His first mission was in 1499 to Catherina Sforza, "my lady of Forli" … — The Prince
SAPIR 861
His first mission was in 1499 to Catherina Sforza, "my lady of Forli" of "The Prince," from whose conduct and fate he drew the moral that it is far better to earn the confidence of the people than to rely on fortresses. This is a very noticeable principle in Machiavelli, and is urged by him in many ways as a matter of vital importance to princes.
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (WLC), CC BY 4.0