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Authors: Elizabeth Lev
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a number of plausible excuses for the wait. In one letter to the countess, he expressed concern for her health and offered an alternative means by which the young couple could be reunited. "The extreme heat which has arrived early this year and the natural bad air [malaria] in Rome,... and the suspicion of plague" made it unwise to bring the "beloved" Caterina to Rome. As she had grown up in the "good air" of Milan, she would not be used to hot Roman summers. The pope feared that her voyage to Rome would end in people saying that he "had brought her here to kill her," and he suggested that she remain in Imola until the cooler season began in September. The wily pontiff also appealed to the countess's love of glamour and pageantry, pointing out that because it was so soon after her father's death, he would not be able to put on a lavish reception for her at this time, out of respect for the memory of the fallen duke. To relieve Caterina's worries about her husband's absence, the pope offered to send Girolamo to Imola at the beginning of June. 6
The pontiff's missive expressed a view of marriage more romantic than that of Girolamo. He too had sent a letterânot to Caterina, but to Bona and the child duke Gian Galeazzoâtwo days after Caterina's arrival in Imola. He too cited the poor health conditions of Rome as the reason to delay Caterina's journey, but he made only the most perfunctory allusions to his love for his wife and his recognition of her merits.
But Caterina never saw either letter. Before they could arrive, she took the initiative and left Imola for the twelve-day journey to Rome. Each night, the huge entourage was feted as it stopped along the route, until May 24, when she finally arrived at Castel Novo fourteen miles from the city.
The news of the imminent arrival of the countess galvanized the papal court. Courtiers were summoned, gifts were prepared, and grand halls decorated to pay homage to the union of the Sforza and Riario lines. The next morning, Caterina embarked on the last leg of the journey into Rome. At seven miles from the city gates, the Milanesi were met by a large party of horsemen arrayed in black silk and velvet, despite the hot May sun. As the elegant coterie grew nearer, the standard of the Riario rose came into view. After four years, the bride and groom would finally set eyes on each other once more. Onlookers were delighted to see that when the count and countess descended from their horses, they "took each other by the hand and kissed and embraced." 7 Caterina must have seemed much changed to Girolamo, who had last seen her as the ten-year-old hastily packaged for his bed in 1473.
Girolamo, now thirty-four, was aging fast. Ill health, a self-indulgent lifestyle, and several sleepless nights due to the conspiracies against his life made the count seem even more sallow. But Caterina evinced only delight at being reunited with her husband as they moved out of the blazing sunshine into a grove of shady trees, where Girolamo presented his Roman escort to the Milanese envoys. Numerous soldiers accompanied Girolamo, but Caterina, unaware of the plots against her husband, would have taken their presence as an indication of his powerful position rather than protection against assassins.
After traveling a few miles farther, the princely cavalcade stopped for a lunch arranged by the Riario clan, and after the hottest hours of the day had passed, they continued toward Rome. More and more city notables appeared to greet the papal favorite and his wife as they approached. The prefect, or mayor, of Rome, Leonardo Riario, another papal nephew, met them at the three-mile point. Shortly thereafter, when they crossed the last bridge, the Ponte Molle, to enter the city, they were joined by members of the papal court. The coterie of dignitaries grew, numbering among them cardinals and ambassadors, and the enormous train made its way up the Monte Mario, a high hill just north of Rome, boasting a
The pontiff's missive expressed a view of marriage more romantic than that of Girolamo. He too had sent a letterânot to Caterina, but to Bona and the child duke Gian Galeazzoâtwo days after Caterina's arrival in Imola. He too cited the poor health conditions of Rome as the reason to delay Caterina's journey, but he made only the most perfunctory allusions to his love for his wife and his recognition of her merits.
But Caterina never saw either letter. Before they could arrive, she took the initiative and left Imola for the twelve-day journey to Rome. Each night, the huge entourage was feted as it stopped along the route, until May 24, when she finally arrived at Castel Novo fourteen miles from the city.
The news of the imminent arrival of the countess galvanized the papal court. Courtiers were summoned, gifts were prepared, and grand halls decorated to pay homage to the union of the Sforza and Riario lines. The next morning, Caterina embarked on the last leg of the journey into Rome. At seven miles from the city gates, the Milanesi were met by a large party of horsemen arrayed in black silk and velvet, despite the hot May sun. As the elegant coterie grew nearer, the standard of the Riario rose came into view. After four years, the bride and groom would finally set eyes on each other once more. Onlookers were delighted to see that when the count and countess descended from their horses, they "took each other by the hand and kissed and embraced." 7 Caterina must have seemed much changed to Girolamo, who had last seen her as the ten-year-old hastily packaged for his bed in 1473.
Girolamo, now thirty-four, was aging fast. Ill health, a self-indulgent lifestyle, and several sleepless nights due to the conspiracies against his life made the count seem even more sallow. But Caterina evinced only delight at being reunited with her husband as they moved out of the blazing sunshine into a grove of shady trees, where Girolamo presented his Roman escort to the Milanese envoys. Numerous soldiers accompanied Girolamo, but Caterina, unaware of the plots against her husband, would have taken their presence as an indication of his powerful position rather than protection against assassins.
After traveling a few miles farther, the princely cavalcade stopped for a lunch arranged by the Riario clan, and after the hottest hours of the day had passed, they continued toward Rome. More and more city notables appeared to greet the papal favorite and his wife as they approached. The prefect, or mayor, of Rome, Leonardo Riario, another papal nephew, met them at the three-mile point. Shortly thereafter, when they crossed the last bridge, the Ponte Molle, to enter the city, they were joined by members of the papal court. The coterie of dignitaries grew, numbering among them cardinals and ambassadors, and the enormous train made its way up the Monte Mario, a high hill just north of Rome, boasting a
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