Chapter 4: Advising the Prince: The Enigma of Machiavelli

Medici family

The influential Florentine dynasty that shaped Renaissance politics.

Florentine Republic

The government of Florence, the arena for Machiavelli’s political theories.

Alexander VI

The controversial pope (Rodrigo Borgia) whose reign affected political dynamics.

Girolamo Savonarola

The radical reformer in Florence whose downfall highlighted the perils of extreme change.

Cesare Borgia

The ruler used by Machiavelli as an exemplar of ruthless, effective statecraft.

Piero Soderini

The Florentine statesman whose leadership embodied republican ideals.

Julius II

The pope known for both patronage of the arts and for his political maneuvering.

Borgia as a model

Machiavelli’s concept of using Cesare Borgia as a benchmark for princely conduct.

Filippo Brunelleschi

The architect whose innovations symbolized Renaissance progress.

citizen soldiers

The idea that military strength in a republic comes from its ordinary citizens.

new political science

Machiavelli’s empirical approach to studying power based on real-world observation.

Plato’s Seventh Letter

A classical text warning against political naïveté, referenced by Machiavelli.

silence about day of judgment

Machiavelli’s deliberate omission of moral judgment in political discourse.

letter to Vettori

An example of Machiavelli’s direct political advice.

challenges faced by new princes

The inherent difficulties in establishing and maintaining power for new rulers.

Aristotle on virtuous people

The notion that those with true virtue often avoid the corrupt realm of politics.