Francesco Guicciardini

Since there is nothing so well worth having as friends, never lose a chance to make them.Guicciardini

Stateman, diplomat, humanist and historian Francesco Guicciardini (1483-1540) was born into his role. A member of one of Florence's great patrician families, he was the son of Piero Guicciardini, a student of Marsilio Ficino, who also became Francesco's godfather.

He studied law in Padua, and in 1508, when he married, began writing a history of his family and a History of Florence for his own pleasure. He soon attracted attention for his intelligence and judgement and was appointed by the Signoria to serve as an ambassador to the Court of Aragon in 1512— a great honour for one so young. It also helped Guicciardini's career that he was away from Florence when the Medici returned to power, and avoided the ostracism suffered by his friend Machiavelli.