Francesco Guicciardini jako historyk. Zarys problematyki badawczej

The starting point for consideration on the role of Francesco Guicciardini (1483-1540) as a historian is a reflection on his diplomatic career and political activity, firstly in Florence, then in Rome in the times of the Medici Popes. In this period, his contacts with Niccolò Machiavelli were very important. The political realism of the author of The Prince corre- sponded with the opinions contained in Guicciardini’s twenty-volume book La Historia d'Italia, especially with regard to the origins and history of the 16th century Italian Wars. When presenting a review of research on Guicciardini’s diplomatic and political activities, one cannot ignore publications related to the final phase of the history of the Florentine Republic and the return to power of the Medici, as well as the history of the province of the Papal States in the first half of the 16th century. On the other hand, the scientific bi- ographies of the author of La Historia d’Italia published during the 20th century and at the beginning of the 21st century have become the basis of the phenomenon known as riscoperta di Guicciardini. These interdisciplinary studies require combining technical skills in relation to the history of Italian states in the 15th and 16th centuries with competence in the field of research on the political thought and philosophy of the Renaissance era.