Dwarfing
of
French invasions
of Italy: Valois dynasty
1494 Charles VIII of France: first invasion of Italy
called in by Ludovico il Moro (Sforza) Duke of Milan, who claims
Naples
precipitates Medici exile from Florence
Charles “took Italy with chalk” (says Machiavelli)
1499 Louis XII (Prince, Ch.3) called in by
1515 Francis I victory at Marignano, occupation of
later defeated at
1519 Imperial election: candidates Charles I of
Francis 1 of France, Elector
1522-4 struggle for
1525 BATTLE OF
1528 TREATY OF
Francis renounces claims to
1526 LEAGUE OF
1527 SACK OF
Pope Clement VII (Medici) prisoner in Castel
Sant'Angelo
1529 PEACE OF CAMBRAI: Francis renounces claims to
Flanders & Italy
Charles
renounces claim to
1529 PEACE OF
1530 Charles finally crowned Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Clement
VII
(had been elected in 1519, but not crowned)
NICCOLO MACHIAVELLI (1469-1527)
Education: Latin humanist training, father owns Livy's History
Career under Republic: 1498 - 1512
Second Chancellor & Secretary to Council of Ten (foreign policy)
Diplomatic experience: envoy to French King, Cesare Borgia,
Pope Julius II, Emperor Maximilian (see Letters)
Military experience: Florentine militias, opposed to mercenaries
1512 Restoration of Medici: imprisoned, tortured, exiled
begins to write, still hoping for employment by Medici
1512-13 The Prince: how a "new prince" can maintain his state
1513 Discourses on Livy: on republican government
1520 Art of War centrality of military force to history
1520-25 History of Florence = humanist historian
Sources of Machiavelli’s thought: Bible: Old Testament
Humanist: draws on Roman history, Livy Republic
Political experience as Chancellor for Florentine Republic
lives through the invasions of Italy by French: 1494, 1499, 1515
and the Habsburg-Valois Wars which continue through 1530
Goals: realism (understanding “the way things are, not the way things should be ”)
utility of knowledge: practical, useful knowledge
what kind of knowledge is useful in early 16th C. Italy?
Conclusions drawn from political events of 1494-1512:
Stability of the state is the central goal of politics
experience of absence of stability teaches its importance
Central role of force in achievement of goals
invasions of
Which form of government best serves security of state?
Republic: Discourses on Livy examples of Roman Republic
Princely state: The Prince effort at Medici employment
How to reconcile Machiavelli's Republican ideas & The Prince??