The Tree of Europe · Person

Niccolò Machiavelli

A Florentine diplomat, civil servant and writer whose political experience informed The Prince and the Discourses. He observed Cesare Borgia and the Italian powers of the early sixteenth century at close quarters.

1469 – 1527Diplomat, civil servant and political writerMachiavelli · ES

Explore this family · Spanish Atlas Back to people

Later portraitPortrait of Niccolò MachiavelliSanti di Tito · Sixteenth centuryPalazzo Vecchio / Wikimedia CommonsPublic domain · PDM 1.0 · Source

Biography

Life of Niccolò Machiavelli

Secretary of the republic

Born in Florence in 1469, he was appointed secretary of the republic’s second chancery in 1498, after Savonarola’s fall. For fourteen years he undertook missions to Louis XII, Emperor Maximilian, Pope Julius II and Cesare Borgia, and organised a Florentine militia.

References: Treccani · Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani · Deutsche Biographie · Encyclopaedia Britannica

Fall and exile

The return of the Medici in 1512 ended his career. Accused of conspiracy, he was imprisoned and tortured in 1513. Retiring to his estate at Sant’Andrea in Percussina, he wrote The Prince, dedicated to Lorenzo II de’ Medici, and the Discourses on the First Ten Books of Livy.

References: Treccani · Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani · Deutsche Biographie · Encyclopaedia Britannica

The works

He also wrote The Art of War, the comedy The Mandrake and, commissioned by Cardinal Giulio de’ Medici, the Florentine Histories. He died in Florence in 1527, the year the Medici were expelled again. His analysis of power apart from morality brought him lasting fame.

References: Treccani · Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani · Deutsche Biographie · Encyclopaedia Britannica

This complete profile is available in English. Bibliographic titles retain their original language. Links marked ES open the Spanish edition.

Historical profile

Key details

Birth: 3 May 1469 Documented

Death: 22 June 1527 Documented

Role: Diplomat, civil servant and political writer

Other recorded names: Nicholas Machiavelli

Dynasty: Machiavelli · ES

Territories: Florence (ES)

Family network

Recorded relationships

No direct relationships are recorded for this person.

Documentation

Sources for this profile

Biographical and contextual references in their original language. Sources and methodology.

Evidence for this profile

2 recorded claims · 0 without a claim-specific source. Context references do not by themselves verify every fact.

Dates (2/2 with a precise source)

BirthDocumented
3 May 1469
The authority record gives the birth as 1469-05-03.
Deutsche Nationalbibliothek · GND · Machiavelli, Niccolò · Vital data: birth date
Reviewed on 2026-10-17 by El Árbol de Europa ·
DeathDocumented
22 June 1527
The authority record gives the death as 1527-06-22.
Deutsche Nationalbibliothek · GND · Machiavelli, Niccolò · Vital data: death date
Reviewed on 2026-10-17 by El Árbol de Europa ·

Biographical and contextual references (3)

Editorial history

2026-10-12 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
2026-10-08 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
2026-10-04 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
2026-10-04 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
2026-10-03 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
2026-09-30 · The duchy is limited to Dijon and Autun; each other fief now enters the map only under its dated ruler. John III of Namur and the Nevers/Rethel branch were added. The previous shape combined later counties and unrelated lands as if all belonged to the duchy from 1363.
2026-09-28 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.