Duke Guidobaldo was torn. When he had reached out to the Pope and Cesare to let them know of the anti-Papal coalition forged by Bologna, he had been invited to meet with Cesare and the Pope.

In many respects, it was exactly what he wanted. A chance to clear his name, to remove the scar that his deposition had left upon his soul.

Yet despite his anxiety and desire to reconcile, he was not witless. He had played politics before, had danced the political dance. He had fought as a condottiere, as his father had before him, including in the interests of the selfsame Pope that he now sought the good graces of. Yet legally speaking, the Pope had all but declared him a criminal, squatting upon rightful Papal territory. If he were to accept Cesare's invitation, as he wanted to, Rome might very well become a prison cell from which he may never escape.

A compromise was needed, one that would maximise his personal safety and steer the Pope towards making the correct decision.

Firstly, he set about hosting a meeting of the notables of Urbino, a small group comprising petty manorial lords and the sindaci, the mayors of the various communes which made up Urbino. There he introduced to them his nephew, Francesco Maria Delle Rovere, who he formally adopted as his heir in light of his own lack of issue.

Next, he established with them his intentions to go to Rome, to be formally reinstated as rightful Duke of Urbino. In his absence he would leave the state to the trusted care of his long time friend Tarquinio Uberti, who had served as a lieutenant under his command in Guidobaldo's days as a condottiere. In the meantime, the leadership of Urbino would muster their forces and prepare for war.

Were he to be detained in Rome, Tarquinio was under orders to align himself with Bologna and their anti-Papal coalition in order to secure the succession of his nephew as Duke.

Guidobaldo rather hoped that the alternative would play out, that the Pope would instead reinstate his position as Duke of Urbino. Were such a thing to come to pass, Guidobaldo would instead make his forces available to the Gonfalionier, Cesare Borgia.

But Rome had to come first.