Power in Perugia, following mutual atrocities by the Oddi and the Baglioni families, had at last concentrated in the Baglioni, who, though they have no legal position, defy all other authority.

The condottiero Gian Paolo Baglioni has fought mostly in Umbria, especially against the family rivals, the Oddi.

He had been hired in 1498 by Florence to hold minor operations in Umbria.

The bloody internal squabbles of the Baglioni culminate in a massacre, however, on July 14, 1500, in which Gian Paolo, now lord of Perugia, narrowly escapes an assassination attempt by Grifone and Carlo Baglioni.

Gian Paolo Baglioni, the son of Rodolfo Baglioni, lord of Perugia, had initially fought mostly in Umbria, especially against the family rivals, the Oddi.

He was hired by Florence in 1498 to hold minor operations in Umbria.

He had in July 1500 escaped an assassination attempt by Grifone and Carlo Baglioni.

He has since been at the service of the Papal States, fighting mostly along with Vitellozzo Vitelli until the latter’s murder in 1502.

Among his deeds of this period, is the cruel reconquest of Camerino, after the brief rule of Cesare Borgia, for the Da Varano family.

After a period of independence and ruthless actions, he submits in 1506 to Pope Julius II.

The Pope now moves north against Bologna, a main city of the Romagna.

Conflict between the pro-papal Guelphs and pro-imperial Ghibellines had divided Bologna and allowed domination by signori—the Pepoli, the Visconti of Milan, and the Bentivoglio—until Julius establishes papal rule in 1506.