Character guide

Titus Livius

major

Also known as Livius

Roman historian whose work is the primary source for Machiavelli's Discourses.

Hannibal

supporting

Carthaginian general who invaded Italy and is frequently cited as a military exemplar.

Appius Claudius

supporting

Also known as Appius

Roman decemvir whose tyranny led to the death of Virginia.

Valerius Corvinus

minor

Also known as Valerius

Roman consul and general known for his victory over the Gauls.

Fabius Maximus

supporting

Also known as Fabius, Maximus

Roman dictator who used delaying tactics against Hannibal.

Furius Camillus

supporting

Also known as Camillus

Roman general who saved Rome from the Gauls and reformed the army.

Piero Soderini

supporting

Also known as the Gonfalonier Piero Soderini

Florentine Gonfalonier whose indecisiveness is criticized by Machiavelli.

Scipio

supporting

Roman general who defeated Hannibal at Zama, often contrasted with Hannibal.

Caesar

supporting

Roman dictator whose rise to power is analyzed as a threat to republican liberty.

Manlius Capitolinus

minor

Also known as Manlius

Roman patrician who saved the Capitol but was later executed for ambition.

Manlius Torquatus

minor

Also known as Torquatus

Roman dictator known for executing his own son for disobeying orders.

Philip of Macedon

minor

Also known as Philip

King of Macedon and father of Alexander, used as an example of cunning.

Claudius Nero

minor

Also known as Nero

Roman consul who defeated Hasdrubal at the Metaurus River.

Titus Manlius

minor

Also known as Manlius

Roman consul who fought against the Latins and enforced strict discipline.

Pope Julius II

supporting

Also known as Pope Julius

Warrior pope who expanded papal territories through military campaigns.

Romulus

supporting

Founder and first king of Rome, exemplar of necessary violence in state-building.

Tarquin

minor

Also known as the younger Tarquin, Tarquin the Proud

Last king of Rome whose tyranny led to the establishment of the Republic.

Alexander the Great

minor

Also known as Alexander

Macedonian conqueror whose empire-building is compared to Roman methods.

Decius

minor

Also known as Publius Decius

Roman consul who sacrificed himself in battle to secure victory.

Agis

minor

Spartan king who attempted reform and was executed, discussed in political context.

Brutus

supporting

Also known as Junius Brutus

Founder of the Roman Republic who executed his own sons for conspiracy.

Numa

minor

Also known as Numa Pompilius

Second king of Rome who established religious institutions and laws.

Girolamo Savonarola

supporting

Also known as the Friar Girolamo Savonarola

Florentine friar and reformer whose prophecies and downfall are analyzed.

Cosimo de' Medici

minor

Also known as the Medici, Cosimo

Founder of the Medici political dynasty in Florence.

Antonio Giacomini

minor

Also known as Antonio

Florentine military commander who failed to capture Pisa.

Lucius Quintius Cincinnatus

minor

Also known as Quintius, Cincinnatus

Roman dictator who left his farm to save Rome and returned to farming.

Tullus Hostilius

minor

Also known as Tullus

Third king of Rome known for his warlike nature and destruction of Alba.

Giovanpagolo Baglioni

minor

Also known as the Baglioni

Perugian tyrant who failed to kill Pope Julius II when he had the chance.

Cyrus

minor

Founder of the Persian Empire, used as an example of virtuous princely conduct.

M. de Foix

minor

Also known as de Foix

French commander who fought in Italy during the Italian Wars.

Giulio Belanti

minor

Also known as Giulio

Sienese nobleman involved in political conspiracies.

Selim

minor

Also known as Selim the Grand Turk, the Turk

Ottoman sultan who conquered Egypt and is cited as a modern tyrant.

Marius

minor

Also known as Caius Marius

Roman general and consul whose military reforms and civil strife are discussed.

Piso

minor

Roman praetor whose conspiracy against Nero is mentioned.

Solon

minor

Also known as Solon the Athenian

Athenian lawgiver whose reforms are compared to Roman institutions.

Titus Quintius Flamininus

minor

Also known as Titus Quintius, Quintius

Roman general who defeated Philip V of Macedon and proclaimed Greek freedom.

Coriolanus

minor

Roman patrician who turned against Rome after being exiled.

Crassus

minor

Roman general and triumvir who died fighting the Parthians.

