Stendhal 
The Duchess of Palliano 

The Duchess of Palliano is a literary work written by Stendhal in 1838. The story is set in Rome between 1559 and 1561. Immediately after the election of Pope Paul IV (Gian Pietro Carafa) in 1555, arrived in Rome several members of the family Carafa; Pope encourages especially the children of his brother, the Count of Montorio: Don Giovanni becomes Duke of Paliano, Don Carlo is made a cardinal, Don Antonio is created Marquis of Montebello. The Pope entrusts them with the management of the state. The three brothers, however, will act as immoral and greedy despots…..