Ermes was born in Bologna. In 1492 he was created knight by Ercole I d'Este and entered to the military service of the latter. Six years later, together with his father and brothers, he was made Imperial Knight by Emperor Maximilian I. He frequently fought alongside his elder brother Annibale. Ermes Bentivoglio was killed in 1513 by Prospero Colonna in the battle of Olmo, near Vicenza. According to other sources, he drowned in the Bacchiglione river during the retreat after the battle of Creazzo against the Spaniards.