It is hardly to be supposed that an Italian condottiere of twenty-seven years, engrossed with the actualities of life, fascinated by a dream of vast power, could take very much interest in the arts. Although Michael Angelo, Garofalo, Bramante, and Antonio di Sangallo were in Rome at this time, the efforts of Caesar’s eulogists to find in this, and other similar circumstances, enhanced glory for the young adventurer should not be taken too seriously.
He undoubtedly had relations with Leonardo da Vinci, as he availed himself of the artist’s services as an engineer in remodelling certain fortresses and designing machines of war. Vasari says that Pietro di Cosimo, the Florentine artist, who died in 1521, painted many portraits of distinguished persons in Rome, “including those of Virginio Orsini, and Roberto Sanseverino, and also that of the Duke Valentino, son of Pope Alexander VI., which portrait is now lost as I know, although the artist’s preliminary sketch is in the possession of Cosimo Bartoli.”[22]
Murder of Alfonso of Naples, Duke of Bisceglia--The second campaign in Romagna--Pesaro surrenders--Caesar’s private life--Pandolfaccio Malatesta gives up Rimini--Astorre Manfredi--Faenza’s brave resistance--The Pope threatens Bologna--Faenza surrenders-- Caesar returns to Rome--Astorre Manfredi flung into prison-- Giovanni Bentivoglio--Giuliano and Piero de’ Medici--Caesar’s agreement with Florence--Piombino invested--Caesar returns to Rome--Coalition of the Pope and the King of France for the destruction of the House of Naples--Yves d’Allegre comes to Rome-- Berault Stuart, Commander of the French Army, enters the city.
Alexander VI. nearly lost his life in an accident which occurred in the Vatican, June 27, 1500, when the ceiling of a room fell down and he was buried in the rubbish, from which, however, he was finally extricated, having received only a few scratches. His escape, according to his Holiness, was due to the Blessed Virgin Mary; solemn thanks were therefore rendered her July 2nd. She, however, did not interfere about two weeks after Alexander’s providential escape to prevent the brutal murder of Lucretia Borgia’s second husband, Alfonso of Naples, Duke of Bisceglia.