Machiavelli's Art of War

Machiavelli's Art of War – Imago – Banco Rari 29 – Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale di Firenze (Florence, Italy)

Florence (Italy) — 1519–1520

Sharp criticism of the ruling elite and regarded by Machiavelli as his most important work: his treatise on the art of war with references to the army of ancient Rome

  1. While famous for The Prince, Machiavelli (1469–1527) considered his military treatise to be his most important work

  2. It is divided into seven chapters and is set up as a dialogue among the friends of the Ruceelai Familia

  3. A harsh criticism of the political and military leadership in Italy, it presents the Roman military as a paragon

Machiavelli's Art of War

Facsimile Copy Available!
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  1. Description
  2. Facsimile Editions (1)
Description
Machiavelli's Art of War

Today, Niccolò Machiavelli is considered to be one of the most significant and controversial personalities of the Italian Renaissance. The original manuscript of the work he considered to be his most important is stored today in Florence’s Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale: De Re Militari, also known as Dell'Arte della Guerra. In seven chapters, the theme of the military and political organization of Italy is enacted as a fictional dialogue among Machiavelli’s friends. A wonderful inside glimpse into the conceptual world of this influential Florentine statesman and philosopher!

Machiavelli's Art of War

Niccolò Machiavelli (1469–1527) was an important Italian statesman and poet during the Renaissance. As a senior official and diplomat of the Republic of Florence, he encountered the great and powerful and thus became acquainted with the world of politics. Having said this, his destiny took a turn along with historical events: Machiavelli fell into disgrace in Florence after the Medici seized power in 1512 and was even banned from the city. As a result of this event, he became a sharp critic of the prevailing circumstances, and recorded his profound thoughts in numerous significant literary works.

A Critical Military Treatise

Machiavelli considered his treatise Dell'Arte della Guerra to be the most important of his literary works. The document is divided into seven chapters and is set up as a dialogue among the friends of the Ruceelai Familia, who convene in the Orti Oricellari in Florence, where Machiavelli himself was often present. The content is comprised of a harsh criticism of the political and military leadership in Italy. In his paper, Machiavelli postulates a structural reform of the Italian military in order to make it more efficient and to revive lost morale.

An Accolade to Roman Military Discipline

Machiavelli presents the Roman military as a paragon. The organization, training, equipment, and other aspects of the Roman military are presented in detailed depictions. Therefore, e.g. various battle formations and strategies, the structure of fortifications, or proposed military exercises come up. Additionally, a diagram is drawn of the ideal deployment of the army in a standard battle situation is included.

Strozzi, Medici, and Magliabechiana

This precious specimen of the Machiavellian Dell'Arte della Guerra, which originated in the year 1519–20 and is stored today under the shelf mark Banco Rari 29 in the Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale di Firenze, boasts an exciting provenance. This text was in the possession of the Strozzi family and was acquired in 1786 by Archduke Pietro Leopoldo de` Medici. As a document of the famous Magliabechiana, the library of Antonio Magliabechi, it was made public after his death and became an important cornerstone of the the Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale.

Codicology

Alternative Titles
Dell'arte della guerra
De Re Militari
Die Kunst des Krieges
Size / Format
188 pages / 22.5 × 16.5 cm
Origin
Italy
Date
1519–1520
Language
Content
Treatise on the art of war
Artist / School
Previous Owners
Strozzi family
Grand Duke Pietro Leopoldo de' Medici
Magliabechiana Library

Available facsimile editions:
Machiavelli's Art of War – Imago – Banco Rari 29 – Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale di Firenze (Florence, Italy)
Imago – Castel Guelfo, 2014
Limited Edition: 699 copies
Facsimile Editions

#1 Dell'Arte della Guerra di Machiavelli

Imago – Castel Guelfo, 2014

Publisher: Imago – Castel Guelfo, 2014
Limited Edition: 699 copies
Facsimile Copy Available!
Price Category: €€
(1,000€ - 3,000€)
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