Giovanni II Bentivoglio

Born in Bologna, Giovanni II was the son of Annibale I Bentivoglio, then chief magistrate of the commune, and Donnina Visconti.

When Sante died in 1463, Giovanni II Bentivoglio successfully made himself lord of the commune, although it was nominally a fief of the church under a papal legate.

This sprung from the popular goodwill which the house of Bentivoglio enjoyed in those days in Bologna; which was so great that, although none remained there after the death of Annibale who were able to rule the state, the Bolognese, having information that there was one of the Bentivoglio family in Florence, who up to that time had been considered the son of a blacksmith [Sante], sent to Florence for him and gave him the government of their city, and it was ruled by him until Messer Giovanni came in due course to the government."

(The Prince, Chapter XIX) In order to secure the support of the other powerful families of Italy, Giovanni fought personally as condottiero.

In the same year he was made Capitano Generale (Chief of Staff) of the Milanese army, but this was an almost honorific position as Giovanni left the command duties to his sons.

When the papal troops, along with a contingent sent by Louis XII of France, marched against Bologna, Bentivoglio and his family fled.

Giovanni II Bentivoglio ruled with a stern sway for nearly half a century,[1] maintaining a splendid court and beautifying Bologna, in particular developing its waterways.

These frescoes were painted by artists living in the city at the time: Francesco Francia, Lorenzo Costa the Elder and Amico Aspertini.

It is unknown how many children she had, but 3 of them are known: Through Isabel and Carlos, Camilla and her father Giovanni are ancestors of Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg and his first cousin, King Philippe of Belgium.