On Military Matters

Mithridates and the pirates Pompey the Great gained fame by defeating the Pontic King Mithridates VI and clearing the Mediterranean of pirates. made Pompey famous. Britain, Gaul, and Thessaly made Caesar famous. In the same way, divine signs have made you most well known and most celebrated throughout all the shores of Italy and through all foreign nations. This occurred when you stood as an undefeated Commander alongside Pope Eugenius Pope Eugenius IV, who reigned from 1431 to 1447., the greatest and most holy leader, defending his people against that truly excellent general Francesco Sforza Francesco Sforza was Sigismondo’s father-in-law and later the Duke of Milan. At this time, he was a powerful mercenary leader often at odds with the Papacy.. Sforza was your father-in-law and, at that time, a most powerful and fierce enemy of the Lord's flock. You stood against the Florentine and Venetian people, and in a short span of time—contrary to the general opinion of all—you raised the sacrosanct Church (which had been torn apart and oppressed by arms) to the highest peak of its dignity. You did this through divine inspiration, greatness of mind, and by your own leadership, counsel, and authority.

I believe that your previous military momentum and efforts—those which had been directed against these very same ecclesiastical banners, and against the illustrious Alfonso, King of Tarragona Alfonso V of Aragon, who was also King of Naples., and Filippo Maria Visconti The last Visconti Duke of Milan. of the Insubrians, and the most warlike Duke of the Ligurians The people of Genoa.—existed for no other reason than that your modesty had to be highlighted by the greatest force and the greatest crisis. It is just as the winds and rains make the calm of the sky more pleasant. Thus, to increase the height of your dignity before the Pope and all kinds of men, I believe that earlier tumult preceded this most spectacular triumph: for every mark of past shame you extinguished, just as many triumphal crowns might shine upon you.

Furthermore, it seemed most fitting that since I justly owe you everything and live under your command, I should dedicate my own talent to you—if indeed I have any talent above the rest. I hope that after my death I may one day pass to posterity not without glory, and continue to live. Even if I do not achieve that immortality which everyone seeks but few actually attain, I will nevertheless rejoice in your august and fatherly name. I have inscribed and consecrated this work on military matters original: "de re militari" to your name. Through you, I will obtain a lasting light and a certain eternal glory. Without you—who urged me to write for many reasons—I might perhaps have remained cast down in darkness.

Therefore, let this work be dedicated to your name alone. I pray you see what I promise myself regarding you. Your name will be read at the beginning of this book, and it is already proclaimed sublime and magnificent everywhere among the nations. Its presence will bring me the greatest splendor and grace. Everyone who receives this book will believe they are about to learn things that are neither small nor useless, because they will see and read your splendid, excellent, and illustrious name in the very first letters. Receive this, therefore, most clement and best...