Carlo became the most powerful of the three as the Pope's Cardinal-nephew, while Giovanni was put in command of the papal armies as Captain General of the Church.
After the Spanish recovered Paliano in 1558, Carlo unsuccessfully sued on Giovanni's behalf to King Philip II of Spain for the Duchy of Bari.
In one colourful incident, recorded by Venetian diplomats, the Duke was sent by his uncle to intercept two courtesans who had fled Rome in December 1558.
Carlo, as a cardinal, was strangled in the Castel San Angelo, while, two days later, Giovanni was beheaded at the Tor di Nona prison along with two companions.
His son, along with a cousin, was held hostage at the court of King Henry II of France as surety in diplomatic negotiations with Paul IV.