Machiavelli educated himself by reading the many texts in his father's library and by attending public lectures. He gained a thorough knowledge of Latin, history, politics, and philosophy. His education and ability led to him being chosen for a high office in the government of the Florentine Republic in 1498.
7 out of 8 people found this document helpful. This preview shows page 1 - 3 out of 4 pages. Question 1 4 out of 4 points What did Niccolò Machiavelli study as inspiration for The Prince? Selected Answer: Roman rulers and citizens Correct Answer: Roman rulers and citizens.
The Prince 1. Why did Machiavelli write The Prince? -At the time that Niccolo Machiavelli wrote ‘The Prince’ Italy was facing internal political turmoil as well as invasions from the outside and the Medici’s had returned to Florence the year before. Machiavelli had previously acted against them and it is thought that he wrote The Prince for Lorenzo de Medici both as a plea to help with ...
Unformatted text preview: Machiavelli “The Prince”: Notes Dedication: Niccolò Machiavelli to the Magnificent Lorenzo di Piero de’ Medici Those who want to be on a prince’s good side should give him things precious to them/ things he likes Machiavelli present himself before Medici w/ devotion and presents a volume of knowledge of the actions of great men, hopes Medici will …
Machiavelli says that The Prince would be about princedoms, mentioning that he has written about republics elsewhere (a reference to the Discourses on Livy ), but in fact, he mixes discussion of republics into this work in many places, effectively treating republics as a type of princedom, also, and one with many strengths. More importantly, and less traditionally, he distinguishes new princedoms from hereditary established princedoms. He deals with hereditary princedoms quickly in Chapter 2, saying that they are much easier to rule. For such a prince, "unless extraordinary vices cause him to be hated, it is reasonable to expect that his subjects will be naturally well disposed towards him". Gilbert (1938 :19–23), comparing this claim to traditional presentations of advice for princes, wrote that the novelty in chapters 1 and 2 is the "deliberate purpose of dealing with a new ruler who will need to establish himself in defiance of custom". Normally, these types of works were addressed only to hereditary princes. He thinks Machiavelli may have been influenced by Tacitus as well as his own experience, but finds no clear predecessor to substantiate this claim.
According to Machiavelli, when a prince comes to power through luck or the blessings of powerful figures within the regime, he typically has an easy time gaining power but a hard time keeping it thereafter, because his power is dependent on his benefactors' goodwill. He does not command the loyalty of the armies and officials that maintain his authority, and these can be withdrawn from him at a whim. Having risen the easy way, it is not even certain such a prince has the skill and strength to stand on his own feet.
The way to judge the strength of a princedom is to see whether it can defend itself, or whether it needs to depend on allies. This does not just mean that the cities should be prepared and the people trained; a prince who is hated is also exposed.
Becoming a prince by the selection of one's fellow citizens (Chapter 9) A "civil principality" is one in which a citizen comes to power "not through crime or other intolerable violence", but by the support of his fellow citizens. This, he says, does not require extreme virtue or fortune, only "fortunate astuteness".
This is not necessarily true in every case. Machiavelli cites Cesare Borgia as an example of a lucky prince who escaped this pattern. Through cunning political maneuvers, he managed to secure his power base. Cesare was made commander of the papal armies by his father, Pope Alexander VI, but was also heavily dependent on mercenary armies loyal to the Orsini brothers and the support of the French king. Borgia won over the allegiance of the Orsini brothers' followers with better pay and prestigious government posts. To pacify the Romagna, he sent in his henchman, Remirro de Orco, to commit acts of violence. When Remirro started to become hated for his actions, Borgia responded by ordering him to be "cut in two" to show the people that the cruelty was not from him, although it was. When some of his mercenary captains started to plot against him, he had them captured and executed. When it looked as though the king of France would abandon him, Borgia sought new alliances.
Machiavelli described Moses as a conquering prince, who founded new modes and orders by force of arms, which he used willingly to kill many of his own people. Other sources describe the reasons behind his success differently.
In some cases, the old king of the conquered kingdom depended on his lords; 16th-century France, or in other words France as it was at the time of writing of The Prince, is given by Machiavelli as an example of such a kingdom. These are easy to enter, but difficult to hold.
The main theme of this short work about monarchal rule and survival is man's capacity for determining his own destiny in opposition to the power of fate, which has been interpreted as the political philosophy that one may resort to any means in order to establish and preserve total authority. The work has been regarded as a handbook for politicians on the use of ruthless, self-serving cunning, and inspired the term "Machiavellian." While many believe that the book's title character, "the prince," was based upon the infamous Cesare Borgia, some scholars consider it a satire.
Books and Other Works. In addition to The Prince, Machiavelli wrote the treatise On the Art of War (1521), among others, and several poems and plays, including 1524's satirical The Mandrake.
After his involvement in an unsuccessful attempt to organize a Florentine militia against the return of the Medici family to power in 1512 became known, Machiavelli was tortured, jailed and banished from an active role in political life.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli was born in Florence, Italy, on May 3, 1469 — a time when Italy was divided into four rival city-states and, thusly, was at the mercy of stronger governments throughout the rest of Europe. The young Machiavelli became a diplomat after the temporary fall of Florence's ruling Medici family in 1494.
Niccolò Machiavelli was a diplomat for 14 years in Italy's Florentine Republic during the Medici family's exile. When the Medici family returned to power in 1512, Machiavelli was dismissed and briefly jailed. He then wrote The Prince, a handbook for politicians on the use of ruthless, self-serving cunning, inspiring the term "Machiavellian" ...
While many believe that the book's title character, "the prince," was based upon the infamous Cesare Borgia, some scholars consider it a satire. Pope Clement VIII condemned The Prince for its endorsement of rule by deceit and fear.
It was his hope that a strong sovereign, as outlined in his writing, could return Florence to its former glory.
Moreover, Machiavelli also believed that when leaders are not moral, it’s important they pretend they are to keep up appearances. “A prince must always seem to be very moral, even if he is not,” he wrote.
Machiavelli: A Brief Insight by Quentin Skinner, published by Sterling, 1981.
An effective leader, Machiavelli wrote, maximizes virtù and minimizes the role of fortune. This way, “fortune favors the brave.”.
Before his exile, Machiavelli had navigated the volatile political environment of 16th-century Italy as a statesman . There were constant power struggles at the time between the city-states of Italy, the Holy Roman Empire, France and Spain.
In 1559, all of Machiavelli’s works were placed on the Catholic church’s “Index of Prohibited Books.”. The recently formed Protestant Church also condemned The Prince, and it was banned in Elizabethan England.
France, then Spain and Austria, invaded Italy and its warring city-states were unable to defend themselves, leading to nearly 400 years of dominance by outside rulers. Eventually, The Prince was published in 1532, five years after Machiavelli’s death.