The Life of Castruccio Castracani of Lucca

Complete interlinked edition complemented by author biography.

Castruccio Castracani 1284-1328

"It appears, dearest Zanobi and Luigi, a wonderful thing to those who have
considered the matter, that all men, or the larger number of them, who have
performed great deeds in the world, and excelled all others in their day, have
had their birth and beginning in baseness and obscurity; or have been aggrieved
by Fortune in some outrageous way. They have either been exposed to the mercy of
wild beasts, or they have had so mean a parentage that in shame they have given
themselves out to be sons of Jove or of some other deity. It would be wearisome
to relate who these persons may have been because they are well known to
everybody, and, as such tales would not be particularly edifying to those who
read them, they are omitted. I believe that these lowly beginnings of great men
occur because Fortune is desirous of showing to the world that such men owe much
to her and little to wisdom, because she begins to show her hand when wisdom can
really take no part in their career: thus all success must be attributed to her.
Castruccio Castracani of Lucca was one of those men who did great deeds, if he
is measured by the times in which he lived and the city in which he was born;
but, like many others, he was neither fortunate nor distinguished in his birth,
as the course of this history will show. It appeared to be desirable to recall
his memory, because I have discerned in him such indications of valour and
fortune as should make him a great exemplar to men. I think also that I ought to
call your attention to his actions, because you of all men I know delight most
in noble deeds."

 - Excerpted from "The Life of Castruccio Castracani of Lucca "