Author’s Note

Although the Vatican Cameos, as I have described them, do not exist to the best of my knowledge, the sections of the book set in Renaissance Italy are loosely based on actual events.

There really was a “Ballet of Chestnuts,” which was presided over by Cesare Borgia and his father, Pope Alexander VI. Sometimes referred to as the Banquet of Chestnuts, an account of the fete is preserved in a Latin diary by Pope Alexander’s Master of Ceremonies Johann Burchard, which he titled Liber Notarum. However, in all fairness, the accuracy of his account has often been disputed.

Although Michelangelo and Leonardo were contemporaries and did know each other, to the best of my knowledge, they never collaborated on a project. However, they did compete against one another in 1503 when both were commissioned to paint frescoes for the new Palazzo Vecchio.

The character of Cardinal Giuliano della Rovere, who would become Pope Julius II also existed, as did Cardinal Giovanni de Medici, who ascended the Throne of St. Peter as Pope Leo X. The character of Salai is also well-documented as are his roles as Leonardo’s servant and erstwhile model.

Visitors to Rome may want to stop by the Capuchin Crypt, which is a fairly small space made up of several tiny chapels and located beneath the church of Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini on the Via Veneto.

Giovanni Giolitti also existed, and his stints in public office were marred by scandal and charges of corruption.

Finally, the Roman Question was settled in 1929 when the Lateran Treaty was approved by Pope Pius XI, King Victor Emmanuel III and Prime Minister Benito Mussolini. Under its terms, the Holy See acknowledged Italian sovereignty over the former Papal States while Italy agreed to recognize papal sovereignty over Vatican City.

The Holy See also revised its request for indemnity for the loss of the Papal States and of ecclesiastical property that had confiscated by the Italian State, settling for much less than would have been due to it under the Law of Guarantees.