Niccolo Machiavelli Timeline

At the start of the 16th century, Machiavelli conceived of a native militia for Florence rather than reliance on mercenaries, and he began recruiting and creating this force of armed citizens.

By February 1506 Machiavelli was able to have four hundred farmers marching on parade, equipped including iron breastplates and armed with lances and small firearms, a visible triumph of his militia project.

Image source: Florentine military reforms

Under Machiavelli's direction, the Florentine citizen-soldiers he had created conquered Pisa in 1509, vindicating his belief in native troops over mercenaries.

Image source: Maritime republics

Machiavelli wrote the Discorso sopra la provisione del danaro, a discourse about the provision of money for the Florentine state, reflecting his growing engagement with economic policy.

Machiavelli composed the Decennale primo, a poem in terza rima chronicling the political affairs of Italy during the first decade of the century.

Between 1508 and 1512 Machiavelli wrote the Ritratto delle cose della Magna, a portrait of the affairs of Germany drawing on his diplomatic observations.

Machiavelli completed the Decennale secondo, a second poem continuing his verse chronicle of contemporary Italian politics.

In 1510 Machiavelli produced the Ritratti delle cose di Francia, a portrait of the affairs of France based on his diplomatic experience at the French court.

Following his dismissal, Machiavelli began composing his most famous work, The Prince. Scholar William Connell views its composition and development as a lengthy process, with his ideas being revised from 1513 to 1515. It was originally titled De Principatibus ('Of Principalities'), with the title Il Principe appearing only after publication in 1532.

Image source: The Prince

Machiavelli wrote Della Lingua ('On the Language'), a dialogue about Italy's language which is normally attributed to him.

Image source: Sardinian language

Machiavelli composed Belfagor arcidiavolo, a novella about an archdevil who comes to earth to investigate marriage, showcasing his comic literary talents.

Though scholars debate the timing, it is often said Machiavelli composed the Discourses on Livy between 1515 and 1517. The work has been said to have paved the way for modern republicanism, using both Livy's classical history and contemporary political examples.

Image source: Discourses on Livy

From 1516 Machiavelli frequented the Orti Oricellari gardens, where humanists discussed anti-tyrannical themes. There he gained friendships with Bernardo Rucellai and Zanobi Buondelmonti, men whom he would dedicate his Discorsi to.

Machiavelli wrote Andria or The Girl from Andros, a semi-autobiographical comedy adapted from Terence.

Image source: Andria (comedy)

Machiavelli wrote Asino d'oro (The Golden Ass), a terza rima poem offering a new version of the classic work by Apuleius.

Machiavelli wrote Mandragola (The Mandrake), a five-act prose comedy with a verse prologue that became one of the great comedies of the Italian Renaissance.

Image source: Mandrake

Machiavelli composed Dell'Arte della Guerra (The Art of War), a treatise on high military science reflecting his lifelong interest in military organization and his militia reforms.

Image source: The Art of War (Machiavelli book)

Machiavelli wrote the Discorso sopra il riformare lo stato di Firenze, a discourse proposing reforms for the government of Florence, likely connected to his renewed ties with the Medici.

Machiavelli produced the Sommario delle cose della citta di Lucca, a summary of the political affairs of the city of Lucca.

Machiavelli wrote the Vita di Castruccio Castracani da Lucca, a short, partially fictional biography of Castruccio Castracani, the ruler of Lucca, blending history with moral-political lessons.

Machiavelli wrote the Istorie Fiorentine (Florentine Histories), an eight-volume history of the city-state of Florence commissioned by Giulio de' Medici, later Pope Clement VII.

Machiavelli wrote Clizia, a prose comedy adapted from Plautus's Casina, further demonstrating his skill as a playwright.

In 1525 Machiavelli produced the Frammenti storici, fragments of stories representing some of his final historical writings.

In 1520 Machiavelli won back the favor of the Medici family, and Giulio Cardinal de' Medici commissioned him to write a history of the city of Florence, partially rehabilitating his standing.

Image source: Pope Clement VII

After the 1527 Sack of Rome, the Medici were thrown out of Florence once more and citizens set up a republican form of government. Machiavelli died on 21 June 1527 from a stomach disease he had been suffering from since 1525.