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The Prince
Nicolo Machiavelli
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The Prince
INTRODUCTION
Nicolo Machiavelli was born at Florence on 3rd May1469. He was the second son of Bernardo di NicoloMachiavelli, a lawyer of some repute, and of Bartolommeadi Stefano Nelli, his wife. Both parents were members of the old Florentine nobility.His life falls naturally into three periods, each of whichsingularly enough constitutes a distinct and important erain the history of Florence. His youth was concurrent withthe greatness of Florence as an Italian power under theguidance of Lorenzo de’ Medici, Il Magnifico. Thedownfall of the Medici in Florence occurred in 1494, inwhich year Machiavelli entered the public service. Duringhis official career Florence was free under the governmentof a Republic, which lasted until 1512, when the Medicireturned to power, and Machiavelli lost his office. TheMedici again ruled Florence from 1512 until 1527, whenthey were once more driven out. This was the period of Machiavelli’s literary activity and increasing influence; buthe died, within a few weeks of the expulsion of theMedici, on 22nd June 1527, in his fifty-eighth year,without having regained office.3
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