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Florentines； and the Florentines would have had no remedy had he
continued to prosper； as he was prospering the year that Alexander died；
for he had acquired so much power and reputation that he would have
stood by himself； and no longer have depended on the luck and the forces
of others； but solely on his own power and ability。
But Alexander died five years after he had first drawn the sword。 He
left the duke with the state of Romagna alone consolidated； with the
rest in the air； between two most powerful hostile armies； and sick unto
death。 Yet there were in the duke such boldness and ability； and he knew
so well how men are to be won or lost； and so firm were the foundations
which in so short a time he had laid； that if he had not had those
armies on his back； or if he had been in good health； he would have
overe all difficulties。 And it is seen that his foundations were
good； for the Romagna awaited him for more than a month。 In Rome；
although but half alive； he remained secure； and whilst the Baglioni；
the Vitelli； and the Orsini might e to Rome； they could not effect
anything against him。 If he could not have made Pope him whom he wished；
at least the one whom he did not wish would not have been elected。 But
if he had been in sound health at the death of Alexander； everything
would have been easy to him。 On the day that Julius II was elected； he
told me that he had thought of everything that might occur at the death
of his father； and had provided a remedy for all； except that he had
never anticipated that； when the death did happen； he himself would be
on the point to die。
When all the actions of the duke are recalled； I do not know how to
blame him； but rather it appears to me； as I have said； that I ought to
offer him for imitation to all those who； by the fortune or the arms of
others； are raised to government。 Because he； having a lofty spirit and
far…reaching aims； could not have regulated his conduct otherwise； and
only the shortness of the life of Alexander and his own sickness
frustrated his designs。 Therefore； he who considers it necessary to
secure himself in his new principality； to win friends； to overe
either by force or fraud； to make himself beloved and feared by the
people； to be followed and revered by the soldiers； to exterminate those
who have power or reason to hurt him； to change the old order of things
for new； to be severe and gracious； magnanimous and liberal； to destroy
a disloyal soldiery and to create new； to maintain friendship with kings
and princes in such a way that they must help him with zeal and offend
with caution； cannot find a more lively example than the actions of this
man。
Only can he be blamed for the election of Julius II； in whom he made a
bad choice； because； as is said； not being able to elect a Pope to his
own mind； he could have hindered any other from being elected Pope； and
he ought never to have consented to the election of any cardinal whom he
had injured or who had cause to fear him if they became pontiffs。 For
men injure either from fear or hatred。 Those whom he had injured；
amongst others； were San Pietro ad Vincula； Colonna； San Giorgio； and
Ascanio。 ＇1＇ Any one of the others； on being Pope； would have had to
fear him； Rouen and the Spaniards excepted； the latter from their
relationship and obligations； the former from his influence； the kingdom
of France having relations with him。 Therefore； above everything； the
duke ought to have created a Spaniard Pope； and； failing him； he ought
to have consented to Rouen and not San Pietro ad Vincula。 He who
believes that new benefits will cause great personages to forget old
injuries is deceived。 Therefore； the duke erred in his choice； and it
was the cause of his ultimate ruin。
1。 Julius II had been Cardinal of San Pietro ad Vincula； San Giorgio was
Raffaells Riaxis； and Ascanio was Cardinal Ascanio Sforza。
CHAPTER VIII
CONCERNING THOSE WHO HAVE OBTAINED A PRINCIPALITY BY WICKEDNESS
ALTHOUGH a prince may rise from a private station in two ways； neither
of which can be entirely attributed to fortune or genius； yet it is
manifest to me that I must not be silent on them； although one could be
more copiously treated when I discuss republics。 These methods are when；
either by some wicked or nefarious ways； one ascends to the
principality； or when by the favour of his fellow…citizens a private
person bees the prince of his country。 And speaking of the first
method； it will be illustrated by two examples one ancient； the other
modern and without entering further into the subject； I consider
these two examples will suffice those who may be pelled to follow
them。
Agathocles； the Sicilian； became King of Syracuse not only from a
private but from a low and abject position。 This man； the son of a
potter； through all the changes in his fortunes always led an infamous
life。 Nevertheless； he acpanied his infamies with so much ability of
mind and body that； having devoted himself to the military profession；
he rose through its ranks to be Praetor of Syracuse。 Being established
in that position； and having deliberately resolved to make himself
prince and to seize by violence； without obligation to others； that
which had been conceded to him by assent； he came to an understanding
for this purpose with Hamilcar； the Carthaginian； who； with his army；
was fighting in Sicily。 One morning he assembled the people and senate
of Syracuse； as if he had to discuss with them things relating to the
Republic； and at a given signal the soldiers killed all the senators and
the richest of the people； these dead； he seized and held the princedom
of that city without any civil motion。 And although he was twice
routed by the Carthaginians； and ultimately besieged； yet not only was
he able to defend his city； but leaving part of his men for its defence；
with the others he attacked Africa； and in a short time raised the siege
of Syracuse。 The Carthaginians； reduced to extreme necessity； were
pelled to e to terms with Agathocles； and； leaving Sicily to him；
had to be content with the possession of Africa。
Therefore； he who considers the actions and the genius of this man will
see nothing； or little； which can be attributed to fortune； inasmuch as
he attained pre…eminence； as is shown above； not by the favour of any
one； but step by step in the military profession； which steps were
gained with a thousand troubles and perils； and were afterwards boldly
held by him with many hazards and dangers。 Yet it cannot be called
talent to slay fellow…citizens； to deceive friends； to be without faith；
without mercy； without religion； such methods may gain empire； but not
glory。 Still； if the courage of Agathocles in entering into and
extricating himself from dangers be considered； together with his
greatness of mind in enduring overing hardships； it cannot be seen
why he should be esteemed less than the most notable captain。
Nevertheless； his barbarous cruelty and inhumanity with infinite
wickednesses do not permit him to be celebrated among the most excellent
men。 What he achieved cannot be attributed either to fortune or to
genius。
In our times； during the rule of Alexander VI； Oliverotto da Fermo；
having been left an orphan many years before； was brought up by his
maternal uncle； Giovanni Fogliani； and in the early days of his youth
sent to fight under Paolo Vitelli； that； being trained under his
discipline； he might attain some high position in the military
profession。 After Paolo died； he fought under his brother Vitellozzo；
and in a very short time； being endowed with wit and a vigorous body and
mind； he became the first man in his profession。 But it appearing to him
a paltry thing to serve under others； he resolved； with the aid of some
citizens of Fermo； to whom the slavery of their country was dearer than
its liberty； and with the help of the Vitelli； to seize Fermo。 So he
wrote to Giovanni Fogliani that； having been away from home for many
years； he wished to visit him and his city； and in some measure to look
into his patrimony； and although he had not laboured to acquire anything
except honour； yet； in order that the citizens should see he had not
spent his time in vain； he desired to e honourably； so would be
acpanied by one hundred horsemen； his friends and retainers； and he
entreated Giovanni to arrange that he should be received honourably by
the citizens of Fermo； all of which would be not only to his honour； but
also to that of Giovanni himself； who had brought him up。
Giovanni； therefore； did not fail in any attentions due to his nephew；
and he caused him to be honourably received by the Fermans； and he
lodged him in his own house； where； having passed some days； and having
arranged what was necessary for his wicked designs； Oliverotto gave a
solemn banquet to which he invited Giovanni Fogliani and the chiefs of
Fermo。 When the vian