One of the things that influenced Machiavelli to write The Prince was a desire to regain his position in the then Florentine government and to also redeem his political reputation. The book is prefaced as a plea to the Medicis; it is offered as a gift to Lorenzo. But Medici received the book indifferently, and Machiavelli did not receive an invitation to serve as an official. Niccolo Machiavelli was born in Florence on May 3, 1469 as the son of a legal official. The Prince (Italian: Il Principe [il ˈprintʃipe], Latin: De Principatibus) is a 16th-century political treatise by the Italian diplomat and political theorist Niccolò Machiavelli.From his correspondence, a version appears to have been distributed in 1513, using a Latin title, De Principatibus (Of Principalities). He retreated to the country, and there wrote The Prince. Machiavelli: Niccolo Machiavelli was born on May 3, 1469 in Florence, Italy. Before writing this work, Machiavelli had occupied several important political positions. Niccolo Machiavelli biography. He was trying to prove to Lorenzo de Medici that he understood how to teach people to be an effective Prince. It did not wind up having the desired effect, and Machiavelli never again regained the position in politics he had earlier enjoyed. But slowly, as word spread, the book began to be criticized as immoral, evil, and wicked. The Prince is written in a straightforward manner, where Machiavelli expounds on his knowledge of Western governments. The public’s reaction to The Prince was also indifferent at first. Wiki User August 30, 2009 1:09AM. Unfortunately for Machiavelli, the book did not have the intended effect of paving the way for a return to a position of authority under the Medicis. Niccolo Machiavelli was born on the 5 th of May 1469 in Florence. It is not known for certain what Lorenzo de’ Medici thought of the book, but it is certainly possible that he was a bit afraid of Machiavelli after reading The Prince . Rather, Machiavelli wrote The Prince as an appeal to Lorenzo De'Medici. Niccolo Machiavelli’s name itself evokes emotions of distrust and amorality mainly because of the ideas outlined in The Prince. Then tempers changed, and he was released as an exile. After receiving an education that allowed him to cultivate a good grasp of the Latin and Italian classics he entered government service as a clerk in 1494. Why did Niccolo Machiavelli write The Prince? Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Start studying Niccolo Machiavelli - The Prince. Answer. Question: Why did Machiavelli write The Prince?. The Prince, Machiavelli’s magnum opus, effectively explained a political doctrine dominated by corruption and expediency. Why Did Machiavelli Write 'The Prince' — a speech by John Hale published in 'Speaking Of The Famous' (1962) an anthology edited by A F Scott Why did Niccolo Machiavelli write The Prince? Since he was a child, he experienced chaotic times as the governments were falling within a matter of weeks; powerful economies being surrendered to other countries and popes heading the army. The fifteenth century Italian writer’s greatest work changed and redefined the western political landscape and even affects us today. Machiavelli did not write The Prince as a work of literary function, even though it has since been largely discussed as such.