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Machiavelli was a trusted advisor to the head of the republic, Piero Soderini, who sent him on numerous diplomatic missions. Although he never had decisive authority, Machiavelli's missions often proved to be of considerable delicacy and importance. They included visits to several courts. In 1500 he spent six months at the court of [[Louis XII]] of France, to find out the terms on which the king would help Florence fight its war against the rebellious subject-city of Pisa. Florence depended on its powerful ally to maintain its independence against powerful foes, but France thought Florence was a poorly governed, small weak state.<ref> Skinner, ''Machiavelli'' (2000) pp 8-9</ref>
Machiavelli was a trusted advisor to the head of the republic, Piero Soderini, who sent him on numerous diplomatic missions. Although he never had decisive authority, Machiavelli's missions often proved to be of considerable delicacy and importance. They included visits to several courts. In 1500 he spent six months at the court of [[Louis XII]] of France, to find out the terms on which the king would help Florence fight its war against the rebellious subject-city of Pisa. Florence depended on its powerful ally to maintain its independence against powerful foes, but France thought Florence was a poorly governed, small weak state.<ref> Skinner, ''Machiavelli'' (2000) pp 8-9</ref>
He spent some four months at the court of [[Cesare Borgia]](1475-1507), the aggressive young Spanish duke who kept seizing territories across Italy and demanded an alliance with Florence. The duke went out of his way to expound his policies and the ambitions underlying them and Machiavelli was greatly impressed. The duke, he reported, is "superhuman in his courage", as well as being a man of grand designs, who "thinks himself capable of attaining anything he wants". Moreover, his actions are no less striking than his words, for he "controls everything by himself", governs "with extreme secrecy", and decides and executes his plans with devastating suddenness. Machiavelli saw that Borgia was no mere upstart but someone who "must now be regarded as a new power in Italy." Borgia was the most ruthless prince in Italy and became the model for ''The Prince.''<ref> Skinner, ''Machiavelli'' (2000) p. 11</ref>
He spent some four months at the court of [[Cesare Borgia]] (1475-1507), the aggressive young Spanish duke who kept seizing territories across Italy and demanded an alliance with Florence. The duke went out of his way to expound his policies and the ambitions underlying them and Machiavelli was greatly impressed. The duke, he reported, is "superhuman in his courage", as well as being a man of grand designs, who "thinks himself capable of attaining anything he wants". Moreover, his actions are no less striking than his words, for he "controls everything by himself", governs "with extreme secrecy", and decides and executes his plans with devastating suddenness. Machiavelli saw that Borgia was no mere upstart but someone who "must now be regarded as a new power in Italy." Borgia was the most ruthless prince in Italy and became the model for ''The Prince.''<ref> Skinner, ''Machiavelli'' (2000) p. 11</ref>
At Rome, in 1503, he kept an eye on the election of a new pope ([[Julius II]]); and at the court of the Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian in 1507 he discussed the terms of a payment which the Emperor had demanded from Florence. Borgia, Machiavelli noted in ''The Prince'' ch 7, put excessive confidence in his own "fortune" (luck), was outmaneuvered by Pope Julius II, and expelled from Italy. Machiavelli, who strongly disliked the political power of the Church, suggests Borgia should have destroyed the papacy in order to stay in power.<ref> See Scott and Sullivan (1994).</ref> Most historians agree he was very hostile to organized Christianity and profoundly anti-Christian because it made men humble, unmanly, and feeble. Christianity, he concluded:
At Rome, in 1503, he kept an eye on the election of a new pope ([[Julius II]]); and at the court of the Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian in 1507 he discussed the terms of a payment which the Emperor had demanded from Florence. Borgia, Machiavelli noted in ''The Prince'' ch 7, put excessive confidence in his own "fortune" (luck), was outmaneuvered by Pope Julius II, and expelled from Italy. Machiavelli, who strongly disliked the political power of the Church, suggests Borgia should have destroyed the papacy in order to stay in power.<ref> See Scott and Sullivan (1994).</ref> Most historians agree he was very hostile to organized Christianity and profoundly anti-Christian because it made men humble, unmanly, and feeble. Christianity, he concluded:
:"Has glorified more humble and contemplative men rather than men of action. It also places the highest good in humility, lowliness, and contempt of human things: the [Roman pagan philosophy] places it in the greatness of soul, the strength of body, and all the other things which make men very brave."<ref> ''Discourses'' [http://www.constitution.org/mac/disclivy2.htm#2:02 book 2 chapter 2, online]</ref> However, there is a dissent that suggests he really sought to reform the Church.<ref> For the minority view see Sebastian de Grazia, [http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0679743421/ref=sib_dp_srch_bod?v=search-inside&keywords=christianity&go.x=0&go.y=0&go=Go%21# ''Machiavelli in Hell'' (1989) page 115 online ] </ref>
:"Has glorified more humble and contemplative men rather than men of action. It also places the highest good in humility, lowliness, and contempt of human things: the [Roman pagan philosophy] places it in the greatness of soul, the strength of body, and all the other things which make men very brave."<ref> ''Discourses'' [http://www.constitution.org/mac/disclivy2.htm#2:02 book 2 chapter 2, online]</ref>
However, there is a dissent that suggests he really sought to reform the Church.<ref> For the minority view see Sebastian de Grazia, [http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0679743421/ref=sib_dp_srch_bod?v=search-inside&keywords=christianity&go.x=0&go.y=0&go=Go%21# ''Machiavelli in Hell'' (1989) page 115 online ] </ref>
Machiavelli was an unusually keen observer. In writing his books during retirement he incorporated verbatim into the ''Discourses'' and especially ''The Prince,'' the evaluations, and even the epigrams, that he prepared as a working diplomat.
Machiavelli was an unusually keen observer. In writing his books during retirement he incorporated verbatim into the ''Discourses'' and especially ''The Prince,'' the evaluations, and even the epigrams, that he prepared as a working diplomat.
When the Spanish took over in 1512, reinstalled the Medicis and ended the republican experiment, Machiavelli was seen was a dangerous opposition leader. He was dismissed from his post, tortured and released from imprisonment shortly afterwards. He then retired from public life to his modest family property for the next six years in an effort to provide for his wife and children.
When the Spanish took over in 1512, reinstalled the Medicis and ended the republican experiment, Machiavelli was seen was a dangerous opposition leader. He was dismissed from his post, tortured and released from imprisonment shortly afterwards. He then retired from public life to his modest family property for the next six years in an effort to provide for his wife and children.
==Author==
==Author==