Savonarola
Machiavelli's first task as a civil servant was to find more information on the radical Dominican priest, Girolamo Savonarola. Claiming prophecies of the need for Christian renewal, he began to acquire legions of followers after King Charles of France invaded Italy in 1494 and seemed to confirm the prophecies. Savonarola had established a popular republic after the ousting of the Medicis, but lost papal favor when he refused to join Pope Alexander VI's Holy League against the French. Put under a preaching ban, he continued to preach even after being excommunicated shortly after. In March 1498, Machiavelli sat in on a sermon from the priest and reported back the rhetoric styles used to convince the followers of his message. In April, Savonarola was supposed to be put on trial by fire by another Florentine priest, but his hesitation and procrastination implied that he had no real power which quickly lost him his followers. Imprisoned by the people who had just recently followed him, he confessed to not seeing any visions and was hanged and burned alongside two other Friars in May 1498.
Though a minor role in the fiasco, Machiavelli proved his ability to work as a civil servant and was able to contusion us working in the political sphere.
Though a minor role in the fiasco, Machiavelli proved his ability to work as a civil servant and was able to contusion us working in the political sphere.
Diplomacy with Cesare Borgia
Sent on a diplomatic mission to tour with Cesare Borgia, the commander of the papal army, Machiavelli gained a large amount of experience to work with when crafting his political theory. Lasting from 1502 to 1503, the tour saw the claiming of territories in central Italy justified by Church interests.
Siege of Pisa
During numerous tours outside of Florence on diplomatic missions, Machiavelli noticed the effectiveness of the Swiss pikemen conscripted by the French army and the papal army under Cesare Borgia. While inspecting the Swiss towns that they came from, he saw how strict and formal the training of soldiers were. The towns were not in good condition where people had poor clothing and food, yet they were able to produce fighters capable of defending their own land. Machiavelli concluded that recruiting citizens into a militia was the most effective way to build up an army because they would have something worth achieving in battle. In addition, he concluded that conscripted warriors from outside forces lacked this drive to fight on.
Machiavelli came to Piero Soderini, the leader of the Republic, and asked to raise a Florentine citizen militia. Put in charge as the Secretary of War, Machiavelli recruited hundreds of male civilians to be trained as part of a militia. At first, they dealt with small skirmishes where a few hired mercenaries were used, but it quickly took off from there. Hoping to recapture Pisa, Machiavelli ordered the militia to blockade the city, thus imposing a war of attrition on the Pisans. While this greatly affected civilians, the method worked and Florence captured Pisa in 1509, allowing the city to rebuild itself while under Florentine control.
Machiavelli came to Piero Soderini, the leader of the Republic, and asked to raise a Florentine citizen militia. Put in charge as the Secretary of War, Machiavelli recruited hundreds of male civilians to be trained as part of a militia. At first, they dealt with small skirmishes where a few hired mercenaries were used, but it quickly took off from there. Hoping to recapture Pisa, Machiavelli ordered the militia to blockade the city, thus imposing a war of attrition on the Pisans. While this greatly affected civilians, the method worked and Florence captured Pisa in 1509, allowing the city to rebuild itself while under Florentine control.
Defeat at Prato
Eager to return to power, the Medici family rallied support from outside of Florence through Pope Julius II. Backed by the pope and a Spanish army, the Medici began their campaign for the right to rule yet again. In Florentine Prato, citizen militia defended against the foreign invaders and were successful in keeping the enemy at bay. Realizing that fighting may not work, the Medici tried to make a diplomatic alternative with Piero Soderini, who refused to listen to Machiavelli's insistence to negotiate and dismissed the Medici. Attacking yet again, the Medici were successful in conquering Prato in 1512 and shortly exiling Piero Soderini. Were Machiavelli in charge, the Republic would have been able to survive with the minor inconvenience of the Medici family existing within its borders.
"The Prince"
After being convicted of treason, tortured for three weeks, and then exiled, Machiavelli had been taken away from his accomplishments and works for the past two decades. Discontent on spending the rest of his days at the local tavern, he began to work on his most notable work "The Prince." It was originally created with the intention of getting back his position, using it like a unique job application to a placed that he was fired from. Using the multiple events that he experienced through his life and through his diplomatic missions, he crafted the work to offer as a practical political theory in a non-ideal world. His logic, that "the ends justify the means," applauded rulers that set aside morals for the best of their state. A patriotic work that wanted to see Florence on top and capable of a strong rule, "The Prince" follows the story of an authoritarian prince using the political theory to make effective decisions.
"The Prince" was dedicated to Lorenzo de' Medici, who at the time was the ruler of Florence, with the hope of regaining his position in government. However, the radical claims of the book proved to be unfavorable for the ruler and was unsuccessful in giving Machiavelli a position in government. He would continue to send letters and write many more works, such as the "Discourses on Livy" in 1517 but would never grant him a job up to June 21, 1527 when Machiavelli died from abdominal pain caused by bad medicine.
"The Prince" was dedicated to Lorenzo de' Medici, who at the time was the ruler of Florence, with the hope of regaining his position in government. However, the radical claims of the book proved to be unfavorable for the ruler and was unsuccessful in giving Machiavelli a position in government. He would continue to send letters and write many more works, such as the "Discourses on Livy" in 1517 but would never grant him a job up to June 21, 1527 when Machiavelli died from abdominal pain caused by bad medicine.