Essay 2 Rough Outline/draft/intro

Machiavelli begins defining virtue as being able to maintain a well driven military, in order to secure the prince's position of power. As evidence, he cites the example of Francesco Sforza and his sons. Francesco, being armed, emerged from a private man into becoming the Duke of Milan. His sons, fleeing the hardships of arms, from being dukes became private men (85). While it may be that having a good military can make you appear virtuous, it takes certain characteristics to be truly successful as the military one runs is only as strong as the leader. However, Machiavelli also introduces the notion that in order to be great, you must walk in the footsteps of “excellent men” (14.86). For the traits that have been attributed to these men have already proved to make them virtuous, even if they were only imitating the actions of another great leader (86). As an example, Machiavelli explains how Alexander the great imitated the likes of Achilles, Caesar and Cyrus (86). He also recalls that in the life of Scipio imitation brought him many virtuous traits such as chastity, affability, humanity and liberality. The reason Machiavelli describes virtue as the ability to combine both military and personality is that one without the other is useless. A prince should not make himself feared all throughout the land with the might of his military, he must proceed “in a manner tempered with prudence and humanity” (17.91) because with no confidence a mighty military is nothing, but cockiness could render him intolerable to his people (91). By taking steps that great men have already taken, it lets the leader cut out the “what works, what doesn't” when talking about ruling over others, for it has already been tested by other men and shown what appears to make men virtuous. With an example of Cesare Borgia, Machiavelli explains how a balance of virtue, along with a strong military can be used to secure one's position of power. Cesare Borgia was believed to be cruel, but with his cruelty he restored Romagna, unified it and led it back to a peaceful and productive state. The ability to drive a successful military ultimately means you have characteristics of leadership and virtue, because without it your military would fall apart.