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What he achieved cannot be attributed either to fortune or

genius.

In our times, during the rule of Alexander the Sixth, Oliverotto

da Fermo, having been left an orphan many years before, was

brought up by his maternal uncle, Giovanni Fogliani, and in the

early days of his youth sent to fight under Pagolo Vitelli, that,

being trained under his discipline, he might attain some high

position in the military profession. After Pagolo died, he fought

under his brother Vitellozzo, and in a very short time, being

endowed with wit and a vigorous body and mind, he became the

first man in his profession. But it appearing a paltry thing to

serve under others, he resolved, with the aid of some citizens of

Fermo, to whom the slavery of their country was dearer than its

liberty, and with the help of the Vitelleschi, to seize Fermo.