Skip to page content |

Tiscali Quicklinks. Please visit our Accessibility Page for a list of the Access Keys you can use to find your way around the site, skip directly to the main navigation, to the page content, or to more links within reference.

Advertisement starts



Advertisement ends

Content Starts Here


Machiavelli, Niccolò

encyclopaedia header
Encyclopaedia Search
Click a letter for the index
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Or search the encyclopaedia:
 
 
 
all results tagged with the © symbol denotes content that is relevant to the national curriculum

Machiavelli, Niccolò


Italian politician and author. His name is synonymous with cunning and cynical statecraft. In his chief political writings, Il principe/The Prince (1513) and Discorsi/Discourses (1531), he discussed ways in which rulers can advance the interests of their states (and themselves) through an often amoral and opportunistic manipulation of other people.

Machiavelli was born in Florence and was second chancellor to the republic (1498–1512). On the accession to power of the Medici family in 1512, he was arrested and imprisoned on a charge of conspiracy, but in 1513 was released to exile in the country. The Prince, based on his observations of Cesare Borgia, is a guide for the future prince of a unified Italian state (which did not occur until the Risorgimento in the 19th century). In L'Arte della guerra/The Art of War (1520), Machiavelli outlined the provision of an army for the prince, and in Historie fiorentine/History of Florence he analysed the historical development of Florence until 1492. Among his later works are the comedies Clizia (1515) and La Mandragola/The Mandrake (1524).

© Research Machines plc 2008. All rights reserved. Helicon Publishing is a division of Research Machines plc.


 
 

Advertisement starts



Advertisement ends


Albania Flag
Albania Flag Red represents the blood shed during the fight for independence. According to legend Albanians are descended from the eagle, which is the national emblem. Effective date: 22 May 1993. >>

Advertorial

AdvertorialFind out how to buy the things you've always wanted and sell the things you don't on ebay.

Advertisement starts



Advertisement ends

Page Footer