The Family - Mario Puzo [171]
Cardinal Giuliano della Rovere could not be stopped. Since the last conclave, he had become the overwhelming favorite. No serious rival was even discussed. As the day of the election approached, the banks immediately made della Rovere an even-money bet. Soon the odds shifted more dramatically, making him an even heavier favorite at one to two. Cesare knew he must accept this defeat and marshal all his forces if he was to withstand this staggering blow.
And so it was that Cesare Borgia met with Giuliano della Rovere and struck a bargain, using the threat of his influence over the Spanish and French cardinals and the strength of Castel Sant’ Angelo to extract the compromise he desired.
Cesare offered to support della Rovere in the elections, on the condition that he be allowed to keep his castles and towns in the Romagna. He also insisted on being designated as gonfaloniere of the church, and captain general of the papal army.
To be certain that the cardinal would honor his promises, Cesare insisted that a public announcement be made. Della Rovere agreed, for he wanted nothing to stop this election.
Now, with Cesare’s support, della Rovere was chosen in the fastest election anyone could remember—on the first scrutiny, the moment the doors of the conclave were closed.
Cardinal della Rovere, like Cesare, idolized Julius Caesar. Therefore, as a name he chose Pope Julius II. Good Lord, how long he had waited for this miracle to happen; how many visions he’d had for the reform of the Holy Mother Church.
Though Pope Julius was not a young man he was still physically strong, and now that he was in the position he felt he should be, he seemed less sullen and angry. Ironically, his plan for the Papal States was very much like Alexander’s and Cesare’s, which was to unify all the territories and bring them under a centralized government. The only difference, of course, was that his plan made no provision for a Borgia rule.
When Julius took the throne, he was undecided as to how he would deal with Cesare. It was not that he was concerned about keeping his word, for that was of little consequence to him. But Julius understood that he needed to concentrate his power and position, and ward off his enemies.
At this time he feared the Venetians as much as he feared Borgia power, and he knew that Cesare could be a strong ally against Venetian expansion in the Romagna. Since he knew that he might need Cesare, Julius ensured that relations between the two men—who had spent their lives as enemies—appeared friendly.
Meanwhile, Cesare was seeking to strengthen his own position. He stayed in close touch with all the captains of his remaining castles and towns, assuring them that his position was a strong one, despite the longtime malice of the new Pope. To strengthen his position, Cesare contacted his friend Machiavelli, seeking aid from Florence.
The two men met on a brisk December day in the gardens of the Belvedere, overlooking the spires and towers of Rome. They walked through the rows of tall cedars and sat on a worn stone bench, the vast view of the city spread out below them. The wind had swept away the smoke and dust, and the terra-cotta and marble buildings seemed to have been cut and placed against the clear blue sky.
Machiavelli noticed that Cesare was agitated as he spoke, his cheeks red and his lips tight. He was gesturing broadly, and as he spoke his laughter came a bit too often and too loudly. Machiavelli wondered if he might still be feverish.
“You see all that out there, Nicco?” Cesare said, waving his arm. “That was the city of the Borgia once. And it will be again, I promise you. Reclaiming fallen fortresses will be no more difficult than claiming them in the first place. Defending the ones I have kept will be no problem at all. My commanders are strong now, and loyal. The people support them, and I am raising a new force, including both foreign mercenaries and Val di Lamone infantry.
“Once my position in the