The Outstanding Youthful Scholar And Diplomat
In his youth Niccolo Machiavelli had been a very promising scholar, indeed he was a fine example of a Renaissance man if there ever was one. Niccolo Machiavelli had been employed as a diplomat by the Florentine Republic and had a fine understanding of Early Modern diplomacy and politics in Western Europe. Niccolo Machiavelli just like many of his contemporary Renaissance scholars was interested in the writings and the knowledge of the Romans.
Niccolo Machiavelli had made his name as a diplomat for the Florentine Republic yet was also a man with a widespread knowledge of the Ancient Romans. Niccolo Machiavelli was an admirer of the Roman Republic and believed that the republican form of government was the best way of running countries. Niccolo Machiavelli’s 'Discourses on Livy' is an ample demonstration of his knowledge and admiration of the Roman Republic.
The Prince As A Turning Point And Rallying Call For A United Italy
However it was Niccolo Machiavelli book the Prince that has had the biggest impact upon his legacy. The Prince was written by Niccolo Machiavelli after he had lost his position as a Florentine diplomat and in the early years of the Italian Wars. Florence vainly attempted to maintain its independence from foreign powers such as France and Spain.
By nature Niccolo Machiavelli was an advocate of republicanism yet desperate times called for desperate measures, and in The Prince, Machiavelli argues that Italy needs an all-powerful prince to unite it and expel its foreign occupiers. The main point of the book was that the prince could justify any actions that he had to take to achieve and maintain his hold on power. In other words, the ends should always justify the means.
On the other hand in The Prince Niccolo Machiavelli claimed that it was better in the long run for rulers to act in amoral or even immoral ways in order to achieve their political and military objectives. Rulers should be brutal, devious, and immoral whenever it suited them to be.
A Despairing Old Man With An Odious Reputation
An overwhelming sense of despair was the prime motivation for Niccolo Machiavelli in writing The Prince as he was despairing about the present as well as the future of Italy, which at the beginning of the sixteenth century was divided and mainly under direct foreign control. In The Prince Niccolo Machiavelli is calling for somebody to act as a saviour for the Italian nation in the future, namely an unknown man he dubbed The Prince.
Niccolo Machiavelli wrote The Prince as a tract to advise any future saviour on the best methods of achieving a united Italian state rule from Rome without any foreign intervention, interference, or influences telling it what to do. Unlike his other political books The Prince did not extol the virtues of republican forms of government.
Such was the terrible reputation gained by Niccolo Machiavelli due to his book the Prince that the nickname Old Nic was given to him. After his death that name was given to the Devil, or anybody that considered carrying out evil deeds or plans.
Bibliography
Crystal D (1998) Chambers’ Biographical Encyclopedia, 2nd edition
Drabble M & Stringer J, (2007) Oxford Concise Companion to English Literature
