the assistance of the Emperor
Charles V., in the devastating war against the Turks in Hungary.

Created General and Marquis by the Emperor, the young commander returned
to Rome in 1537, and took up his position as the acknowledged head of
his family. He married Francesca, daughter of Bosso Sforza, heiress of
the Counts of Anguillaria. Three sons and a daughter were born to them.

Paolo Giordano, born 1539, was adopted by his maternal uncle, Carlo,
Cardinal Sforza da Santa Fiora, and became a protege of Paul IV.
Following his father's profession of arms, he saw military service in
Spain, but was recalled to Rome by the death of both his parents. On
succession to the family estates the Pope created the Lordship of
Bracciano a Duchy, and sent a message to Duke Cosimo, commending the
young soldier to his notice, and suggesting a matrimonial alliance with
one of his daughters.

Cosimo looked with favour upon the Pope's proposition, and asked the
young Duke to pay the Florentine Court a visit. The young people seemed
made for one another: he was handsome, brave and rich, she was
beautiful, talented, and lovable. Perhaps it was a case of love at first
sight, anyhow they were betrothed in 1555, with the proviso that the
nuptial knot should not be tied until Isabella had attained her
sixteenth year.

In due course the marriage-contract was drawn up, signed and sealed, but
it contained a condition which was as unnatural as it was impolitic.
Duke Cosimo insisted that his dearly-beloved daughter should make his
house her home for at least six months each year, and only pay
occasional visits to her husband's palace in Rome! Duke Paolo, quite
rightly, resented this questionable arrangement, and only agreed at last
on pressure from the Pope.

Whatever made Cosimo take such a weird course no one can really say,
although horrible rumours were indeed rife in Florence about the
relations between father and child! It was, however, a fatal bar to all
marital happiness, and led to the one and only possible
_denouement_--tragedy. Certainly the Duke bestowed upon the young couple
the splendid estate and villa of the Baroncelli, which had come into
his hands, and which he enlarged and surrounded with a park. He added a
munificent endowment and had the villa refurnished and redecorated
throughout, according to his son-in-law's wishes.

The marriage was celebrated on 3rd September 1558 in the private chapel
of the Pitti Palace,--a Saturda