The conspiracy of Caesar’s captains--Machiavelli and Valentino-- Vacillation of the conspirators--They offer to return to Caesar-- They again take heart--A reconciliation is effected--Caesar separates the conspirators--He enters into an alliance with Bentivoglio--The rebels return to Caesar--Paolo Orsini takes possession of Urbino in Caesar’s name--Execution of Don Remiro de Lorca--Caesar goes to Sinigaglia and meets his commanders-- The trap at Sinigaglia--Fate of the rebels--Caesar informs the Italian princes of his act--The Orsini and their adherents in Rome are seized--Cardinal Orsini’s palace is plundered--Fermo and Perugia surrender to Valentino--He puts Paolo and Francesco Orsini to death--Cardinal Orsini dies in prison--Caesar demands that the Sienese expel Pandolfo Petrucci--He ravages the country about Siena--Activity of the Orsini in the neighbourhood of Rome-- Caesar returns to Rome--He lays siege to Ceri--Contemporary opinions of the Pope and Caesar--Gonsalvo de Cordova in Naples-- The Pope and Caesar are stricken by the plague--Death of Alexander VI.--Rumours of poison--Caesar recovers--He takes possession of the dead Pope’s property. Caesar’s preparations for attacking Milan were the signal for the final rupture with his captains, who met at Todi, where they had concentrated their troops. Here they entered into a formal agreement to refuse to obey any of Caesar’s orders directed against their ally Giovanni Bentivoglio. The first meeting was held about the end of September, and a second one took place a little later at Magione, near Perugia. Those present were Ermes and Annibale Bentivoglio, Cardinal Orsini, the Duke of Gravina, two other members of the Orsini family, Guido Petrucci (who also represented Pandolfo Petrucci), and Gentile and Giampaolo Baglioni. Vitellozzo Vitelli, who was ill, had himself carried to the meeting on a litter. At this meeting of the conspirators it was resolved not only to refuse to attack Bentivoglio but also to take active steps against Caesar, their former commander.