Alfonso del Mutolo

minor

Also known as Alfonso

Italian captain whose actions are cited as an example of military prudence.

Scaevinus

minor

Roman senator involved in the Pisonian conspiracy against Nero.

Moses

minor

Biblical prophet and lawgiver, used as an example of a founder of a state.

Papirius Cursor

minor

Also known as Papirius

Roman dictator known for his harsh discipline and military success.

David

minor

Biblical king of Israel, cited as an example of a ruler who rose from humble origins.

Horatius Cocles

minor

Also known as Horatius

Roman hero who single-handedly defended a bridge against the Etruscans.

Claudius Pontius

minor

Also known as Pontius

Samnite general who defeated the Romans at the Caudine Forks.

Spurius Papirius

minor

Also known as Papirius

Roman censor known for his strict moral reforms.

Spurius Posthumius

minor

Also known as Posthumius

Roman consul who surrendered to the Samnites at the Caudine Forks.

Pope Alexander VI

minor

Also known as Alexander, VI

Borgia pope whose corrupt and ambitious rule is discussed.

Hanno

minor

Also known as Hanno the Carthaginian

Carthaginian statesman who opposed Hannibal's war with Rome.

Plautianus

minor

Also known as Saturninus

Roman praetorian prefect under Septimius Severus, later executed.

Servius Tullius

minor

Also known as Servius, Tullius

Sixth king of Rome who reformed the Roman constitution and army.

Marcus Antonius

minor

Also known as Antonius

Roman general and triumvir whose civil war against Octavian is noted.

Xenophon

minor

Greek historian and philosopher whose works on leadership are cited.

Perseus

minor

Also known as Perseus the Macedonian

Last king of Macedon, defeated by the Romans at Pydna.

Lycurgus

minor

Spartan lawgiver whose constitution is praised by Machiavelli.

Clearchus

minor

Also known as the despots Clearchus

Spartan general and tyrant of Heraclea, killed by conspirators.

Antonius Primus

minor

Also known as Antonius

Roman general who fought for Vespasian in the Year of the Four Emperors.

Il Carmagnola

minor

Also known as Carmagnola

Italian condottiero who was executed by the Venetians for suspected treachery.

Pandolfo Petrucci

minor

Also known as Pandolfo

Ruler of Siena known for his cunning and political manipulation.

Caracalla

minor

Also known as The Emperor Caracalla

Roman emperor known for his cruelty and the murder of his brother Geta.

Marcus Menenius

minor

Also known as Menenius, Marcus

Roman consul who negotiated with the plebeians during the secession.

Francesco Valori

minor

Florentine statesman and supporter of Savonarola, later killed by a mob.

Messer Giovanni Guicciardini

minor

Also known as Messer Giovanni

Florentine diplomat and historian, contemporary of Machiavelli.

Catiline

minor

Roman conspirator whose failed rebellion against the Republic is discussed.

King Ferrando

minor

Also known as Ferrando

King of Naples whose political actions are analyzed.

Marcus Fabius

minor

Also known as Fabius

Roman consul who fought against the Veientines.

Calippus

minor

Syracusan who betrayed and killed his friend Dion.

Cornelius Tacitus

minor

Also known as Tacitus, Cornelius

Roman historian whose works on the emperors are cited by Machiavelli.

Themistocles

minor

Athenian general who built the navy and defeated the Persians at Salamis.

Pyrrhus

minor

King of Epirus who fought the Romans with costly victories.

Ottaviano Fregoso

minor

Also known as Ottaviano

Doge of Genoa and condottiero during the Italian Wars.

Pausanias

minor

Spartan general who defeated the Persians at Plataea but later turned traitor.

Hippias

minor

Athenian tyrant whose expulsion led to the establishment of democracy.

Varro

minor

Roman consul defeated by Hannibal at Cannae, criticized for rashness.

King Louis XII

minor

Also known as Louis, Louis XII, King Louis of France

French king who invaded Italy and is analyzed for his political mistakes.

Nicias

minor

Athenian general whose cautiousness led to disaster in Sicily.

Lorenzo de' Medici

minor

Also known as the Medici, Lorenzo

Florentine ruler targeted in the Pazzi conspiracy.

Demetrius

minor

Macedonian king and general, son of Antigonus, known for sieges.

Antaeus

minor

Mythological giant who drew strength from the earth, defeated by Hercules.