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hold the cities both for his security and his glory； as also were those
emperors who； by the corruption of the soldiers； from being citizens
came to empire。 Such stand simply upon the goodwill and the fortune of
him who has elevated them two most inconstant and unstable things。
Neither have they the knowledge requisite for the position； because；
unless they are men of great worth and ability； it is not reasonable to
expect that they should know how to mand； having always lived in a
private condition； besides； they cannot hold it because they have not
forces which they can keep friendly and faithful。
States that rise unexpectedly； then； like all other things in nature
which are born and grow rapidly； cannot have their foundations and
relations with other states fixed in such a way that the first storm
will not overthrow them； unless； as is said； those who unexpectedly
bee princes are men of so much ability that they know they have to be
prepared at once to hold that which fortune has thrown into their laps；
and that those foundations； which others have laid before they became
princes； they must lay afterwards。
Concerning these two methods of rising to be a prince by ability or
fortune； I wish to adduce two examples within our own recollection； and
these are Francesco Sforza and Cesare Borgia。 Francesco； by proper means
and with great ability； from being a private person rose to be Duke of
Milan； and that which he had acquired with a thousand anxieties he kept
with little trouble。 On the other hand； Cesare Borgia； called by the
people Duke Valentino； acquired his state during the ascendancy of his
father； and on its decline he lost it； notwithstanding that he had taken
every measure and done all that ought to be done by a wise and able man
to fix firmly his roots in the states which the arms and fortunes of
others had bestowed on him。
Because； as is stated above； he who has not first laid his foundations
may be able with great ability to lay them afterwards； but they will be
laid with trouble to the architect and danger to the building。 If；
therefore； all the steps taken by the duke be considered； it will be
seen that he laid solid foundations for his future power； and I do not
consider it superfluous to discuss them； because I do not know what
better precepts to give a new prince than the example of his actions；
and if his dispositions were of no avail； that was not his fault； but
the extraordinary and extreme malignity of fortune。
Alexander VI； in wishing to aggrandize the duke； his son； had many
immediate and prospective difficulties。 Firstly； he did not see his way
to make him master of any state that was not a state of the Church； and
if he was willing to rob the Church he knew that the Duke of Milan and
the Venetians would not consent； because Faenza and Rimini were already
under the protection of the Venetians。 Besides this； he saw the arms of
Italy； especially those by which he might have been assisted； in hands
that would fear the aggrandizement of the Pope； namely； the Orsini and
the Colonna and their following。 It behoved him； therefore； to upset
this state of affairs and embroil the powers； so as to make himself
securely master of part of their states。 This was easy for him to do；
because he found the Venetians； moved by other reasons； inclined to
bring back the French into Italy； he would not only not oppose this； but
he would render it more easy by dissolving the former marriage of King
Louis。 Therefore the king came into Italy with the assistance of the
Venetians and the consent of Alexander。 He was no sooner in Milan than
the Pope had soldiers from him for the attempt on the Romagna； which
yielded to him on the reputation of the king。 The duke； therefore；
having acquired the Romagna and beaten the Colonna； while wishing to
hold that and to advance further； was hindered by two things： the one；
his forces did not appear loyal to him； the other； the goodwill of
France： that is to say； he feared that the forces of the Orsini； which
was using； would not stand to him； that not only might they hinder him
from winning more； but might themselves seize what he had won； and that
the King might also do the same。 Of the Orsini he had a warning when；
after taking Faenza and attacking Bologna； he saw them go very
unwillingly to that attack。 And as to the king； he learned his mind when
he himself； after taking the duchy of Urbino； attacked Tuscany； and the
king made him desist from that undertaking； hence the duke decided to
depend no more upon the arms and the luck of others。
For the first thing he weakened the Orsini and Colonna parties in Rome；
by gaining to himself all their adherents who were gentlemen； making
them his gentlemen； giving them good pay； and； according to their rank；
honouring them with office and mand in such a way that in a few
months all attachment to the factions was destroyed and turned entirely
to the duke。 After this he awaited an opportunity to crush the Orsini；
having scattered the adherents of the Colonna。 This came to him soon and
he used it well； for the Orsini； perceiving at length that the
aggrandizement of the duke and the Church was ruin to them； called a
meeting at Magione； in the territory of Perugia。 From this sprung the
rebellion at Urbino and the tumults in the Romagna； with endless dangers
to the duke； all of which he overcame with the help of the French。
Having restored his authority； not to leave it at risk by trusting
either to the French or other outside forces； he had recourse to his
wiles； and he knew so well how to conceal his mind that； by the
mediation of Signor Paolo ＇Orsini＇ whom the duke did not fail to
secure with all kinds of attention； giving him money； apparel； and
horses the Orsini were reconciled； so that their simplicity brought
them into his power at Sinigaglia。 Having exterminated the leaders； and
turned their partisans into his friends； the duke had laid sufficiently
good foundations to his power； having all the Romagna and the duchy of
Urbino； and the people now beginning to appreciate their prosperity； he
gained them all over to himself。 And as this point is worthy of notice；
and to be imitated by others； I am not willing to leave it out。
When the duke occupied the Romagna he found it under the rule of weak
masters； who rather plundered their subjects than ruled them； and gave
them more cause for disunion than for union； so that the country was
full of robbery； quarrels； and every kind of violence； and so； wishing
to bring back peace and obedience to authority； he considered it
necessary to give it a good governor。 Thereupon he promoted Messer
Ramiro d'Orco ＇de Lorqua＇； a swift and cruel man； to whom he gave the
fullest power。 This man in a short time restored peace and unity with
the greatest success。 Afterwards the duke considered that it was not
advisable to confer such excessive authority； for he had no doubt but
that he would bee odious；