The author had served in his native  Florence for 14 years as a diplomat, staunchly defending its elected  republican government against would-be monarchs.
마키아벨리는 외교관으로서 14년동안  고향인 플로렌스에서 일하며 왕좌를 탐내는 자들로부터 플로렌스의 공화정부를 지키려 헌신했지요.