Professor Stephen Milner of the United Kingdom has apparently discovered a 500-year-old arrest warrant issued for none other than Niccolo Machiavelli, the Renaissance political author, who some scholars believe had a major influence on the political thinking of the Founding Fathers of the U.S.
Milner found the document by accident while researching the proclamations issued by town criers in Florence,
reports The Telegraph.
"When I saw it I knew exactly what it was and it was pretty exciting," said Milner. "When you realize this document marked the fall from grace of one the world's most influential political writers, it's quite a feeling,” he explained.
The proclamation, which was issued in 1513, called for Machiavelli’s arrest and led to his downfall and death, the newspaper reported.
Machiavelli is best known for his book, “The Prince.”
"The Prince is a seminal work, with a lasting influence on political thought and culture. The term 'Machiavellian' and the naming of the Devil as 'Old Nick' all derive from this single work, but the circumstances of its composition have often been overlooked."
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