TO FRANCESCO VETTORI

FLORENCE, 13 MARCH 1513

Machiavelli’s high position in Florentine politics came to an abrupt end in IS 12, when the Gonfalonier, Piero Soderini, was deposed and the Medici returned to power in Florence. Not only did Machiavelli find himself stripped of his office and forbidden to set foot in the Signoria, Florence’s executive council, but in early 1513 his name appeared on a list drawn up by anti-Medici conspirators. He was thrown into prison, maintaining his innocence despite rigorous torture. Through the intercession of Francesco Vettori, Florence’s ambassador to the newly elected Medici pope, Leo X, Machiavelli was pardoned. The day after his release, Machiavelli wrote the following letter to Francesco Vettori.

—

Honored Sir. As you will have heard from your brother Pagolo, I have been released from prison amid universal rejoicing in the city²⁷ I did indeed have every hope of being freed through your and Pagolo’s kind intervention, and am extremely grateful for it. I will not repeat the long story of my humiliation, but will only say that Fate has done its utmost to harm me. I thank God, however, that all this is over, and I have every hope that I shall not meet with such reversals again. I will be more careful henceforth, and the times are bound to be more liberal and not so replete with suspicion.

You are aware of the plight of our Messer Totto,²⁸ and I must turn to you and Pagolo for help. Messer Totto and I desire only one thing: that he be placed at the court of the pope, and so entered in the pontiff’s scroll and provided with official credentials. We beg you for this.

Remind His Holiness about me so that if possible I might prove useful to Him or His entourage, for I believe I could bring you much honor as well as much benefit to myself.

On the 13th day of March 1512 [1513]
Yours,
Niccolò Machiavelli, in Florence.

27. The election of Pope Leo X, Giovanni de’ Medici (the older brother of Giuliano de’ Medici, who now held the first place in the Florentine Republic), unleashed euphoria and celebration in the streets of Florence. The populace was aware that with a Florentine Medici as the pope, Florence could expect unprecedented favors, benefits, and prominence in Italy and the world.

28. Machiavelli’s brother.