The Prince
...Machiavelli
Translated by W. K. Marriott
Nicolo Machiavelli, born at Florence on 3rd May 1469. From 1494 to 1
512
held an official post at Florence which included diplomatic missions
to
various European courts. Imprisoned in Florence, 1512; later exiled
and
returned to San Casciano. Died at Florence on 22nd June 1527.
INTRODUCTION
Nicolo Machiavelli was born at Florence on 3rd May 1469. He was the
second son of Bernardo di Nicolo Machiavelli, a lawyer of some reput
e,
and of Bartolommea di Stefano Nelli, his wife. Both parents were mem
bers
of the old Florentine nobility.
His life falls naturally into three periods, each of which singularl
y
enough constitutes a distinct and important era in the history of
Florence. His youth was concurrent with the greatness of Florence as
an
Italian power under the guidance of Lorenzo de' Medici, Il Magnifico
.
The downfall of the Medici in Florence occurred in 1494, in which ye
ar
Machiavelli entered the public service. During his official career
Florence was free under the government of a Republic, which lasted
until 1512, when the Medici returned to power, and Machiavelli lost
his
office. The Medici again ruled Florence from 1512 until 1527, when t
hey
were once more driven out. This was the period of Machiavelli's lite
rary
activity and increasing influence; but he died, within a few weeks o
f
the expulsion of the Medici, on 22nd June 1527, in his fifty-eighth
year, without having regained office.
YOUTH -- Aet. 1-25--1469-94
Although there is little recorded of the youth of Machiavelli, the
Florence of those days is so well known that the early environment o
f
this representative citizen may be easily imagined. Florence has bee
n
described as a city with two opposite currents of life, one directed
by
the fervent and austere Savonarola, the other by the splendour-lovin
g
Lorenzo....
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