How Machiavelli Became a Diplomat at 29 - Ada Palmer

Ada Palmer discusses Machiavelli's rapid rise to diplomatic prominence at age 29, attributing it to his early exposure to political upheaval and his skills as a bureaucrat. She explains that Machiavelli witnessed his country nearly collapse six times by age 12, which forced him to mature quickly and develop a deep understanding of political instability. Rather than being a ruler himself, Machiavelli served as a secretary and chief of staff - essentially functioning as connective tissue in a government system where ruling council members only served three-month terms. Palmer illustrates the practical challenges of this system by noting that it took two days to exchange letters with Milan, meaning officials would be out of office before completing basic diplomatic negotiations equivalent to four email exchanges. This created a critical need for a permanent bureaucratic layer to maintain continuity and institutional memory. Machiavelli excelled in this role, becoming so closely associated with leader Soderini that he was referred to as 'Soderini's lapdog,' indicating both his loyalty and his integral position within the Republican government structure.