Niccolò Machiavelli (1469 – 1527) was a Florentine essayist, dramatist, historian, sketch writer, biographer, dialogist, writer of novellas, poet, statesman, and political theorist. Among his many writings, he authored two plays THE MADRAKE (MANDRAGOLA) and LA CLIZIA. His most famous work is his treatise on political conduct and the application of power, The Prince (Il Principe).