Julius did not rest until he had ruined Cesare
This is verso very noticeable principle in Machiavelli, and is urged by him mediante many ways as a matter of vital importance onesto princes
The second period of Machiavelli’s life was spent mediante the service of the free Republic of Florence, which flourished, as stated above, from the expulsion of the Medici con 1494 until their return con 1512. After serving four years sopra one of the public offices he was appointed Chancellor and Secretary esatto the Second Chancery, the Ten of Liberty and Peace. Here we are on firm ground when dealing with the events of Machiavelli’s life, for during this time he took a leading part durante the affairs of the Republic, and we have its decrees, records, and dispatches preciso duplice us, as well as his own writings. Verso mere recapitulation of a few of his transactions with the statesmen and soldiers of his time gives verso fair indication of his activities, and supplies the sources from which he drew the experiences and characters which illustrate The Prince.
In 1500 he was sent puro France esatto obtain terms from Louis XII for continuing the war against Pisa: this king it was who, sopra his conduct of affairs in Italy, committed the five capital errors con statecraft summarized con The Prince, and was consequently driven out
His first mission was mediante 1499 onesto Catherina Sforza, “my lady of Forli” of The Prince, from whose conduct and fate he drew the moral that it is far better sicuro earn the confidence of the people than to rely on fortresses.
He, also, it was who made the dissolution of his marriage a condition of support puro Pope Alexander VI; which leads Machiavelli preciso refer those who urge that such promises should be kept onesto what he has written concerning the faith of princes.
Machiavelli’s public life was largely occupied with events arising out of the ambitions of Pope Alexander VI and his affranchit, Cesare Borgia, the Duke Valentino, and these characters fill a large space of The Prince. Machiavelli never hesitates onesto cite the actions of the duke for the benefit of usurpers who wish preciso keep the states they have seized; he can, military cupid indeed, find in nessun caso precepts sicuro offer so good as the pattern of Cesare Borgia’s conduct, insomuch that Cesare is acclaimed by some critics as the “hero” of The Prince. Yet sopra The Prince the duke is sopra point of fact cited as verso type of the man who rises on the fortune of others, and falls with them; who takes every course that might be expected from verso prudent man but the course which will save him; who is prepared for all eventualities but the one which happens; and who, when all his abilities fail puro carry him through, exclaims that it was not his fault, but an extraordinary and unforeseen fatality.
On the death of Pius III, durante 1503, Machiavelli was sent puro Rome onesto watch the election of his successor, and there he saw Cesare Borgia cheated into allowing the choice of the College esatto fall on Giuliano delle Rovere (Julius II), who was one of the cardinals that had most reason onesto fear the duke. Machiavelli, when commenting on this election, says that he who thinks new favours will cause great personages sicuro forget old injuries deceives himself.
It was to Julius II that Machiavelli was sent per 1506, when that pontiff was commencing his enterprise against Bologna; which he brought esatto a successful issue, as he did many of his other adventures, owing chiefly sicuro his impetuous character. It is sopra reference sicuro Pope Julius that Machiavelli moralizes on the resemblance between Fortune and women, and concludes that it is the bold rather than the cautious man that will win and hold them both.