# Bernardo del Nero — Romola character guide

> Bernardo del Nero in Romola by George Eliot.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Messer Bernardo del Nero, Bernardo, Messer Bernardo, del Nero, Nero

**First appearance:** 0007-v-the-blind-scholar-and-his-daughter

## Snapshot

An old Medicean statesman who loves Romola like a daughter and refuses, even under threat, to forsake the colours he has marched under all his life.

## Who they are

Bernardo del Nero is Romola's godfather, a veteran of Florentine politics whose loyalty to the Medici is a matter of honour rather than intrigue. When Romola comes to him with warnings she cannot fully explain, he receives her with tenderness but will not be moved from his course. His stubborn integrity — 'I never forsake my colours' — becomes the moral counterweight to Tito's flexibility, and his fate forces Romola to weigh faithfulness against survival.

## Relationships

### [Tito Melema](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romola_se/characters/tito_melema)

_rivalry_

Bernardo distrusts Tito and opposes his influence over Romola, seeing him as a threat.

### [Tito Melema](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romola_se/characters/tito_melema)

_rivalry_

Bernardo distrusts Tito and opposes his influence over Romola, seeing him as a threat.

### [Tito Melema](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romola_se/characters/tito_melema)

_rivalry_

Bernardo distrusts Tito and opposes his influence over Romola, seeing him as a threat.

## In the story

### [V: The Blind Scholar and His Daughter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romola_se/chapters/v-the-blind-scholar-and-his-daughter)

Mentioned by Bardo as a friend who reproaches him for not seeking a fitting marriage for Romola and who tells him that Romola is fair.

### [XII: The Prize Is Nearly Grasped](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romola_se/chapters/xii-the-prize-is-nearly-grasped)

Mentioned as having warned Bardo about a possible marriage and whose 'keen suspicion' Tito fears will be against him.

### [XIII: The Shadow of Nemesis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romola_se/chapters/xiii-the-shadow-of-nemesis)

Bernardo del Nero is present in the scene, observing Tito's behavior with contempt, viewing his courtly gestures as those of a 'fawning Greek'.

### [XIX: The Old Man’s Hope](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romola_se/chapters/xix-the-old-man-s-hope)

Reluctantly impressed by Tito's success; advises on financial matters and expresses a subtle caution about Tito's nature.

### [XX: The Day of the Betrothal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romola_se/chapters/xx-the-day-of-the-betrothal)

Walks as vanguard in the procession and gives Romola a pearl band as a gift.

### [XXVII: The Young Wife](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romola_se/chapters/xxvii-the-young-wife)

Advanced money to secure Bardo's library from creditors, accepting a lien on the collection as security.

### [XXXI: Fruit Is Seed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romola_se/chapters/xxxi-fruit-is-seed)

Bernardo visits Romola, bringing news of the French departure and sharing memories of Bardo. He reassures Romola about the future and shows his affection.

### [XXXII: A Revelation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romola_se/chapters/xxxii-a-revelation)

Romola considers going to her godfather for help, but Tito argues that Bernardo cannot reverse the sale.

### [XXXVII: The Tabernacle Unlocked](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romola_se/chapters/xxxvii-the-tabernacle-unlocked)

Romola writes to her godfather, asking him to protect her memory and to receive her bridal chest.

### [XLV: At the Barber's Shop](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romola_se/chapters/xlv-at-the-barber-s-shop)

One of the Ten, admires Tito's diplomatic skill but harbors distrust and dislike for him, especially after the library sale.

### [A Prophetess](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romola_se/chapters/lii-a-prophetess)

Elected Gonfaloniere, Bernardo is the focus of Romola's affection and concern, as she fears he may be involved in a Medici plot.

### [The Evening and the Morning](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romola_se/chapters/liv-the-evening-and-the-morning)

Received Romola's warning but dismissed it, determined to stay loyal to his colors.

### [LVII: Why Tito Was Safe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romola_se/chapters/lvii-why-tito-was-safe)

Target of Valori's animosity; his guilt is to be emphasized in the plot, though he only refrained from betraying it.

### [LIX: Pleading](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romola_se/chapters/lix-pleading)

Romola's godfather, one of the five condemned men. He is the central subject of Romola's plea, as she argues for his life based on his honesty and the injustice of his condemnation.

### [LX: The Scaffold](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romola_se/chapters/lx-the-scaffold)

Ascends the scaffold with a slow, firm step, declaring that his fellow-citizens have taken only a short space of his life, and shares a final farewell with Romola.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romola_se/characters/bernardo_del_nero
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romola_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romola_se/characters