Unpublished historical texts of Niccolo Machiavelli found in Florence

The National Central Library of Florence has unveiled previously unseen writings from the political philosopher Nicolo Machiavelli, shedding new light on the work of the author of “The Hegemon”.

What started as a routine librarian’s task turned into a treasure hunt. During an inventory of old manuscripts at the National Central Library of Florence, Daniele Conti, the man responsible for the discovery, stumbled upon a series of passages attributed to Nicolo Machiavelli that had never before been published.

The manuscripts were showcased at the National Central Library of Florence by director Luca Bellingeri, head of ancient manuscripts David Speranzi, two Machiavelli experts, Francesco Bausi and Michele Ciliberto, and Daniele Conti himself.

“We live in a unique country, with a cultural heritage so rich that it continues to surprise us with such incredible discoveries,” remarked the Minister of Cultural Heritage, Activities and Tourism, Dario Franceschini.

Historical accounts: The Battle of Marignano, the Assassination of Caesar Borgia

The valuable excerpts were cleverly concealed in the library’s archives. Penned between 1497 and 1515, when Machiavelli served as the secretary of the Florentine Republic, these unpublished pages recount significant events in Italian history and European conflicts. These include the Battle of Marignano (1515), where King Francis I and the Venetians, allies of the French, clashed with Swiss mercenaries.

The notes also cover the death of Caesar Borgia, a prominent figure in Chapter VII of The Prince [The Ruler], Machiavelli’s most renowned political treatise. In this manuscript, Machiavelli paints a vivid picture of the Duke of Valentin, a model tyrant whose cunning is admired as much as his cruelty.

On October 8, the Italian newspaper Corriere della Serra published three texts from these manuscripts. One pertains to the death of Caesar Borgia, another to the Duke of Milan and Marquis of Mantua, Francesco Gonzaga. The third text is dedicated to Lawrence of Medici, the future Duke of Urbino and former Lord of Florence.

The manuscript found by Machiavelli’s grandson

So, how did these unique writings end up in the library of Florence? According to journalist Paolo Di Stefano of Corriere della Sera, in the latter half of the 16th century, Giuliano de Ricci, Machiavelli’s grandson, was entrusted with organizing his grandfather’s vast collection of writings. The result of his efforts was stored in a composite manuscript known as the Apografo Ricci, which was later acquired by the Library of Florence.

Until 2019, a vast collection enriched with 1,500 earlier works had never been fully categorized. It was during a comprehensive inventory in that year that a significant discovery was made. Last February, this inventory led to the unearthing of an unknown manuscript signed by the historian, philosopher, and politician Francesco Guizardini. This process also brought to light a manuscript “composed” by the grandson of Machiavelli, which is divided into three parts.

“The discovery of these three completely unknown texts by Machiavelli confirms that the systematic inventory of the heritage of Italian state libraries will reveal the existence of priceless treasures,” stated the National Central Library of Florence.

Daniele Conti, the man who discovered the texts, believes these documents could provide scholars with a deeper understanding of how Nicolas Machiavelli utilized his daily notes on current events to compose his more specialized political works. These documents essentially serve as a kind of diary of his philosophical work.

With information from France Culture