Machiavellianism

Machiavellianism is "the employment of cunning and duplicity in statecraft or in general conduct". The word comes from the Italian Renaissance diplomat and writer Niccolò Machiavelli, who wrote Il Principe (The Prince), among other works.

In modern psychology, Machiavellianism is one of the dark triad personalities, characterized by a duplicitous interpersonal style, a cynical disregard for morality and a focus on self-interest and personal gain.

Political thought

In the 16th century, immediately following the publication of The Prince, Machiavellianism was seen as a foreign plague infecting northern European politics, originating in Italy, and having first infected France. It was in this context that the St. Bartholomew's Day massacre of 1572 in Paris came to be seen as a product of Machiavellianism, a view greatly influenced by the Huguenot Innocent Gentillet, who published his Discours contre Machievel in 1576, which was printed in ten editions in three languages over the next four years. Gentillet held, quite wrongly according to Sydney Anglo, that Machiavelli's "books [were] held most dear and precious by our Italian and Italionized [sic] courtiers" in France (in the words of his first English translation), and so (in Anglo's paraphrase) "at the root of France's present degradation, which has culminated not only in the St Bartholemew massacre but the glee of its perverted admirers". In fact there is little trace of Machiavelli in French writings before the massacre, not that politicians telegraph their intentions in writing, until Gentillet's own book, but this concept was seized upon by many contemporaries, and played a crucial part in setting the long-lasting popular concept of Machiavellianism.

Machiavellian (horse)

Machiavellian (January 31, 1987 – June 27, 2004) was an American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a racing career which lasted from August 1989 to August 1990 he ran seven times and won four races. He was the leading French two-year-old of 1989 when he was unbeaten in three races including the Group One Prix Morny and Prix de la Salamandre. He later became a highly successful sire of winners.

Background

Machiavellian was a bay horse sired by the outstanding American stallion Mr Prospector. Machiavellian's dam Coup de Folie produced several important winners including Coup de Genie (Prix Morny), Exit To Nowhere (Prix Jacques le Marois) and Hydro Calido (Prix d'Astarte).

Racing career

Machiavellian began his racing career by winning the Prix Yacowlef at Deauville on 3 August 1989. Seventeen days later he was moved up to Group One level to contest the Prix Morny over the same course and distance. Ridden by Freddy Head, he won by two lengths from Qirmazi. Three weeks later he was moved up in distance for the Prix de la Salamandre at Longchamp Racecourse over 1400m. He won the race by half a length from Qirmazi.