full armour, and received the white truncheons that
were the emblems of their command.

On the following day the army set out, accompanied by the Cardinal de
Luna as papal legate a latere, and within a month ten Orsini strongholds
had surrendered.

So far all had been easy for the papal forces; but now the Orsini
rallied in the last three fortresses that remained them--Bracciano,
Trevignano, and Anguillara, and their resistance suddenly acquired a
stubborn character, particularly that of Bracciano, which was captained
by Bartolomeo d'Alviano, a clever, resourceful young soldier who was
destined to go far. Thus the campaign, so easily conducted at the
outset, received a check which caused it to drag on into the winter. And
now the barons received further reinforcements. Vitellozzo Vitelli, the
Tyrant of Citta di Castello, came to the aid of the Orsini, as did also
the turbulent Baglioni of Perugia, the della Rovere in Rome, and all
those who were inimical to Alexander VI. On the other hand, however, the
barons Colonna and Savelli ranged themselves on the side of the Pope.

Already Trevignano had fallen, and the attack of the pontifical army
was concentrated upon Bracciano. Hard pressed, and with all supplies
cut off, Bartolomeo d'Alviano was driven to the very verge of surrender,
when over the hills came Carlo Orsini, with the men of Vitellozzo
Vitelli, to take the papal forces by surprise and put them to utter
rout. Guidobaldo was made prisoner, whilst the Duke of Gandia, Fabrizio
Colonna, and the papal legate narrowly escaped, and took shelter in
Ronciglione, the Pope's son being slightly wounded in the face.

It was a severe and sudden conclusion to a war that had begun under
such excellent auspices for the Pontificals. Yet, notwithstanding that
defeat, which had left guns and baggage in the hands of the enemy, the
Pope was the gainer by the campaign, having won eleven strongholds from
the Orsini in exchange for one battle lost.

The barons now prepared to push home their advantage and complete
the victory; but the Pope checkmated them by an appeal to Gonzalo de
Cordoba, who promptly responded and came with Prospero Colonna to the
aid of the Church. He laid siege to Ostia, which was being held for the
Cardinal della Rovere, and compelled it to a speedy surrender, thereby
bringing the Orsini resistance practically to an end. For the present
the might of the barons was broken, and they were forced to pay
Alexander