To Guidobaldo's command was now entrusted the punitive expedition against the Orsini, and with him was to go the Duke of Gandia, ostensibly to share the leadership, in reality that, under so able a master, he might serve his apprenticeship to the trade of arms.
So on October 25 Giovanni Borgia was very solemnly created Gonfalonier of the Church and Captain-General of the pontifical troops.

On the same day the three standards were blessed in St.Peter's--one being the Papal Gonfalon bearing the arms of the Church and the other two the personal banners of Guidobaldo and Gandia.

The two condottieri attended the ceremony, arrayed in full armour, and received the white truncheons that were the emblems of their command.
On the following day the army set out, accompanied by the Cardinal de Luna as papal legate a latere, and within a month ten Orsini strongholds had surrendered.
So far all had been easy for the papal forces; but now the Orsini rallied in the last three fortresses that remained them--Bracciano, Trevignano, and Anguillara, and their resistance suddenly acquired a stubborn character, particularly that of Bracciano, which was captained by Bartolomeo d'Alviano, a clever, resourceful young soldier who was destined to go far.

Thus the campaign, so easily conducted at the outset, received a check which caused it to drag on into the winter.

And now the barons received further reinforcements.