Machiavelli and Political Conspiracies
The Struggle for Power in the Italian Renaissance
Routledge Studies in Renaissance and Early Modern Worlds of Knowledge Series

The theme of conspiracy is central to Machiavelli's writing. His work offers observations and analysis of conspiracy as part of the armoury of the Renaissance politician. Surprisingly, the theme has not yet received the attention it merits. This volume corrects an interpretation which reduces Machiavelli's position to one of censorious observer of conspiracies. Quite to the contrary, as Campi demonstrates, Machiavelli developed an anatomy of conspiracy and provided a practical manual for coup d'état" and violent seizure of power.

Part I: Machiavelli and Political Conspiracies Alessandro Campi Introduction: Machiavelli, Theorist of Conspiracies 1. Luctus publicus/Salus publica:Bloodbath in Florence 2. From Magione to Senigallia: False Conspiracy, Double Conspiracy 3. Machiavelli the Conspirator? 4. Phenomenology and Anatomy of Conspiracy Part II: On Conspiracies Niccolò Machiavelli Note on the Texts. On Conspiracies. Description of the Methods Adopted by the Duke Valentino When Murdering Vitellozzo Vitelli, Oliverotto da Fermo, the Signor Pagolo and the Duke di Gravina Orsini. The Pazzi and the Conspiracy Against the Medici

Alessandro Campi is Professor of Political Science at the University of Perugia, Italy.