WSIM24B Chapter 18
Sorry for the delay (my fault this time). Family illness, travel... better now.
This next chapter is largely devoted to political intrigue and warfare. I apologize in advance if that's not to your liking. It also covers a larger time-span than previous chapters.
Gina began to relax a little more. Motherhood suited her, and little Maria Elise thrived. Gina herself began to trust in me a little more - specifically, that I wouldn't get her pregnant again. We still only made love every week or two, but she was more receptive to my advances.
Fiametta was happy if I visited her with the same frequency. Every time I saw her, she made it a memorable occasion. But that meant that the bulk of my free time was devoted to my wife. It had only taken me twelve years in the Sim to realize that marriage could be a wonderful state of affairs - and that I'd been a fool not to insist more strongly on Charlotte joining me in Italy years earlier.
The Pope and I studied maps, counted our money and our troops, and made plans for our coming campaign. I wasn't at all sure how we would co-exist in command roles, but it was, technically, his army and his money; it would be up to me to make adjustments.
Alberini provided us with all of the information we needed - and more. We had at least three options, all of which were specifically designed to surprise and confuse our enemies. My favourite plan, though, relied on some kind of pretext to make it work. And then the Fates conspired to create the perfect circumstances.
Ercole d'Este, Duke of Ferrara, died on the 25th of January, 1505. I was on my way by February 2nd, with Miguel and Vicente, the Ramires brothers, a hundred men-at-arms, and a hundred light cavalry. It was a bit large for an escort, but given the hostile territories we had to pass through, my caution was understandable. I went by way of Orvieto and Montepulciano to Florence, then north to Bologna and Ferrara. With the speed (and unexpectedness) of our movement, no one had time to organize a force to intercept or interfere with us, even if they had dared.
I arrived in time to present my condolences to the new duke, Alfonso (Lucrezia's husband) and to his sister Isabella (the wife of Francisco Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua - Lucrezia's former lover). Alfonso was honoured by my presence, and we shared a couple of brief conversations in which I made sure that he knew what side was better for him, and for Ferrara.
Gonzaga was civil, and Isabella seemed quite pleased to see me. Lucrezia, however, was openly delighted. She believed that I come, in large part, to see her. I did nothing to disabuse her of that notion. To my great relief, I discovered that her affair with Gonzaga had run its course.
- "It was only lust." she admitted. "Not love. Not like what you have. Charlotte is adorable."
- "She is."
***
You have to understand that I was something of a celebrity by this time. Alright, I was downright notorious; probably Public Enemy Number One for a significant portion of Italy. My dash to Ferrara, accompanied by 200 horse, had everyone talking.
It gave me an idea.
When I explained it to my boss, he laughed aloud.
- "I love it!"
Unfortunately, Church politics became complicated, and the Pope decided that he wanted a deeper war-chest before we did anything with the army. That ended up postponing our venture until next year.
Equally unfortunately, the Pope wanted me to remain in Rome. Having me by his side gave continuing proof of his magnanimity and generosity - the della Rovere Pope forgiving one of his worst enemies, a Borgia. It also showcased his cleverness and clear-headedness, as he made use of the talents of said former enemy.
It wasn't until the summer of 1506 that we were ready to move. On the 6th of July, I repeated my dash to Ferrara, with a hundred men-at-arms and a hundred more light cavalry. Alfonso d'Este had no idea what to make of my surprise visit (though Lucrezia was delighted).
That same day (the 6th), our artillery train left Rome, headed north for Terni. Three days later, Pope Julius II did the same, at the head of 300 men-at-arms, 200 light horse, and 3,500 infantry. It's only 175 kilometres from Rome to Perugia, which meant that by the time Gian Paolo Baglioni realized that the Papal army was on its way, he had less than a week. That wasn't enough time to organize a coalition, or even to communicate with all of the far-flung towns who might have considered supporting him.
Baglioni was no fool. Staying to face a siege was a losing proposition. But instead of fleeing, he and a group of his supporters went out to meet the Pope, caps in hand - and on their knees. They begged forgiveness, and mercy.
Had I been there (and Miguel, of course), Baglioni would never have dared to take this approach. He'd have known that he had a date with the garrote. He was the one major conspirator who had escaped Senigallia (unless you included Petrucci of Siena and the Bentivoglios of Bologna).
Julius forgave him, of course. With 25 Cardinals in attendance (he'd dragged them all the way from Rome), the Pope decided on a special display of magnificence and magnanimity. He received Perugia back into the bosom of the Church, assigned Gian Paolo Baglioni penance, and warned him that future transgressions would be harshly punished.
- "Do it again, and I'll hang you." said the Pope.
Now the Papal army was ideally placed. They could backtrack a bit, and strike east, to Camerino, where Baglioni had helped the Varano family return to power. From there, Julius could continue to Fermo, and seal off the southern flank of the Romagna.
Or he could march north, to Citta di Castello, which he did, covering 55 kilometres in three days. The remaining Vitellis had no interest in sharing the fate of Vitellozzo: they fled. Julius made a triumphant entry into the town.
Once again, the Pope was literally at a crossroads. He could move east, to Urbino. Whether he would attack, or negotiate passage with Guidobaldo de Montefeltro, was anyone's guess. Beyond Urbino, on the Adriatic coast, lay Pesaro and Fano. Or, the Papal army could continue north, to Cesena - and that was what they ended up doing.
My little force, in the meantime, had come back from Ferrara to Imola, where I collected another hundred horse, plus 400 foot from the Val di Lamone, thanks to Dionigi di Naldo and his brothers. Now Faenza and Forli were possibly threatened from two sides.
The Manfredis in Faenza had help from Venice; they prepared to face a siege. The Ordelaffis in Forli could feel the glares cast at them, almost as a palpable thing. My rule had been popular there, and most of the people were keen to have me back. The Ordelaffis lost their nerve, and fled.
In Rimini (according to Alberini), Pandolfo Malatesta
wanted
to flee, but the mercenaries he'd hired (paid for by the Venetians) kept him there as a virtual captive.
Forli was an open town, then. Everyone waited to see which way the Pope and I would turn: against Faenza, or towards Rimini? Given our limited manpower, it had to be one or the other - it couldn't be both.
In fact, it was neither. The Pope marched to Forli, where he detached a force to protect the town. He continued on to Faenza - and bypassed it. Now he picked up the pace. While the artillery, well-escorted, reached Imola, the bulk of the infantry and cavalry linked up with my force.
Now the Bentivoglios had to regret ever having surrendered Castel Bologna (which I had had razed). They had no bastion to block our advance, no forward scouts to detect our approach early. The Papal army was on Bologna's doorstep before they could prepare any effective defence. Giovanni Bentivoglio fled to Milan - an odd choice.
