When Machiavelli was growing up Florence was under the control of Lorenzo de' Medici. Italy was invaded in 1494 by Charles VIII of France, who forced the [[Medici]] family to flee. A republic was established but it immediately came under the dictatorship of religious fanatic [[Girolamo Savonarola]]. The people turned against the monk and executed him in 1498.
[[File:Niccolo Machiavelli Uffizi.jpg|leftright]]
Machiavelli was a trusted adviser 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>