Machiavelli, disillusioned with the ineffectual bickering and infighting among the Italian cities, saw the effectiveness of the Borgia family members in seizing and maintaining their power. political theorist Niccolo Machiavelli’s tips to climbing the greasy pole to power. Accordingly, he confines his inquiries in to the means that are best suited to acquire, retain and expand political power. Machiavelli (1469-1527), Bodin (1529-1596) and Hobbes (1588-1679) dealt with the most important and vexed issue-the sovereignty. Niccolò Machiavelli was one of the most influential political theorists of Western philosophy. But Machiavelli did not directly analyse the idea. Machiavelli (1469-1527), Bodin (1529-1596) and Hobbes (1588-1679) dealt with the most important and vexed issue-the sovereignty. The English stage Machiavel is "a kind of person, not primarily an exponent of particular political views", "a character who promulgates a false facade of virtue covering over an interiority of malevolent power … Introduction It was while he was out of office and in exile, however, that the “Florentine Secretary,” as Machiavelli came to be called, wrote the works of political philosophy for which he is remembered. Nevertheless, his father was actively interested in education and provided young Niccolò with access to books. Machiavelli on the sovereign power’s relationship with its subjects and a comparison with Hobbes’ view. To analyze Machiavelli, we must return to the texts themselves as it is a controversial author. Discuss Anurag Gangal Professor and Head of Department, Political Science and Director, Gandhian Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Jammu, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India. Political power was assumed to be a means only—a means to the service of higher ends such as justice, the good life, freedom or God—Machiavelli ignores the issue of the end of the state in the extra-political terms. Its relation to Machiavelli's political doctrine does not go much beyond its borrowing of the Florentine's name." ... Machiavelli believed in the political effect outside the religious state without God. The latter success of any city can be fully attributed to the virtú of its founder (85). Niccolò Machiavelli was born in Florence on May 3, 1469, to Bernardo and Bartolomea. It was while he was out of office and in exile, however, that the “Florentine Secretary,” as Machiavelli came to be called, wrote the works of political philosophy for which he is remembered. It was intended as a critique of a tradition of humanist writing on princely government. My expectation is … words by Carol King On the 500th anniversary of the composition of Niccolò Machiavelli’s 'Il Principe' (The Prince), Carol King looks at the influence of the handbook to political control. Machiavelli believes the ruling Prince should be the sole authority determining every aspect of the state and put in effect a policy which would serve his best interests.