during the Renaissance. He is best known for his political ideas, particularly his most famous work, The Prince, which brought him a reputation as an atheist and an immoral cynic. Machiavelli was a direct victim of the regime change in Florence, where he was initially placed in a form of internal exile and, when he was wrongly suspected of conspiracy, was tortured and briefly imprisoned. Machiavelli's philosophical legacy remains enigmatic, but his two most famous philosophical books, The Prince, and the Discourses of Livy, were published after his death. His notion of virtue is much closer to the traditional account than it first appears, and his concern is more with the manner in which these virtues are perceived or “held”. Machiavelli's use of mitigating rhetorical techniques and his reading of classical authors support this argument. For fourteen years, Machiavelli worked tirelessly and with utter devotion for his native city of Florence as a diplomat and public official, travelling constantly on its behalf to the courts and chancelleries of Europe, where he met Popes, princes, and potentates. He witnessed the political life of Catholic and Protestant kings and was indirectly influenced by Socratic ideas. Machiavelli was not a philosopher in the narrow sense of the word, or even a particularly systematic thinker, and The Prince, which was written hastily, is not a rigorous philosophical treatise. Yet, because of its many penetrating insights into the nature of political life in general, and the striking language and concepts that flowed into The Prince, Machiavelli's work has induced considerable controversy among his readers going back to the sixteenth century.

## Early Life and Education

Niccolò Machiavelli was born on May 3, 1469, in Florence, Italy, to Bernardo Machiavelli, a lawyer, and Bartolomea di Stefano Nelli. He received a typical education for a boy of the middle class, learning Latin and reading the classical Roman and Greek authors, particularly the histories. Machiavelli was exposed to many classical authors at a young age, which influenced him profoundly. When he was twelve, he began to study under the priest Paolo da Ronciglione, a famous teacher who taught him rhetoric, grammar, and Latin. Machiavelli's father was a lawyer, although not a very prosperous one, with much of his income derived from family property rather than his law practice. However, he retained his membership in the lawyers' guild. Machiavelli's father's literary ambitions also influenced him. In 1498, Machiavelli entered the Florentine government as a clerk in the second chancery, which was responsible for foreign affairs. In 1499, he was appointed secretary of the second chancery, a position reserved for members of aristocratic families, although he was not a member of such a family. In 1501, he married Marietta Corsini, with whom he had seven children.

## Career

Niccolò Machiavelli was a Florentine Renaissance-era philosopher, government official, diplomat, and historian. He worked for the Florentine Republic from 1498 to 1512, during which he served as a diplomat and military strategist. He was also a prolific writer, producing plays, poetry, and novels, as well as political treatises. Machiavelli's most famous works are The Prince and the Discourses on Livy, which were published after his death. The Prince is a practical guide to the exercise of power over a Renaissance principality, while the Discourses of Livy is a commentary on the history of Rome and the principles of republican government. Machiavelli's ideas on politics and governance have had a lasting impact on Western political thought, and his name has become synonymous with political deceit, deviousness, and realpolitik. Some scholars also suggest that Machiavelli was the deliberate originator of modernity itself.

## Personal life

Very little is known about Niccolò Machiavelli's personal life. He was born in Florence, Italy, on May 3, 1469, to Bernardo Machiavelli, a lawyer, and Bartolomea di Stefano Nelli. He had three siblings. Machiavelli married Marietta Corsini in 1501, and they had seven children together. After the Medici family regained power in Florence in 1512, Machiavelli was imprisoned, tortured, and banished from public life. He spent the rest of his life writing and studying political philosophy, history, and literature. Machiavelli's writings suggest that he was a lover of classical literature and a student of human nature.

## Relationships

There is very little information available about Niccolò Machiavelli's personal relationships. He married Marietta Corsini in 1501, and they had seven children together. Machiavelli's writings suggest that he was a lover of classical literature and a student of human nature. He was also a competent diplomat and a noteworthy historian.

## Controversies

Niccolò Machiavelli's ideas have been controversial since the publication of his book The Prince in the 16th century. Some denounced him as an apostle of the devil, while others were sympathetic to his thought. Machiavelli's ideas were criticized for not concerning themselves with morality and ethics. His notion of virtue has been the subject of debate, with some scholars pointing to his use of mitigating rhetorical techniques and his reading of classical authors to argue that his notion of virtue is in line with traditional Christian morality. Machiavelli's works have been viewed negatively by many humanists, and The Prince was put on the Catholic Church's Index Librorum Prohibitorum. Despite the controversy surrounding his ideas, Machiavelli's works have had a lasting impact on Western political thought.

## Filmography

Niccolò Machiavelli did not have a filmography during his lifetime, as he lived in the 15th and 16th centuries. However, there have been several films and television dramas made about his life and work, including a 2016 biography called Niccolò Machiavelli: Prince of Politics and an illustrated film explaining his book The Prince.

## Awards and legacy

Niccolò Machiavelli's legacy is primarily based on his political ideas, which have had a lasting impact on Western political thought. His most famous works, The Prince, and the Discourses on Livy, were published after his death and have been the subject of much debate and controversy. Machiavelli's ideas have been criticized for not concerning themselves with morality and ethics, but they have also been praised for their realism and practicality. Machiavelli's works have influenced discussions of war and peace, the nature of politics, and the relation of private ethics to public duties. His Discourses have probably made a more constructive and long-lasting contribution to political science by taking important concepts of republican government. Machiavelli's name has become synonymous with political deceit, deviousness, and realpolitik. Despite the controversy surrounding his ideas, Machiavelli's works have had a lasting impact on Western political thought.

## Quotes

Niccolò Machiavelli is known for his many quotes, particularly from his book The Prince. Some of his most famous quotes include “It is better to be feared than loved if you cannot be both,” “The ends justify the means,” and “A prince must not have any other object nor any other thought… but war, its institutions, and its discipline; because that is the only art befitting one who commands.” Machiavelli's quotes have been the subject of much debate and interpretation, with some scholars arguing that his ideas are more complex and nuanced than they appear at first glance. Regardless of their interpretation, Machiavelli's quotes continue to be widely read and studied today.

## See also

Some useful resources for further reading on Niccolò Machiavelli include the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, which provides an overview of his life and work, and the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, which offers a more detailed analysis of his philosophical ideas. Other resources include books and articles by Machiavelli scholars, such as Machiavelli's Legacy, a collection of essays on Machiavelli's political thought, and Niccolò Machiavelli: An Intellectual Biography by Corrado Vivanti. Additionally, there are many online resources that provide quotes and summaries of Machiavelli's ideas, such as Goodreads and BrainyQuote.