Niccolò Machiavelli was an Italian political philosopher, musician, poet, and playwright. He is a figure of the Italian Renaissance most widely known for his arguments on realist political theory (The Prince) and republicanism (Discourses on Livy). Machiavelli was born in Florence and served the Florentine republic as a secretary and second chancellor, as ambassador and foreign policymaker. When the Medici family returned to power in 1512, he was suspected of conspiracy, imprisoned and tortured and forced to retire from public life. The Prince was written in an attempt to gain favor with the Medicis and return to politics.