Fortune and prowess are themes that run throughout Machiavelli’s the Prince . They are two elements which can contribute to the rise of a ruler and variably help maintain him in power; prowess in particular is believed necessary to remain in power. Both fortune and power are employed in the Prince as part of Machiavelli’s set of guidelines for rulers to reinforce their position. He particularly shows their importance and how they should be used in Chapters VI and VII, which furthermore clarify the relationship between both concepts. Prowess refers to the power of character whereas fortune refers to wealth. While these two concepts are to be variably found throughout the book, Machiavelli elaborates on them in Chapters VI and VII respectively. The Chapters define them but also the relationship among them. With regards prowess, Machiavelli seems to mean by it a combination of physical ability and mental dexterity of the ruler to impose himself and secure his rule. The idea of prowess physical ability or the use of force is brought home via a number of examples. In such sense, the lack of prowess is the reason why “all armed prophets have conquered, and unarmed prophets have come to grieve” (Machiavelli 21) and why in ancient such as rulers as Moses, Cyrus, Theseus, and Romulus have established long rules. Prowess, in its material meaning, is considered as necessary to the rise to power but foremost to the maintenance of the rule. As much as the ruler imposes respect to his persona via forcefulness as much there are chances for his rule to last for a long time. Prowess has also an abstract meaning to it; it is the ability to seize the opportunity to establish one’s rule. This is exemplified by Moses’, although upon a divine call, mobilizing the Jews at a time when they were living in servitude and oppression. Cyrus too had managed to rally the Persians at a time where they were antagonistic towards the then established rule. Theseus managed to rule over Athena because its people were non-grouped. As to Romulus, his initial departure from Alba where he was meant to die made him later the ruler of Rome. Hence, the four examples from history converge in their forceful set up of their rule but also in them coming at peculiar times or situation, in other words they were the right men at the right time. As to fortune, it refers to wealth. On this, Machiavelli acknowledges that it is a means to acquire a principality. Money helps bribing people, notably soldiers. Gradually, a private citizen might pay his way up to reach the position of a ruler. Money helps becoming a prince because of its power to corrupt. However, he is suspicious of how significant is fortune if used solely, with no sustain of power or ruling talent. He give examples on how if fortune can ‘buy’ off a principality, if alone, it cannot sustain it. Cesar Borgia acquired a state using the money handed down by his father. As soon as the money was gone, so was his rule. It is here where prowess comes to play. It is a must according to Machiavelli’s precepts, once a principality is acquired, notably via fortune, to be reinforced by the use of prowess. This is exemplified in Francesco Sforza, who was a private citizen, hence of good fortune, and managed to est