The Art of War

Niccolò Machiavelli (1469–1527) was an Italian thinker, philosopher, writer, and political figure—he held the post of secretary of the second chancellery in Florence, was responsible for diplomatic relations of the republic, and authored military-theoretical works. He supported strong state power, and for strengthening it he allowed the use of any means, which he expressed in his famous work “The Prince,” published in 1532.

“The Art of War” is the author’s only political work published during his lifetime. With great depth and the skill characteristic of Machiavelli, the author analyzes the military art of his time, determining the developmental paths it should follow in the future. Knowledge of history, excellent orientation in political matters, and deep understanding of purely military affairs allow Machiavelli to raise a number of very interesting questions about the organization and application of armed forces—not only within the time period he lived in, but also beyond it, under new state formations and with different technical means. This work was recommended as a textbook for the Russian army.