The Prince and Mandragola: Machiavellian Principles in Literature and Drama

Niccolo Machiavelli, a young member of an impoverished yet distinguished family, entered the political service of the restored Florentine republic in 1498 and rose rapidly through the ranks. He strongly believed that the mercenary system that was then prevalent in was a major contributor to 's political weakness (a subject that arises repeatedly in his best-known work The Prince), so when he became the defense secretary in 1506, he created a citizen's militia to take its place. Through his travels and diplomatic missions, he met Cesare Borgia (who is now considered the prototype of The Prince), Louis XII of France, Pope Julius II, and Holy Roman Emperor Maxmilian I.

However, his career soon took a turn for the worse: when the Medici returned to power in 1512, he was dismissed. A year later, he was imprisoned and tortured for his alleged involvement in a plot against the Medici. He retired to his country home, where he wrote most of his major works, and humbled himself before the Medici in a desperate attempt to regain office. When the republic was reestablished in 1527, he was restored to some degree of favor, but was deeply mistrusted by many of the republicans. He died later that year, disenchanted and bitter.

While Machiavelli's story is not a happy one, he used his experiences (both positive and negative) to his advantage through his writings. The Prince, written in 1513, observes the political scene surrounding him and describes an idealistic vision of an Italian leader who would drive out all foreign forces who were competing for power in . He teaches that the lessons of the past (particularly Roman history) should be applied to the present, and that the attainment and effective use of power may necessitate unethical and undesirable methods - hence the phrase "the ends justify the means."