You probably know this much: He was a bit of a knob. He would stab you in the back and was generally scheming for his own personal gain. This is broadly true, but let’s find out what who was Machiavelli and what is Machiavellian.
Who was Machiavelli?
Niccolo Machiavelli was an Italian courtier, politician and diplomat who was around in the 16th century, when Italy wasn’t one unified country but instead a series of city-states.
He lived and operated in the Florentine Republic but didn’t serve under the powerful Medici family – he was around when the Medici’s were out of power.
Machiavelli represented Florence on the international stage and had responsibilities for diplomatic and military affairs. Not a bad combination to have; if someone didn’t agree with your diplomatic requests you could always send an army to help convince them.
The Prince
One of the main reasons Machiavelli has achieved a degree of notoriety is for the book he wrote: Il Principe (The Prince). Within this book – and I could phrase this more tactfully – he advocated that to achieve success you need to be a bastard.
Machiavelli claimed in Il Principe that:
“… his experience and reading of history showed him that politics have always been played with deception, treachery, and crime. He also notably said that a ruler who is establishing a kingdom or a republic, and is criticized for his deeds, including violence, should be excused when the intention and the result is beneficial to him.”
Your friend and mine, Wikipedia
Like I said, you need to be a bastard.
It was written in 1513, a year after he had been thrown from power by the returning Medici family, imprisoned, tortured and banished to the countryside. So it’s feasible that he may have been slightly bitter.
What is Machiavellian?
Since writing that ode to deceit his name has since taken on a new meaning.
Anyone who is said to be unscrupulous and trying to manoeuvre for their own good are acting in a Machiavellian manner. Make no mistake: This term has only negative connotations. You are not a good person for doing this.
Some people may feel that ‘the ends justify the means’. Some other people may feel that there is more than one way to achieve an outcome.
Machiavelli just wanted to steamroller you.
Personal experience
What’s worrying, is that Machiavelli had access to the highest echelons of Italian power at the time. He also took trips to Spain and France. His world views were heavily shaped by the reality of what he was witnessing.
It’s highly likely that Machiavelli thought you needed to become a bastard to succeed… because everyone who was succeeding was already a bastard.
Who was Machiavelli? Hobbies, pastimes and the odd bit of warfare
Machiavelli wasn’t just advocating emotional manipulation. He helped build one of Florence’s first militias. He didn’t just talk the talk he walked the walk; he created an army to help further his aims.
Like I said; nice bloke.
Apparently one of Machiavelli’s hobbies was to write comedies in his spare time. They must have been an absolute laugh riot.