Giovanni Bentivoglio , Lord of Bologna by Ercole Roberti c 1480 Giovanni II Bentivoglio (February 12, 1443 - February 15, 1508) was an Italian nobleman who ruled as tyrant of Bologna from 1463 until 1506. He had no formal position, but held power as the city's "first citizen." The Bentivoglio family ruled over Bologna from 1443, and repeatedly attempted to consolidate their hold of the Signoria of the city.