Oedipus Rex

Jeniffer Martinez

Description of the Methods Adopted by the Duke Valentino When Murdering Vitellozzo Vitelli,
Oliverotto da Fermo, the Signor Pagolo, and the Duke di Gravina Orsini.

As thetitle suggests, this report written by Machiavelli (secretary of the Florentines) narrates us through the process the Duke went through to get rid of Vitelli, Oliverotto, Pagolo and Orsini. It startswith telling use the Duke had to return from Lombardy after clearing himself with the King of France after he had tried to overtake the tyrant of Bologna, hearing of this Orsini and Vitelli fear thatthe Duke’s thirst for domination that he (had been given the chance to have overtaken the tyrant) would come and kill them in order to become the most powerful man in all of Italy. The duo (Orsini andVitelli) talked it amongst themselves and decided that it would be best to go against the Duke (since doing so bit curb his ambition) so they gathered common men together (from Urbino) and set out forthe Fortress of San Leo that was originally of/for the Duke. People heard of the rebellion from Urbino, so they thought, why not join in and take all the remaining lands that belong to the duke? Sothe “enemy” forces decided to ask for help from Florence, but out of hatred the Florentines denied them, instead the Florentines sent of Machiavelli to assist and shelter the Duke. Taking courage fromthe Florentines, the Duke decided to go against the duo to regain what was his, so he decided he would ask for soldiers from the King of France(because his men went away with enemy and try to make apeace treaty with the duo. With Vitelli and Orsini approaching fast and killing the troops sent their way, the Duke decided to step forward with his thought of reconciliation (but not before sending1000 French lancers throughout to every part of Romagna since he very well knew that with his troops he could overtake the duo and get his revenge) and came to an agreement to pay them, not ask for...