How Duke Valentino Killed The Generals Who Conspired Against Him

Excerpt from “The Essential Writings Of Machiavelli” “By the early 1500s, Cesare Borgia had become one of the most powerful men in Italy. Since his father had been elected to the pontificate in 1492 as Pope Alexander VI, Cesare Borgia had been made archbishop (at sixteen), cardinal (at seventeen), and finally Captain General of the …