Tired of seeing his native Florence being continuously overrun, Niccolo Machiavelli wrote a book to the city's new master, Lorenzo de'Medici, in 1513 C.E. Entitled The Prince, this book became the template for the running of a government ever since. In it, Machiavelli states that the only concern of a government is its survival. To that end, morals and beliefs have no bearing, except to be manipulated in order to achieve one's national goals. He also advocated a citizen militia, who would fight for purely patriotic reasons, not for simple pay or plunder. Despite the book's universal appeal to political leaders, Machiavelli has earned the posthumous reputation as an immoral man, whereas he was really just a patriot.
