Introduction

Nicolo Machiavelli, born in 1469, Florentine, son of a lawyer. We know nothing about him really until 98. He's made second secretary of the Republic, head of the second chancellery. From 1512 until 1527 when he dies, he is converted from a dippermatin and illustrator into the man of letters that we know. All the great works were written between 1513 and 1526.