Nicolo Machiavelli was born at Florence on 3rd May 1469. He was the second son of Bernardo di Nicolo Machiavelli, a lawyer of some repute, and of Bartolommea di Stefano Nelli, his wife. Both parents were members of the old Florentine nobility.
Nicolo Machiavelli was born in Florence on May 3, 1469. He was the second son of Bernardo di Nicolo Machiavelli. His father was a respected lawyer. His mother was Bartolommea di Stefano Nelli. Both parents belonged to the old Florentine nobility.
His life falls naturally into three periods, each of which singularly enough constitutes a distinct and important era in the history of Florence. His youth was concurrent with the greatness of Florence as an Italian power under the guidance of Lorenzo de’ Medici, Il Magnifico. The downfall of the Medici in Florence occurred in 1494, in which year Machiavelli entered the public service. During his official career Florence was free under the government of a Republic, which lasted until 1512, when the Medici returned to power, and Machiavelli lost his office. The Medici again ruled Florence from 1512 until 1527, when they were once more driven out. This was the period of Machiavelli’s literary activity and increasing influence; but he died, within a few weeks of the expulsion of the Medici, on 22nd June 1527, in his fifty-eighth year, without having regained office.
His life falls naturally into three periods. Remarkably, each marks a distinct and important era in Florence’s history. His youth coincided with Florence’s greatness as an Italian power under Lorenzo de’ Medici, known as Il Magnifico. The Medici fell from power in Florence in 1494, the year Machiavelli entered public service. During his career in government, Florence was a free republic. This lasted until 1512, when the Medici returned to power and Machiavelli lost his post. The Medici ruled Florence again from 1512 until 1527, when they were once more driven out. During this period, Machiavelli wrote his works and grew in influence. But he died on 22 June 1527, within weeks of the Medici’s expulsion. He was fifty-seven and had not regained his post.