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IMOLA AND FORLI.
Between his departure from Milan and his arrival before Imola, where his campaign was to be inaugurated, Cesare paid a flying visit to Rome and his father, whom he had not seen for a full year.

He remained three days at the Vatican, mostly closeted with the Pope's Holiness.

At the end of that time he went north again to rejoin his army, which by now had been swelled by the forces that had joined it from Cesena, some Pontifical troops, and a condotta under Vitellozzo Vitelli.
The latter, who was Lord of Castello, had gone to Milan to seek justice at the hands of Louis XII against the Florentines, who had beheaded his brother Paolo--deservedly, for treason in the conduct of the war against Pisa.

This Vitellozzo was a valuable and experienced captain.