Usi politici di Machiavelli nella pubblicistica tra prima e seconda Restaurazione (1814-1816)

The paper focuses on the various uses of Machiavelli’s figure and thought in one of the most turbulent periods of French History: from the Bourbon dynasty’s first return to the throne in April 1814, to the dissolution of “Chambre Introuvable” in September 1816. Over a period of thirty months both opponents and apologists of 1789 principles use Machiavelli's name to justify their own political stances: for the Liberals the Secretary himself has no relation with Machiavellism; for the Ultraroyalistes he becomes symbol of a politics ruthless, like Bonaparte's authoritarianism or Jacobins’ Terror, but at the same time they use his figure to demand the elimination of their enemies and to praise the ancient French monarchy. In short, Machiavelli is a weapon used either to try and save the Revolution and to try and delete twenty-five years of history.