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Machiavelli

Niccolò Machiavelli (1469–1527) was an Italian Renaissance diplomat, philosopher, and writer from Florence. His writings on political power and statecraft made him one of the most controversial figures in the history of political thought.

During the late 15th and early 16th centuries, he served as a senior official and diplomat of

The Prince, written around 1513–1515 and published posthumously in 1532, provides a practical guide for rulers

Key ideas include virtù, the ruler's capacity to shape fortune through bold decision making; and fortuna, the

Machiavelli's writings influenced modern political theory, political realism, and the study of statecraft. The term Machiavellian

the
Florentine
Republic,
engaging
in
diplomatic
missions
and
military
planning.
After
the
Medici
returned
to
power
in
1512,
Machiavelli
was
dismissed,
imprisoned
briefly,
and
later
retired
from
public
life.
He
wrote
most
of
his
political
works
while
in
relative
obscurity,
producing
The
Prince,
Discourses
on
Livy,
The
Art
of
War,
and
Florentine
Histories.
on
acquiring
and
maintaining
power,
emphasizing
real-world
considerations
over
idealized
morality.
The
Discourses
on
Livy
argues
for
republican
principles,
laws,
and
civic
virtue
as
foundations
of
stable
liberty.
The
Art
of
War
treats
military
organization
and
strategy,
while
the
Florentine
Histories
recount
the
city’s
events
from
its
founding
to
Machiavelli's
own
era.
unpredictable
factors
that
influence
events.
Machiavelli
argued
that
political
success
may
require
pragmatic,
sometimes
harsh
measures,
and
he
warned
rulers
to
avoid
dependence
on
fortune
alone.
He
stressed
the
importance
of
republican
institutions
for
long-term
stability,
but
he
also
provided
analysis
aimed
at
princes
and
states,
making
his
work
resistant
to
straightforward
moral
judgments.
has
entered
common
usage
to
describe
cunning
and
practical
power
politics,
though
his
actual
positions
are
debated.
His
work
remains
a
central
point
of
reference
in
discussions
of
ethics,
power,
and
governance
in
the
Renaissance
and
beyond.