Historical+Backround



His full name is Niccolo di Bernardo dei Machiavelli and he was born on May 3, 1469 in Florence, Italy. He gained some political experience by watching Girolama Savonarola when he was young. He began first as a secretary for the Florentine government. He was appointed Second Chancellor of the Republic of Florence after the death of Savonarola in 1498, that took him on diplomatic missions through France, Germany, and Italy. He was driven from his post when the republic collapsed and the Medici family took over Italy in 1512. In 1513, he was accused of conspiring against the Medici's and was imprisoned for several weeks. Soon after his release Machivelli wrote The Prince in order to win the favor of the Medici family. Unfortunately for Machiavelli the Medici's did not agree with his ideas and he found himself in the same position as before. When the Medici's were forced to flee Italy Machiavelli thought that he could regain his position, but the people did not allow him to do so because they were outraged by his writtings in //The Prince//. Machiavelli died in 1527.


 * Girolama Savonarola: was an Italien preacher, religious reformer, and martyr. He thought the church needed to be reformed. He became the leader of Florence after the Medici family was overthrown in 1494 and he set up a democratic but puritanical government. He also wanted Italy to become a Christian Republic. Pope Alexander VI and supporters of the Medici family opposed his way of ruling. He was accused of claiming to be able to have seen visions and uttered prophecies for religious error. He was tortured until he admitted, he was tried and convicted for heresy. On May 1498 he was hanged and burned, still professing his devotion to the church.

Facts:
 * Machiavelli had deticated his book to Lorenzo de'Medici.