Francesco Guicciardini

Francesco Guicciardini (1483-1540), Italian historian and statesman, born in Florence and educated at the universities of Ferrara and Padua. He studied law and in 1506 became professor of law in Florence. Six years later he was sent to the court of Spain as Florentine ambassador. In 1515 he entered the service of Pope Leo X, and became governor of the Papal States of Reggio and Modena; Parma was added to his domain in 1521. Pope Clement VII appointed him vice-regent of Romagna in 1523 and lieutenant general of the papal army in 1526. Guicciardini governed Bologna from 1531 to 1534, when he entered the service of the Medici family.

A cynical mercenary, Guicciardini is known to have hated bitterly the despotic princes whom he served. He spent his last years writing The History of Italy (posthumously pub. 1561-64; trans. 1579), one of the greatest historical works of the 16th century. This book is remarkable because of its critical use of sources, and because it treats Italy as a whole rather than as a group of separate sovereignties.