The Prince describes how a prince, or rather a new ruler, must establish some sort of hierarchy in order to bring order. One infamous saying was that, in the end, it’s better to be feared than loved. This kind of thinking has been shown time and time again in various stories, such as Tim Burton’s movie Through the Looking Glass, and George R.R. Martin’s Game of Thrones. However, who was the writer that developed these ideas, and why is he so important today?

Machiavelli was born to a family in Italy thought to be descended from old royalty. Machiavelli was never a real citizen in Florence due to the political atmosphere during the time. As a child, Machiavelli learned the classics, and when he grew older, he secured a diplomatic position within the Florentine government. While working there, he saw several cruel political strategies, such as those by the infamous Cesare Borgia and Pope Alexander IV. 

At the start of the 16th century, Machiavelli was tasked with developing and maintaining the Florentine militia. This militia, however, was unsuccessful in trying to defend Florence against Spanish troops, and Machiavelli was dismissed from office. In 1513, the Medici family accused Machiavelli of conspiracy, then imprisoned and tortured him. Once he was released, he took up studying political science. Though he did try to get back into political office, in the end, his attempts were unsuccessful. In 1527, he passed away at the age of 58 and was buried in his hometown of Florence. 

Machiavelli lived during the Renaissance, engaged in classical realism and republicanism. He demonstrated no interest in philosophers such as Aristotle and Plato. In fact, Machiavelli was said to have even rejected most of their ideas. For instance, although Socrates believed that good things would come to people if they just waited, Machiavelli thought it best for people to take action to receive those things. Despite this, some of the classical writers did influence Machiavelli. For example, Thucydides and Machiavelli shared many similarities, including the importance of politics for the betterment of society, even if their approach might differ. 

Machiavelli wrote many famous works during his time as well as The Prince. In Discourses on the First Ten Books of Titus Ivy, he discusses the history of ancient Rome, as well as the government that ruled over it. There are similarities found in the book as with The Prince, in that in order to maintain a state, you must use any means necessary, even violence. However, in the book, Machiavelli talks about the importance of checks and balances, simultaneously laying the groundwork for what would be known as republicanism. Machiavelli also wrote fictional stories and poems as well, such as Andria, a comedy, and Decennale primo, a poem written in terza rima. 

Machiavelli had influenced a plethora of writers. He’s been referenced by the likes of Christopher Marlowe, Somerset Maugham, and Michael Scott. He’s also been seen as a major character as well, such as in video games like Assassin’s Creed, and TV shows like The Borgias and The Tudors. It’s accurate to say that Machiavelli still manages to stay relevant in today’s high-paced world.