Machiavelli: The florentine mastermind and founder of machiavellianism
Niccolò Machiavelli is known for his sophisticated manner and his analytical illustration of power. He became famous through his works “The Prince” and “Discourses.” But who was this man? How did he live? How did he think? How did he become what he is? And what makes him special?
Chapter 1: Origin and Rise
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli was born on May 3, 1469, in Florence into a poor but respected family. Little is known about his mother, Bartolomea di Stefano Nelli, except that she was well-read and wrote small works. His father, Bernardo di Machiavelli, was an unsuccessful lawyer who became impoverished. Despite the low income, Bernardo valued education and owned a small library. Niccolò could immerse himself in books day and night and thus acquired extensive knowledge of ancient classics at an early age, especially the works of Aristotle, Cicero, and Boethius. He also had many private tutors who taught him the seven liberal arts, giving him an early education in grammar and Latin.
To briefly explain the seven liberal arts:
These arts were:
- Grammar: The study of proper speaking and writing.
- Rhetoric: The study of persuasive and effective speaking and writing.
- Dialectic or Logic: The study of argumentation and logical thinking.
- Arithmetic: The study of numbers and calculations.
- Geometry: The study of spatial measurements and forms.
- Music: The study of harmonies and melodies.
- Astronomy: The study of celestial movements.
These arts are similar to today’s school subjects. Grammar and rhetoric would correspond to language subjects like English or German, arithmetic is mathematics, and so on.
Now back to Machiavelli.
Machiavelli was born into one of the most turbulent times in Italian history, the era of city-states. Wars were frequent, and rulers were often displaced. This period was marked by conflicts and invasions by the Pope, the Spaniards, and the French.
On June 15, 1498, he was elected secretary of the second chancellery of the council of the “Dieci di pace e di libertà” of the Republic of Florence. In this position, he was responsible for foreign and defense policy, a crucial role at the time. Many were surprised that he won the election, as he competed against highly competent candidates, including a professor of eloquence and two jurists. It is believed that he had powerful supporters, including Ricciardo Becchi, the Florentine ambassador in Rome, and the first chancellor Marcello Virgilio Adriani.
Chapter 2: Political Career
His first mission to Piombino was relatively insignificant, but the second to Forlì to meet Caterina Sforza was of great importance. Caterina Sforza was one of the most significant women of the Italian Renaissance, known for her intelligence and bravery. She successfully defended Forlì and Imola against Cesare Borgia, one of the most powerful and feared warlords of the time.
This meeting with Sforza significantly increased Machiavelli’s fame. In the summer of 1499, he was sent to Pisa to finally conquer the city, but he did not succeed. In July 1500, he was sent to the French court to negotiate with King Louis XII. Machiavelli realized that Louis was greedy, corrupt, treacherous, and opportunistic. In 1501, he returned to Florence. Cesare Borgia conquered Piombino in 1501, leading to a rebellion in Arezzo against Florence. To learn more about Borgia, Machiavelli was sent to Urbino on June 22, 1502. Cesare Borgia was the main inspiration for Machiavelli’s book “The Prince.”
In October 1502, he met Cesare Borgia personally in Imola and quickly recognized the instability of his power:
“…As for his state, which I had the opportunity to study closely, it is built solely on fortune.That is, his power is based on the firm belief that the King of France supports him with troops and the Pope with money.”
~Niccolò Machiavelli
On December 31, Cesare Borgia invited his opponents to “peace negotiations.” He immediately had two of them strangled, held the others hostage, and then summoned Machiavelli. Machiavelli was impressed and immortalized this episode in “The Prince.”
On August 18, 1503, the Pope died, and Cesare’s power waned as the Pope’s financial support ceased. After a short tenure of the next Pope, Machiavelli was sent to Rome for the papal election. He was not convinced by Pope Julius II, who, in his opinion, only made promises to gain support. Cesare was captured and blackmailed.
Chapter 3: The Fall of Machiavelli
On August 31, 1512, the Medici returned to Florence and took power, and Machiavelli was dismissed. The restored rule was not to everyone’s liking, leading the conspirators Agostino Capponi and Pietropaolo Boscoli to compile a list of enemies of the Medici in February 1513, with Machiavelli ranked seventh. He was captured and tortured but did not reveal any information. He lived in poverty until his death on June 21, 1527, trying unsuccessfully to regain his old positions through political services and writings.
Chapter 4: Why is Machiavelli so popular today?
Machiavelli is becoming increasingly famous today for many reasons. His political views and actions earned him the honor of being the namesake of a personality trait in the Dark Triad.
The Dark Triad is a concept developed by two Canadian psychologists that illustrates the three personality traits of Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy. It also shows the relationships between these traits.
Machiavellianism refers to a political philosophy and behavior characterized by a pragmatic, often cynical, and manipulative approach to power and politics. The traits of Machiavellianism are particularly evident in “The Prince.” Key traits include:
-Pragmatism and Rationality: The belief that any means are justified as long as they serve the purpose, ignoring ethics and morality.
- Manipulation: Deception, cunning, and manipulation are seen as justified, while honesty and openness are viewed as weaknesses.
- Realism: Machiavellians have a realistic but often pessimistic outlook, viewing people as selfish and power-hungry.
- Flexibility: A Machiavellian quickly adapts to new circumstances and seizes every opportunity.
- Power and Control: The central interest of a Machiavellian is the pursuit of power and control over others.
Machiavellianism is perceived differently by people: on the one hand, as negative due to its manipulative and cold-hearted aspects; on the other hand, as positive because it can promise success. The evaluation depends on one’s own ethics and morality.
So, we have reached the end. Thank you to everyone who finished reading this article. Don’t forget to like and subscribe.
