Cesare Borgia captures, a very unprepared city of Urbino, on June 20, 1502 through deception and a lightning march, without a shot being fired. Cesare was subsequently named the Duke of Urbino. His swift victory was one of many "clever tactics" that famously inspired Niccolò Machiavelli.
The attack was a total surprise to Urbino. Cesare Borgia had requested permission from Guidobaldo da Montefeltro, the Duke of Urbino, to cross through Urbino's territory with his troops. He received the Duke's permission and went ahead with his surprise attack when he Duke was away.
