In his little book "The Prince" Machiavelli's purpose was to describe what he thought was the ideal Prince . A sort of guide to be of use for rulers, dedicated to Lorenzo Il Magnifico of Florence. It's a pity that the definition for 'machiavellian' has become: Characterized by cunning, deception, and expediency.
Of the described qualities a good ruler should have the capital one one is 'virtue' ( virtu ), which means strenght, justness of descision and more.., other than the meaning we now give to the word. It's a very sympathetic and readable book in which he very clearly describes the needed components for a well ruled state.
( among which also cunning, deception and expediency)
At the same time it gives an interesting image of the contemporary ( High Renaissance ) political background situation; Kings, City States and Popes.

We had a thread on 'virtue', but I can't find it.