Niccolo Machiavelli Books

Easton Press Niccolo Machiavelli books:
The Prince - 1980
The Art of War - 1990


Franklin Library Niccolo Machiavelli books:
The Prince - 100 Greatest Books of All Time - 1978
Political Writings by Niccolo Machiavelli and Hobbes - Great Books of the Western World - 1983

Niccolo Machiavelli biography
Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527) was a famous author, philosopher, and statesman who was born in Florence Italy. Niccolo Machiavelli was secretary to the Florentine Dieci di Liberta e Pace, a 10 man council in charge of the departments of war and interior in the commonwealth. His responsibilities included missions to various courts in Italy, and missions to the German Emperor and King of France. Much of Machiavelli's extensive knowledge of political intrigue was drawn from the experiences he gained during these various political missions. Niccolo Machiavelli reorganized Italy's military defence in Florence during the years from 1503 to 1506, and preferred the use of conscripted troops over mercenary armies that were common to the time period. This use of conscripted troops was preferred by Machiavelli in order to create a more patriotic military for the defense of the Italian commonwealth. The regaining of control of Florence by Medici in 1512 proved to be unfortunate for Niccolo Machiavelli, and he was removed from his secretary position and sent into exile.

Machiavelli made use of his time in exile in San Casiano by writing The Prince (Il Principe in Italian) which would prove to be the most famous book by Niccolo Machiavelli. The Prince, which Machiavelli completed in 1513, was part of a large literary work that he had started earlier and not completed titled Discourse on the First Ten Books of Titus Livius. In The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli, the theory of government and the principle of practical states craft are described, from which he drew upon personal experience and the history of Rome. The Prince describes an ideal prince similar to the benevolent Louis XIV of 17Th century France. A primary purpose of The Prince was to provoke Italy's salvation by means of a powerful army and defense.

While Niccolo Machiavelli never regained any positions of public service he did embark on numerous missions of moderate importance for Pope Leo X following 1519, and again for Pope Clement VII. Machiavelli again strengthened his case for the use of conscripted troops in his On the Art of War (1520) which also theorized the advantage of mobile infantry over forts and permanent artillery. Common belief is that On the Art of War by Niccolo Machiavelli led to the subsequent universal conscription of future armies. He was also commissioned in 1521 to write his book History of Florence, which he never completed. The History, written as a chronicle of the development of Florence, was modeled on the books by Livy, and is written in a simple manner which was unusual for the time period. Following these books Niccolo Machiavelli embarked a number of missions of moderate importance for the commissary of war for Pope Clement VII, Francesco Guicciardini.

Niccolo Machiavelli is recognized among the greatest Renaissance authors. His books, such as The Prince, are viewed as the turning point for humanity from medieval to modern political practice. Niccolo Machiavelli books abandoned the medieval practice of attributing historic events to superstition and the flaws of humanity. Other notable books by Machiavelli are those written from 1507 and 1512 which describe the state of Germany and France during the period, and the biography of Castruccio Castracani (1520), and numerous plays and poems such as the Mandrake (1524).

His name is commonly used as a description of the distinct political theory and mindset which he founded. As such, these theories and practices are often referred to as being "Machiavellian" which contributes to the unique importance of Niccolo Machiavelli as an author and philosopher.