Machiavelli's 'The Prince' was actually a failed job application

Niccolò Machiavelli will always be synonymous with political intrigue, scheming and the incestuous Borgia dynasty. And whilst we now revere Machiavelli as the father of modern political science, it seems that this was not always the case.

He was once an out-of-luck jobseeker, looking to land his next major role. And his most famous work, The Prince, was actually an unsuccessful job application to a potential employer.