Prologue: One whom all did fear

Part one. Alonso, from out of nowhere

A most improbable Pope

Background: The road to Rome

Surprises, disappointments, hope

Background: Il Regno-The kingdom

Pope and king, friends no more

Background: Amazing Italy

Family matters

Background: The men in the red hats

The end of the beginning

Part two. Rodrigo, a long apprenticeship

Surviving

Background: The Eternal City, eternally reborn

Pius II : Troubles rumored and real

Background: Il Papa

Paul II : The poisoned chalice

Background: The inextinguishable evil-heads

Sixtus IV : Disturbing the peace

Background: War, Italian style

Innocent VIII : Plumbing the depths

Part Three. Alexander, Pope at last

The best man for the job

Background: Madness and Milan

The coming of the French

Background: The paternity question : an "apology"

The French depart

Background: Florence : an anti-renaissance

A shattering loss

Background: The young ones

Valentino

Part four. Cesare, Caesar or nothing

The landscape changes

Background: Venice, serene no more

Conqueror

Background: The angel's castle

"Longing for greatness and renown"

Background: The newest profession

Settling scores

Background: The great discoveries

Man of destiny

Background: Superstitions : Another side of the Renaissance

Alone

Aftermath

Examining old assumptions.

Prologue: One Whom All Did Fear

Part One. Alonso, From Out of Nowhere

A Most Improbable Pope

Background: The Road to Rome

Surprises, Disappointments, Hope

Background: Il Regno-The Kingdom

Pope and King, Friends No More

Background: Amazing Italy

Family Matters

Background: The Men in the Red Hats

The End of the Beginning

Part Two. Rodrigo, A Long Apprenticeship

Surviving

Background: The Eternal City, Eternally Reborn

Pius II : Troubles Rumored and Real

Background: Il Papa

Paul II : The Poisoned Chalice

Background: The Inextinguishable Evil-Heads

Sixtus IV : Disturbing the Peace

Background: War, Italian Style

Innocent VIII : Plumbing the Depths

Part Three. Alexander, Pope At Last

The Best Man for the Job

Background: Madness and Milan

The Coming of the French

Background: The Paternity Question : An "Apology"

The French Depart

Background: Florence : An Anti-Renaissance

A Shattering Loss

Background: The Young Ones

Valentino

Part Four. Cesare, Caesar or Nothing

The Landscape Changes

Background: Venice, Serene No More

Conqueror

Background: The Angel's Castle

"Longing for Greatness and Renown"

Background: The Newest Profession

Settling Scores

Background: The Great Discoveries

Man of Destiny

Background: Superstitions : Another Side of the Renaissance

Alone

Aftermath

Examining Old Assumptions.