Giovanni Bentivoglio, whom I refer to in my book as Lord Giovanni, was the ruler of Bologna during ther period in which Hand of Silver, Hand of Gold, is set. He was the son of Annibale, Chief Magistrate of Bologna and de facto ruler, who was murdered when Giovanni was only an infant. It appears that the Bentivoglio family was well liked in Bologna, because a distant family member, Sante, was given control of the city, and when Giovanni was only twenty, Sante died, and Giovanni took the reins, with the blessing of the pope (at that time, Paul II). Giovanni secured the support of other powerful families in Italy by fighting as a condottiero (leader of a mercenary army) for Milan, Naples, and Florence, as well as suppressing uprisings closer to home. He ruled Bologna for four decades, greatly enriching the city through trade, commissioning numerous works of art, and expanding the city's canals. The poor, however, did not benefit much from his rule. Nonetheless, he was, if not loved, then respected by his people. In my story, Pope Alexander VI attempts to seize control of the city from Lord Giovanni - I'll leave you to read the book and discover what happens!