Machiavelli's The Prince and his Political Thought

The Prince, Discourses, Mandragola (a play), History of Florence, Letters
Age 29:  Florentine Secretary in charge of diplomatic correspondence.  1498-1512:  Many diplomatic missions to Rome, France, and other Italian city states.
1502 Machiavelli was sent to the court of Cesare Borgia where Leonardo da Vinci was working as a military engineer.  Borgia, the son of Pope Alexander VI (1492-1503) had been a cardinal at 17 but renounced his vows.

The Medici return to power in 1512, and Machiavelli is exiled on his farm
in San Casciano near Florence.  He writes the Prince ca. 1516-1520.

His Politics:  Republic, Mixed Monarchy;  Machiavelli had discussed Republics in the Discourses;  The Age of Republics was drawing to a close.

"The ends justify the means"  Role of Morality in Politics

Mandragola and the Prince:  Virtù (Strength, Vigor, Valor) can overcome Fortuna (Fortune).

Friar Timoteo:  "The end must be looked to in all things" Mandragola, Act 3, scene 11.
Ligurio: "Tu, io, e denari, la cattività nostra, la loro" (You, me, and money; our wickedness and theirs)  Mandragola, Act 2, scene 6
Tried to get a position at the papal court.

Important Points in Machiavelli's Thought

1. Superiority of the state over the individual and private rights
2. Personal bonds of feudalism completely replaced by the impersonal bond of a person to  an institution
3. Evil of Papal States
4. Machiavelli does not distinguish between right and wrong government

5. Condottieri, Citizen armies
6. Leader must have Virtù; a moral code is not important (Cesare Borgia and Remirro de Orco)

7. Unification of Italy

Machiavelli the Writer of Letters

 More Information on Machiavelli

Protestant Reformation