actually believes the idea of fortune that he propounds. He writes that he judges it might be true
so that our free will not be eliminated. He even admits that he is somewhat inclined to the view
that human beings have recourse to no remedy at all, and that they should let themselves be
governed by chance. The possibility remains open, then, that he believes fortune to govern much
more than half our lives.
The case of Cesare Borgia provides an interesting discussion of this point. Machiavelli’s
infamous praise for Borgia as an example to be imitated by other princes has done little to
absolve him from the charge that he is a teacher of evil. Yet it is necessary to consider more than
the sinister acts that Borgia commits to truly understand Machiavelli’s praise of him. The first
important fact is the placement of Borgia within The Prince. Borgia is praised in chapter VII,
entitled ‘Of New Principalities That Are Acquired through Others’ Arms and Fortune.’ This
comes directly after a chapter entitled ‘ Of New Principalities That Are Acquired through One’s
Own Arms and Virtue.’ Now it is clear from a reading of The Prince that Machiavelli reserves
his highest praise for princes who acquire their principalities through virtue, and heaps nothing
but scorn on the idea of using the arms of others. From the start, then, Machiavelli’s praise of
Borgia can only be a second-best form of praise. Indeed, he does not praise Borgia as a prince
worthy to be imitated by all other princes. Instead, he writes “it seems to me that he should be
put forward, as I have done, to be imitated by all those who have risen to empire through fortune
and by the arms of others.”
Borgia is one of the prime examples of a prince who acquired his principality through
fortune, and like most princes who acquire power in this method he also lost his principality
through fortune.
The situation is most interesting in Borgia’s case, however, because of the
great virtù that Borgia possessed, and for which Machiavelli bestows praise upon him. Though
49
Ibid, pg. 32. (Italics are my own)
50
It should be recalled that in the play Nicia also gains and loses what he has through fortune.
29
Convention