The great Houses of Colonna and Orsini asserted independence in their principalities.

Bologna and Perugia pretended to republican government under the shadow of noble families; Bentivogli, Bracci, Baglioni.

Imola, Faenza, Forli, Rimini, Pesaro, Urbino, Camerino, Citta di Castello, obeyed the rule of tyrants, who were practically lords of these cities though they bore the titles of Papal vicars, and who maintained themselves in wealth and power by exercising the profession of _condottieri_.

It was the chief object of the Popes, after they were freed from the pressing perils of General Councils, and were once more settled in their capital and recognized as sovereigns by the European Powers, to subdue their vassals and consolidate their provinces into a homogeneous kingdom.

This plan was conceived and carried out by a succession of vigorous and unscrupulous Pontiffs--Sixtus IV., Alexander VI., Julius II., and Leo X .-- throughout the period of distracting foreign wars which agitated Italy.