The story in one page
A nobleman finds his ancestral lands seized and his status in tatters, prompting his return to Rome. Caught between the rising power of Cesare Borgia and the military ambitions of the French and Spanish, he navigates a landscape where allegiance shifts faster than a dice roll. Forced into espionage and dangerous rescues, he fights to liberate the noble Angiola from her captors. Amidst the political machinations of figures like Machiavelli, he manages to secure his family title and his marriage, eventually trading his sword for a quiet life in the Sabine Mountains.
Who's who
- Di Savelli
The exiled Roman noble who returns to reclaim his standing.
- Angiola
The woman held captive whom the protagonist attempts to rescue.
- Jacopo
The protagonist's talkative, sword-swinging esquire and loyal servant.
- Cesare Borgia
The ruthless power broker whose actions dominate Italian political life.
- Niccolo Machiavelli
A tactical advisor who assists the protagonist during political escapes.
What it's really about
- Restoration
- The drive to reclaim lost heritage and ancestral pride.
- Political Volatility
- The shifting, dangerous loyalties of Renaissance Italian statecraft.
Why it's memorable
- A mailed glove crashing onto the pavement to signal the start of war.
- A precious gold link from a bracelet serving as a token of devotion.
The ending, explained
Spoilers — show the ending
Di Savelli marries Angiola before the truce expires. King Louis grants him the county of Fresnoy in Guienne, while Pope Pius III confirms his title to his ancestral estates after he buys them back from Amilcar Chigi. Six years later, having lost his sword-arm at the storming of Santa Croce, he lives at his castle of Aquila in the Sabine Mountains. He avoids further military commands despite requests from the Holy League, spending his days hunting the stag in the Ciminian Forests or visiting the chateau of Bayard on the Garonne. He and Angiola reside there with their children, Ugo and Vittoria, as their servant Jacopo Jacopi remains on duty.
For your book club
- How well do the swordplay and political maneuvering balance?
- Is the protagonist's motivation rooted in duty or revenge?