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History of Florence and of the Affairs of Italy

by Niccolò Machiavelli (1469–1527)

  • Free to read
  • 11 hours to read
  • 58 chapters
  • Reading level: College-level

"History of Florence and of the Affairs of Italy" by Niccolò Machiavelli is a historical account first published posthumously in 1532. Commissioned by the Medici family, this work chronicles Florence's turbulent past through Machiavelli's distinctive political lens. He examines the city's destructive factionalism and moral decay, contrasting it with ancient Rome's productive conflicts. The narrative features vivid portraits of the Medici family, dramatic speeches including one from the 1378 Ciompi Revolt, and detailed accounts of conspiracies and power struggles that shaped Renaissance Florence.

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  • Florence (Italy) · History
  • Italy · Politics and government
  • Italy · History · 476-1492

Read the opening

Chapter I

Irruption of Northern people upon the Roman territories—Visigoths—Barbarians called in by Stilicho—Vandals in Africa—Franks and Burgundians give their names to France and Burgundy—The Huns—Angles give the name to England—Attila, king of the Huns, in Italy—Genseric takes Rome—The Lombards.

The people who inhabit the northern parts beyond the Rhine and the Danube, living in a healthy and prolific region, frequently increase to such vast multitudes that part of them are compelled to abandon their native soil, and seek a habitation in other countries. The method adopted, when one of these provinces had to be relieved of its superabundant population, was to divide into three parts, each containing an equal number of nobles and of people, of rich and of poor. The third upon whom the lot fell, then went in search of new abodes, leaving the remaining two-thirds in possession of their native country.

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Contents

Show all 58 chapters
  1. Introduction
  2. Book I
  3. Chapter I
  4. Chapter II
  5. Chapter III
  6. Chapter IV
  7. Chapter V
  8. Chapter VI
  9. Chapter VII
  10. Book II
  11. Chapter I
  12. Chapter II
  13. Chapter III
  14. Chapter IV
  15. Chapter V
  16. Chapter VI
  17. Chapter VII
  18. Chapter VIII
  19. Chapter IX
  20. Book III
  21. Chapter I
  22. Chapter II
  23. Chapter III
  24. Chapter IV
  25. Chapter V
  26. Chapter VI
  27. Chapter VII
  28. Book IV
  29. Chapter I
  30. Chapter II
  31. Chapter III
  32. Chapter IV
  33. Chapter V
  34. Chapter VI
  35. Chapter VII
  36. Book V
  37. Chapter I
  38. Chapter II
  39. Chapter III
  40. Chapter IV
  41. Chapter V
  42. Chapter VI
  43. Chapter VII
  44. Book VI
  45. Chapter I
  46. Chapter II
  47. Chapter III
  48. Chapter IV
  49. Chapter V
  50. Chapter VI
  51. Chapter VII
  52. Book VII
  53. Chapter I
  54. Chapter II
  55. Chapter III
  56. Chapter IV
  57. Chapter V
  58. Chapter VI
  59. Book VIII
  60. Chapter I
  61. Chapter II
  62. Chapter III
  63. Chapter IV
  64. Chapter V
  65. Chapter VI
  66. Chapter VII

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About this edition

This free edition of History of Florence and of the Affairs of Italy by Niccolò Machiavelli comes from Project Gutenberg eBook #2464, released 2006-03-31. It is in the public domain in the United States, so you can read it here in full at no cost, on any phone, tablet or computer. Genre: History - European, History - Medieval/Middle Ages, History - Early Modern (c. 1450-1750).

Summary provided by Project Gutenberg (automatically generated).

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