Fortuna and Virtù
The idea of virtù was an important one in Cesare's time and had great influence on him. Although related to the English concept of virtue, the two are not synonymous, although they do overlap. Virtù might be more accurately described as ability, although a certain level of morality was implicit as well. Fortune (unlike "virtue", the English translation of the term works fine) refers to the changing and unseen forces in the world that affect one's standing. Other terms that are occasionally substituted are "fate" and "chance".
Wikipedia describes virtù as the "martial spirit of a population or leader, but also encompasses a broader collection of traits necessary for maintenance of the state and 'the achievement of great things.'" It's actually not a bad stub, although I'm super iffy on anything Wiki says about history. I still love Wikipedia, though. This is roughly how Cesare's canon, which places so much emphasis on the concept, describes it as well. Virtù is typically just translated into English as "virtue", and in this sense Cesare (as a student and as an adult) would describe himself as being a virtuous man.
Canonically, Cesare displayed virtù when he arranged for the construction of the fabric factory that would simultaneously increase Florence's economic well-being, provide jobs for the poor in Pisa, and place the Medici family in a position of gratitude to him. It was a move that displayed his intelligence and far-seeing while at the same time provided for the welfare of the people and state. While he might have displayed the virtue of mercy, for example, more easily by donating a sum of money or establishing a charity for the poor, this would not have shown virtù since it would not have in the same way helped the state or shown his ability.
Fortune had been personified as a goddess in Europe before the Renaissance and was often portrayed with a wheel. By turning the wheel, Fortune raised and lowered man's lot in life, providing answers to questions such as "Why do bad things happen to good people?" During the Renaissance, however, the idea was increasingly put forth that Fortune was not a wheel but a ship. One's fortune could still change, just as a ship could be blown in different directions, but one now had some measure of control over it. Man was no longer strapped helplessly to the wheel, but at the helm of the ship where, if he was talented enough, he could keep from being blown off course. Or, as Ernst Cassirer puts it, "[virtù] means the strength of virility itself, the strength of the human will which becomes the tamer of destiny, the domitrice della fortuna”.
Historically, Cesare was credited with having the greatest of fortunes during his rise to power and Machiavelli said that it was only the abrupt reversal of this fortune that caused him to lose it. He was used as an example of how man needed to use virtù to tame and control his fortune and how, ultimately, there were limits on even the most talented of men.
Wikipedia describes virtù as the "martial spirit of a population or leader, but also encompasses a broader collection of traits necessary for maintenance of the state and 'the achievement of great things.'" It's actually not a bad stub, although I'm super iffy on anything Wiki says about history. I still love Wikipedia, though. This is roughly how Cesare's canon, which places so much emphasis on the concept, describes it as well. Virtù is typically just translated into English as "virtue", and in this sense Cesare (as a student and as an adult) would describe himself as being a virtuous man.
Canonically, Cesare displayed virtù when he arranged for the construction of the fabric factory that would simultaneously increase Florence's economic well-being, provide jobs for the poor in Pisa, and place the Medici family in a position of gratitude to him. It was a move that displayed his intelligence and far-seeing while at the same time provided for the welfare of the people and state. While he might have displayed the virtue of mercy, for example, more easily by donating a sum of money or establishing a charity for the poor, this would not have shown virtù since it would not have in the same way helped the state or shown his ability.
Fortune had been personified as a goddess in Europe before the Renaissance and was often portrayed with a wheel. By turning the wheel, Fortune raised and lowered man's lot in life, providing answers to questions such as "Why do bad things happen to good people?" During the Renaissance, however, the idea was increasingly put forth that Fortune was not a wheel but a ship. One's fortune could still change, just as a ship could be blown in different directions, but one now had some measure of control over it. Man was no longer strapped helplessly to the wheel, but at the helm of the ship where, if he was talented enough, he could keep from being blown off course. Or, as Ernst Cassirer puts it, "[virtù] means the strength of virility itself, the strength of the human will which becomes the tamer of destiny, the domitrice della fortuna”.
Historically, Cesare was credited with having the greatest of fortunes during his rise to power and Machiavelli said that it was only the abrupt reversal of this fortune that caused him to lose it. He was used as an example of how man needed to use virtù to tame and control his fortune and how, ultimately, there were limits on even the most talented of men.