I assume the second name there is Machiavelli, author of the Prince? Don't mean to sound demeaning, just checking.

Quentin Skinner, in his Visions of Politics volume III, wrote about Hobbes' Leviathan and its place in the political context of the time and in terms of theoretical legitimisation of government and therefore the extent to which the government can exercise power, you get the feeling that Hobbes was very important.

To explain why, you have to consider the political atmosphere of England in 1651. A nation who has always been ruled by a king has recently seen regicide and power has been replaced by an authority which, by all rights, has no divine authority. Unlike the anointed king, whose coronation gave him mandate to rule, Parliament has just taken over. Charles I's son was defeated in battle and most Royalist factions have been quelled. There is no other legitimate option for government.

Hence, there began something which is called the 'Engagement Controversy' - in essence, this allowed Parliament to justify its rule. Where does Leviathan come into this? According to Skinner, it summarises secular arguments for Parliament's rule and provides deductive proof of why the people must accept it.

Later in his life, perhaps in a mood of narcissism, Hobbes claimed that there was not a member of the gentry i.e. government that had not read Leviathan.

I'm not sure about Machiavelli, but I hope this helps.