Niccolò Machiavelli

Political Philosopher

May 3, 1469 Florence, Italy

June 21, 1527 Florence, Italy

Marietta Corsini

Niccolo Machiavelli was an Italian politician, historian and philosopher who is widely known as a father of modern political theory. Also popular as a remarkable writer, Machiavelli was born in Florence and witnessed the troubles of the French invasion. After the restoration of republic in Florence, he was appointed a senior official in the state Republic, a post he held until its fall. While serving as a diplomat for 14 years during the Medici family's exile, he served effectively in a great variety of missions to various countries. When the Medici family returned to power in 1512, Machiavelli was dismissed from his office and briefly jailed. Although pardoned later, he was obliged to retire from public life and as a result, he devoted himself to literature. Thereafter, he earned a reputation as a historian and philosopher through his political treaties but soon turned his attention away from direct involvement in politics. Subsequently, he became involved with several local intellectual groups and started writing plays which received much appreciation. Later, he wrote many other fictional as well as historical works including his masterpiece titled ‘The Prince’, one of the first and finest works of modern political philosophy. Based on monarchal rule, the book inspired the term ‘Machiavellian’ and established Machiavelli as the father of modern political philosophy. A competent diplomat and a noteworthy historian, Machiavelli’s fame as the founder of political science has steadily increased over the centuries