Includes bibliographical references and index.

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.