- The Pope disarms King Charles by promising his support for his Neapolitan claims, and wishes to annul Lucrezia's marriage on grounds of her husband's impotency.
- The French army enters Rome but the Pope has a particular way of welcoming the King. Della Rovere's plan to depose the Pope faces a problem given that virtually all of the Cardinals have fled and only the College of Cardinals can remove him. The Pope's promise to recognize French sovereignty over the Kingdom of Naples seals a pact between the two. The King wants Cesare to accompany his army to Naples, effectively giving him a hostage. The Pope searches for a way of punishing the Cardinals who fled, wanting them to appear in sackcloth and ashes. He also makes them pay in another way. At Cesare's suggestion, Lucretia takes up residence in the same nunnery where Ursula Bonnadeo, now Sister Martha, has agreed to care for her. The Pope decides to do something about Lucrezia's marriage.—garykmcd
- The Borgias' position seems hopeless as defenseless Rome is almost deserted when king Charles's unstoppable army marches in. Instead of instantly deposing pope Alexander, who has exchanged his pompous dress for his mentor's monk's habit, the king requests a private audience. the men see eye to eye and agree that the pope stays on and solemnly invests Charles with the royal crowns of both France and Naples. Still, Charles demands no lesser hostage during his march to conquer Naples then 'papal legate' cardinal Cesare, who manages to escape with Micheletto. The French troops find Naples devastated by the plague. The pope meanwhile humiliates his coward cardinals and makes them donate (back) most of their fortunes. Traiutor Giovanni Sforza refuses to grant Lucrezia (whose pregnancy remains secret) a divorce, but ends up forced to admit 'impotence' during a most unsavory examination by the college of cardinals.—KGF Vissers
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