Those who still live - Niccolò Machiavelli

Have you ever thought about people who, even though they're no longer with us, still manage to shape the way we see the world? I was always curious about them, and finally, I started to write about them.

Today, I want to discuss one fascinating figure: Niccolò Machiavelli. When we talk about the nitty-gritty of political power, the name Machiavelli inevitably pops up. He's almost become a symbol – a byword for a certain kind of political operator. So, who was this man, and why does his thinking from over five centuries ago still have such a grip on our understanding of the world?

Who Was This Niccolò Machiavelli Anyway?

As someone who often reads books, Machiavelli is not a new word to me. But I never had the time to take a step back and look at who the man himself was, what we know about him, and what legacy he had left behind. But I didn't know where to start once I started looking into him. So, I started with the simplest question. Who was Machiavelli?

The answer? Machiavelli is a legend. He is neither a king nor a kingmaker. But, throughout his life, he was a man deeply involved in the political landscape of his time. He served as a senior official in the Republic of Florence, handling important diplomatic and military matters. Imagine being right there in the thick of a volatile city, making decisions that could affect the fate of everyone living in it! He had that power. He saw the responsibilities that had come with it. But he wasn't limited by it.

Beyond his official duties, Machiavelli was also a prolific writer. He dabbled in poetry, comedy, and even songwriting. His letters are a goldmine for historians trying to understand the man and his era. He was secretary to the Second Chancery of the Republic of Florence from 1498 to 1512 when the powerful Medici family was out of the picture. This firsthand experience in the rough and tumble of Florentine politics would heavily influence his later writings. Of course, even now, we know him for his political philosophy. So, what had he experienced that turned him into this "Father of Modern Politics"?

The Political life

We must look at the Medici family to understand Machiavelli's political life. (These guys are very interesting to look into, but that's the topic for a different day.)

The rise of the House of Medici started in 1397 when Giovanni di Bicci de' Medici started the Banco dei Medici (Medici Bank). Over a century, they had become very powerful in Florence. However, in 1494, when Pierro II, the successor of Lorenzo the Magnificent, was exiled from Florence under the invasion of Charles VIII of France. That was when Florence restored the republic and appointed Girolamo Savonarola as the de facto ruler of Florence. A short while after Girolamo's execution in March 1498, Piero di' Sordini was appointed Head of State of Florence.

During this time, Machiavelli was appointed to an office of the second chancery, a medieval writing office. Here, he was in charge of producing official Florentine government documents. Over the decade,

• He was assigned to pacify the riots in 1501-02
• He witnessed firsthand the "brutal reality" of Cesare Borgia's methods of trying to consolidate a large part of central Italy under his control.
• He was sent to the court of Louis XII, and his missions aimed to negotiate terms and understand French ambitions in Italian affairs, particularly concerning the war against Pisa. (He was also sent to the Spanish court too.)
• He conceived of and began to recruit and create a citizen militia for Florence, as he distrusted mercenaries. The same militia, in 1509, conquered Pisa under his command.

These scenarios, particularly witnessing Cesare Borgia's actions and his interactions at French and Spanish courts, appear to have shaped Machiavelli's political philosophy. Of course, all this wasn't only successful. Rather, I believe that the fall of the republican government in 1512 and his imprisonment and torture in 1513 (under the charge of "treason") were even more impactful towards his cynical view of political philosophy.

After all this, he retired to his farm estate, where he studied and wrote political treatises. He despaired over the lack of opportunity to remain actively involved in politics; he maintained connections to his more politically connected friends and attempted to re-enter politics. That was also when works like The Prince, Discourses on Livy, etc.

The Core of The Prince: Pragmatism Over Piety

What exactly is it about The Prince that caused such a stir and made Machiavelli a figure of fascination and controversy? In essence, Machiavelli took a very different approach to advising rulers. Instead of focusing on how things ought to be based on traditional moral or religious grounds, he looked at how things were and offered advice based on a pragmatic assessment of power.

One of his core beliefs, and perhaps the most quoted, is that a leader cannot always afford to be a “good” person if they want to maintain power. He believed that people often don't live according to ideal principles, and a ruler who always tries to be virtuous might be taken advantage of and lose their state.

Remember this: Machiavelli famously stated, "…in the actions of men, especially of princes, the end justifies the means”. This isn't a blanket endorsement of immoral behaviour but rather a recognition that sometimes, in the harsh realities of political survival, actions that might be considered brutal or immoral are necessary for the greater good and the stability of the state. He said, “It is better to be feared than loved if you cannot have both”. In his view, fear was a more reliable way to control subjects than love, which could be easily broken.

He also emphasised the importance of appearing to have positive qualities, even if a leader didn't genuinely possess them. He knew that public perception was crucial for maintaining support. Furthermore, Machiavelli stressed that a good leader needs to be both cunning like a fox to recognise threats and strong like a lion to deter enemies.

The Enduring Legacy: Why Machiavelli Still Matters Today

So, why are we still discussing a book written over five hundred years ago? The truth is that Machiavelli was one of the first thinkers to separate ethics from politics. He offered a realistic, albeit sometimes uncomfortable, perspective on how power works.

His ideas have had a profound and lasting impact:

• The Birth of "Machiavellianism": The very word "Machiavellian" has become synonymous with a style of politics characterised by cunning, duplicity, and a ruthless pursuit of power. While this is often a negative label, it acknowledges realpolitik's pragmatic and sometimes amoral aspects.
• Influence on Leaders Throughout History: Many world leaders throughout history, for better or worse, have been described as "Machiavellian". Modern examples like Rodrigo Duterte and Vladimir Putin are often cited for their use of fear and their justification of questionable actions for the perceived benefit of the state. Even figures like Donald Trump, with his dedicated following despite controversies, have been seen through a Machiavellian lens.
• A Foundation for Political Thought: Machiavelli's work is foundational to modern political philosophy and science. He challenged idealistic views of governance and forced thinkers to confront the realities of power.
• Debates and Interpretations: Even today, scholars debate Machiavelli's true intentions. Was he a cynical satirist exposing the flaws of rulers? Was he a "teacher of evil" advocating for immoral actions? Or was he simply a realist observing and describing the often unpleasant truths about acquiring and maintaining political power?
• Relevance to Modern Dilemmas: Beyond politics, Machiavelli's focus on pragmatism, trade-offs, and the relationship between means and ends offers timeless insights into decision-making and ethical dilemmas in various aspects of life.

It's important to remember that the psychological concept of "Machiavellianism" in personality psychology, which describes manipulativeness and a lack of empathy, is nominally linked to Machiavelli but is a distinct construct created by psychologists. While inspired by some interpretations of his work, it does not directly reflect his political philosophy.

In Conclusion, A Man Who Still Speaks

Niccolò Machiavelli, the Florentine diplomat and writer, may have died in 1527, but his ideas continue to spark debate and influence our understanding of power and politics. Whether you see him as a cynical manipulator or a sharp-eyed realist, there's no denying the lasting impact of The Prince. He forces us to confront uncomfortable truths about leadership and the often complex relationship between morality and the pursuit of power. So, the next time you hear the term "Machiavellian," take a moment to remember the man behind the word – a man whose pragmatic insights still resonate in our world today.

Thanks for reading till the end. I hope you've enjoyed reading this article. If you did, please share your views about the man and his impact on today's world.

I'll keep looking into the lives of these amazing people and share them with you here! So, follow me if you would like to know more!