About the art of war

Niccolò Machiavelli (1469–1527) was an Italian political figure and philosopher. As an advisor to the gonfalonier of the Republic, Piero Soderini, he implemented military reforms and established a national army. In addition to this, Machiavelli participated in diplomatic missions at the courts of Louis XII in France, Ferdinand II in Naples, and at the Papal court in Rome. After the return of the Medici to Florence in 1512, he was dismissed from his position and narrowly escaped execution only thanks to an amnesty and a ransom paid by his relatives. The politician was forced to leave the city and settle in a country estate in the village of San Andrea in Percussina. There, he began working on works that would bring him fame for centuries. In 1520, he wrote "The Art of War," a book that discusses the selection of soldiers, their armament, troop deployment, siege tactics, and many other aspects. Machiavelli cites battles from past centuries, analyzes the organization of the greatest armies of the past, and proposes new ways of developing military affairs. Machiavelli's treatises were received ambiguously by his contemporaries and descendants, and the content of works such as "The Prince" and "The Art of War" still sparks debates between opponents and admirers of Niccolò Machiavelli.