The Life of Cesare Borgia (Esprios Classics)

Cesare Borgia (13 September 1475 - 12 March 1507) was an Italian and Aragonese politician and condottiero (mercenary leader) whose fight for power was a major inspiration for The Prince by Machiavelli. He was an illegitimate son of Pope Alexander VI. After initially entering the church and becoming a cardinal on his father's election to the Papacy, he became, after the death of his brother in 1498, the first person to resign a cardinalate.