June 21

Born in 1469 in Florence, Niccolò Machiavelli served his city-state as a diplomat and civil servant. His seminal work, The Prince, offered pragmatic advice on political power and became a cornerstone of political theory. Machiavelli's writings examined human nature, leadership, and statecraft with unprecedented realism. He also penned the Discourses on Livy, exploring republican governance and civic virtue. Despite facing exile and political turmoil, his ideas endured and shaped modern understandings of politics. Regarded as the father of modern political science, his legacy continues to provoke debate and study. He died on June 21, 1527, leaving an intellectual heritage that transcends centuries.