Machiavelli and Political Conspiracies - The Struggle for Power in the Italian Renaissance

The theme of conspiracy is central to Machiavelli's writing. His work offers observations and analysis of conspiracy as part of the armoury of the Renaissance politician. Surprisingly, the theme has not yet received the attention it merits. This volume corrects an interpretation which reduces Machiavelli's position to one of censorious observer of conspiracies. Quite to the contrary, as Campi demonstrates, Machiavelli developed an anatomy of conspiracy and provided a practical manual for coup d'état" and violent seizure of power.

List of contents

Part I: Machiavelli and Political Conspiracies Alessandro Campi Introduction: Machiavelli, Theorist of Conspiracies 1. Luctus publicus/Salus publica: Bloodbath in Florence 2. From Magione to Senigallia: False Conspiracy, Double Conspiracy 3. Machiavelli the Conspirator? 4. Phenomenology and Anatomy of Conspiracy Part II: On Conspiracies Niccolò Machiavelli Note on the Texts. On Conspiracies. Description of the Methods Adopted by the Duke Valentino When Murdering Vitellozzo Vitelli, Oliverotto da Fermo, the Signor Pagolo and the Duke di Gravina Orsini. The Pazzi and the Conspiracy Against the Medici

About the author

Alessandro Campi is Professor of Political Science at the University of Perugia, Italy.

Summary

This volume is divided into two parts. The first consists of a long introductory essay which summarizes and critically analyzes the Machiavellian interpretation of conspiracies. The second part is represented by an anthology of writings by Machiavelli, and includes the three most important texts in which he touches on the theme.

Product details

• Authors: Alessandro Campi, Niccolo Machiavelli, Niccolò Machiavelli
• Assisted by: Christian E. Detmold (Translation)
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd.
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 30.06.2021
• EAN: 9781032095127
• ISBN: 978-1-0-3209512-7
• No. of pages: 168
• Series: Routledge Studies in Renaissance and Early Modern Worlds of Knowledge
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > History > General, dictionaries; Non-fiction book > History > Miscellaneous; Social sciences, law, business > Political science; European History, HISTORY / General, HISTORY / Modern / General, Social & cultural history, HISTORY / Europe / Italy, Italy, Politics & government, c 1500 onwards to present day, Historiography, Social and cultural history, Politics and government, Early modern history: c 1450/1500 to c 1700, History and Archaeology, HISTORY / Europe / Renaissance