Ovid and Dante in Machiavelli

In this article, I propose a fresh reading of Niccolò Machiavelli’s work. I am interested in how his views and writings were influenced by the works of the two poets he loved and emulated a lot (if not the most); Dante and Ovid. I first examine Machiavelli’s literary culture and his relationship to the Classical tradition. I then discuss the reception of Ovid in the Middle Ages and in Dante, and then in Machiavelli, as I finally look at the relationship of the author of The Prince and The Discourses to his great Florentine predecessor. In doing so, I will try to show that this particular poetic tradition inspires and guides not only Machiavelli’s lesser-known poetic works, but also his famous and highly influential writings.