Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527)
Context
of Italian Wars 1494-1530:
prolonged period
of warfare
due to conflict between France & Hapsburgs (Holy Roman Empire, Spain)
Italy as battle ground between northern powers
1494
Medici overthrown in
1494-1512
Savonarola, Dominican preacher, executed 1498
1497
Machiavelli, Chancellery official (foreign affairs, diplomatic missions)
1512
Medici restored by
Spanish troops, abolish republic
Machiavelli exiled as republican, attempts to get Medici job
writes
The Prince 1512-13 as advice to Medici on ruling
in
exile writes all his major works, including Art of War,
Discourses
on Livy, History of Florence and several plays
Political
tensions in Republic:
aristocratic support narrower govt. (governo stretto) versus
supporters (including Machiavelli) of broad based government (governo
largo)
Machiavelli’s
career:
under Republic: chancery clerk, Secretary
to Council of Ten, diplomat:
missions to Emperor, French King, Cesare Borgia,
Pope Julius II;
organizes Florentine militia; assists military campaign against
1512:
fall of Republic, return of the Medici, exiled to country estate
Career
as writer: after
exile, letters to friends, Francesco Vettori, Guicciardini
1512-1513 Il principe (The Prince) and Discourses
on Livy (republican)
1520 Art of War: major theoretical work published
during his lifetime
1520-25 History of Florence = humanist historian, commissed
by Medici
Restoration
of
1527 invasion of
overthrow of Medici (allies of Pope); restored as Grand Dukes
1530
Machiavelli's
The Prince (Il principe)--
Purposes of the work:
1) to secure a political position as advisor Medici; "free
2) political theory: study “the way things are” not how they “should
be.”
PAPACY DURING LATE 15TH & 16TH C.
Alexander
Vl Borgia
(1492-1503) Spaniard, effort to leave
to son Cesare Borgia (Duke Valentino) head of papal armies (Ch.7)
Julius
II della Rovere (1503-1513) "warrior
Pope," personally directs
Papal troops in battle, expands boundaries of
Leo
X Medici (1513-1521) election demonstrates restored Medici power
traditional alliance of Popes & Florence strengthened
Hadrian VI (1522-23) Dutch Pope; last non-Italian pope until 20th C.
Clement
VII Medici (1523-34)
illegitimate son (b.1478) of Giuliano Medici (d.1478)
prisoner during Sack of Rome (1527) by German troops of Charles
V Hapsburg