Today in Capitalism

Happy 537th birthday: Niccolò Machiavelli, Florentine, diplomat, formative figure in modern statecraft, poet, playwrite, lawyer's son, advisor to the Medicis, purported anti-Medici conspirator, convict, torture victim, exiled citizen, author of 23 works of substantial importance, including "Dell'arte della guerra" (The Art of War), "Discorsi sopra la prima deca di Tito Livio" (Discourses on the famous Roman, Titus Livy), "Del modo tenuto dal duca Valentino nell' ammazzare Vitellozzo Vitelli, Oliverotto da Fermo, il Signor Pagolo 'il duca di Gravina Orsini" (Description of the Methods Employed by the Duke Valentino when Murdering Vitellozzo Vitelli, Oliverotto da Fermo, Signor Pagolo, and the Duke di Gravina Orsini), "Asino d'oro" (The Ass of Gold), many dozen more minor works, and, oh yes, author of "Il Principe."

("Ritratto di Niccolò Macchiavelli," Ridolfo del Ghirlandaio, c. 1522; Private Collection, London)

See also: Dealscape