850. Origin of his Family 256
1469. (February 3d.) His Birth 257
His Parentage 257
Nothing known of his Childhood and Education 257
Paul Jovius 257
1494. Machiavelli Secretary under Marcellus Virgil 257
1497. Florence agitated by the Prophet Salvanorola 258
Marcellus Virgil elected High Chancellor 258
1498. Machiavelli made Chancellor of the Second Court 258
Is Secretary of the Council of Ten 259
His Missions to various Sovereigns and States 259
1492. Italy convulsed by foreign Armies and domestic Quarrels 259
Ludovico Sforza invites Charles VIII. of France into Italy,
instigating him to assert his Right to the Neapolitan Crown 260
1493. Entrance of the French into Italy; causes great Commotion in
Florence; the Overthrow and Exile of the Medicean Family 260
Italy overrun by Charles 260
The Italian System of Warfare 260
1498. Death of Charles VIII. 261
Louis XII. succeeds him; his speedy Conquest of Milan 261
1501. Pisa, under the Rule of Florence, repines at its Servitude; they
implore Charles to restore their Independence 261
1500. Pisa besieged by the Florentines 262
Machiavelli and Francesco della Caza employed by the Republic
as Envoys to the French Court; curious Style of their Instructions 262
They fail in their Object, and return to Italy 263
Machiavelli, his Mission to Cæsar Borgia 263
Roderigo Borgia chosen Pope; he assumes the Name of
Alexander VI. 264
His Character 264
Cæsar Borgia raised to the Rank of Cardinal; his Dislike to the
Church 264
His Jealousy of his Brother, the Duke of Candia, whom he
causes to be waylaid and murdered 264
He abdicates the Cardinal's Hat, and obtains the Duchy of
Valence in France 265
He determines to form the Principality in Italy 265
His Encroachments supported by an Alliance with Louis XII. 265
His Attack on Bologna 266
Revolt of his chief Condottieri 266
Conspiracy of Magione 267
1502. Arrival of Machiavelli at Imola 268
His Interview with Caesar Borgia 268
His Opinion of him 268
Cæsar Borgia, his Method of defending himself 269
His Policy 269
Paolo Orsino, his Arrival at Imola 269
Machiavelli, his Letter to the Signoria of Florence 269
His Conversation with Cæsar Borgia 270
His Admiration of Borgia's Talents 271
Machiavelli solicits to be recalled 271
Treaty between Caesar Borgia and the Confederates 271
Letter of Machiavelli on this Subject 272
Borgia leaves Imola 273
Machiavelli follows the Court to Cesena 273
His Letter 273
He again writes from Cesena 274
The Confederates sent to Sinigaglia 275
Arrival of Borgia at Sinigaglia 275
He causes the Orsini and Vitellozzo to be taken Prisoners 275
Machiavelli, his Account of this Transaction 275
His Letter 275
Treacherous and cruel Revenge of Borgia on the Confederates 276
(January 8th.) Machiavelli, his Letter to the Republic 277
1503. His Recal to Florence 278
His Description of the Method used by the Valentian Duke in
putting to death Vitellozzo Vitelli 278
The "Decenal" 278
An Anecdote of Cæsar Borgia 279
Narrow Escape of Cæsar Borgia at Rome, it is supposed from
Poison 280
(August 28th.) Sudden Death of his Father, Pope Alexander 281
Accession of Pope Pius III. 281
Fall of the Fortunes of Cæsar Borgia 281
Machiavelli's Embassy to Rome to influence the Consultations
concerning the future Destination of Cæsar Borgia 281
Julius II. 281
Borgia sent to Romagna in the Name of the Holy See 282
Cardinal Volterra sent after him with a Requisition; Borgia
refuses to comply; he is arrested in consequence, and sent on
board a French Galley 283
He is brought back to the Vatican; he is liberated 283
He goes to Naples 283
He forms new Schemes, is again arrested, and confined in the
Fortress of Medina del Campo 284
1506. His Escape and Death 284
1504. Machiavelli leaves Rome, and goes to France 284
Peace between France and Spain 284
1506. Formation of a native Militia in Florence 285
Pope Julius II., his Projects 285
The Florentines delegate Machiavelli to the Court Militant at
Rome; his Letters 285
1507. Francesco Vettori treats with the Emperor Maximilian at
Trent 286
1508. Machiavelli sent with the Ultimatum of the Florentines to
Trent 286
On his Return, writes his "Account of Germany" 286
1509. Pisa besieged by the Florentines 286
Machiavelli sent to assist them 286
Enmity between Louis XII. and the Pope 287
1510. Machiavelli, his Mission to Louis; his Letters 287
His Audience with the King at Blois 288
1511. Pietro Soderini elected Doge of Florence 288
Louis determines to dethrone him; Florence offers him Pisa
for it 288
Terrified by the Menaces of the Pope, they send Machiavelli to
recal this Offer 288
Disastrous War, the Consequence 289
1512. Diet of Mantua 289
Overthrow of the existing Government of Florence 289
Restoration of the Medici 289
Machiavelli deprived of his Place 291
Conspiracy against the Medici 291
Machiavelli supposed to be implicated; is thrown into Prison
in consequence 291
He is included in an Amnesty of the new Pope, Leo X. 291
1513. His Letter to Francesco Vettori; his Liberation 291
Letter of Vettori to Machiavelli 292
His Letter in Reply 292
Vettori, his Endeavours in behalf of Machiavelli 293
Machiavelli, his Letter to Vittori 294
Analysis of his Work, called the "Prince" 297
Machiavelian Policy 300
His Essays on the first "Decade of Livy" 304
His "Art of War" 304
His "Belfegor" 304
His Comedies 304
1514. His Letter to Vettori 305
1519. Address of Pope Leo X. to Machiavelli; his Advice 306
Machiavelli, his Reply 306
His "Essay on the Reform of the Government of Florence" 306
1521. Machiavelli Ambassador to the Minor Friars at Carpi 306
Letter of Francesco Guicciardini on his Appointment;
Machiavelli, his Reply 307
1524. Cardinal Julius commissions him to write the History of
Florence 307
1526. Cardinal Julius becomes Pope Clement VII.; he makes
Machiavelli his Historiographer 308
Deplorable State of Italy 308
Constable Bourbon at Milan 308
Machiavelli sent by the Pope to inspect the Fortifications at
Florence 309
1527. Arrival of Bourbon at Bologna 309
A Truce concluded between Clement VII. and Charles V. 310
(6th of May.) Sack of Rome 310
Machiavelli assists the Italians in relieving the Pope, who is
besieged in the Castel Sant' Angelo 310
He returns to Florence 310
His Death 311
His Wife and Children 311
His Person and Character 311
1782. Complete Edition of his Works published 312
His Descendants 312