Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli (3 May 1469 – 21 June 1527) was an Italian historian, philosopher, humanist, and writer based in Florence.

He is one of the main founders of modern Political science. He was a diplomat, playwright, political philosopher,and a civil servant of the Florentine Republic.

He also wrote comedies, carnival songs, poetry, and some of the most well-known personal correspondence in the Italian language.

Machiavelli’s most well-known writing was during the time when the Medici recovered power, and Machiavelli was removed from all positions of responsibility.

1513, was accused of conspiracy, and arrested and imprisoned for a time. Despite torture he denied involvement and was released.

Retiring to his estate, he devoted himself to study and writing the political treatises that earned him an important place in the development of political philosophy and political conduct.

Niccolò Machiavelli’s best-known book, Il Principe, contains a number of maxims concerning politics, but rather than the more traditional subject of a hereditary prince, it concentrates on the possibility of a “new prince”.

To retain power, the hereditary prince must carefully maintain the socio-political institutions to which the people are accustomed.

The new prince has the more difficult task in ruling, since he must first stabilize his new-found power in order to build an enduring political structure.

That requires the prince being concerned with reputation but also being willing to act immorally. As a political scientist, Machiavelli emphasizes the occasional need for the methodical exercise of brute force, deceit, and so on.