Rodrigo de Borja (1431-1503) was born into a Spanish noble family in Aragon. He moved to Italy where the Borgia family enjoyed great success - Rodrigo's uncle was made bishop of Valencia. Uncle Alonso became the first Borgia Pope Callixtus III in 1455, ensuring nephew Rodrigo worked his way up through bishoprics. In 1456 Alonso promptly made his young nephew a cardinal.
So how did a man who openly made a fortune out of his family connections in the papacy, and who openly fathered 3 children early on, bribe his way through the entire college of cardinals! Later his loved mistress Vanozza dei Cattanei had four more children with Rodrigo.
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But again, the Borgias found they no longer needed the Sforzas! The Pope wanted advantageous political alliances, so Giovanni had to go. The Pope decided to have Lucrezia's marriage annulled but young Sforza was forced to signed a confession of impotence and annulment. In revenge, he blackened his former wife's name so her much loved second husband was strangled by Cesare’s men.
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So how did a man who openly made a fortune out of his family connections in the papacy, and who openly fathered 3 children early on, bribe his way through the entire college of cardinals! Later his loved mistress Vanozza dei Cattanei had four more children with Rodrigo.
The second Borgia pope, Pope Alexander VI
In 1492 Pope Innocent VIII died, leaving disorder and insolvency. Our Borgia man was elected the next pope, Pope Alexander VI (1492-1503). He may have risen to St Peter's throne by dubious means, but Alexander VI did have some important achievements. To make Rome a fitting centre of world Christendom, he became a princely patron of architecture and monuments.
Nepotism was already common in the papacy; after all, a pope could trust his own family marginally more than strangers. But the Borgias raised nepotism to NEW heights. His children did very well: Juan (1474-97) was made a Duke and married into the King of Castille's family; teenage Cesare (1475-1507) was given the Spanish Archbishopric of Valenza; Lucrezia (1480-1519) was regent whenever the Pope left Rome; and Joffre (1482-1517) was married to a Neapolitan princess.
In 1497, Juan Borgia rode to the Vatican with his brother Cesare, but was never seen alive again. The weeping pope called his beloved Juan “the centre for his dynastic hopes”, but Cesare denied killing his brother.
Renaissance Italy was made up of city states, most at risk of invasion. In 1499, Cesare led a force of foreign and papal troops into Italy. Cesare was sent by his father as a delegate to papal cities, to return law and order to large parts of Italy. This more military role suited Cesare perfectly, so in 1498, he gave up his cardinal's hat and became a French Duke. France was allying itself to the papacy, a link the Borgias wanted to foster.
Lucrezia was well-educated in Latin, Greek, Italian, French, music and poetry. But Renaissance women had to be obedient to their fathers and then their husbands. Even those who were heiresses saw their estates given over to their husband's control. The Borgias were determined to arrange a marriage for Lucrezia that would further their territorial interests. Her first proxy wedding at 13 was to some Spanish grandee. But when that political alliance no longer served a purpose, Pope Alexander dissolved the union and married her off to more important families.
Nepotism was already common in the papacy; after all, a pope could trust his own family marginally more than strangers. But the Borgias raised nepotism to NEW heights. His children did very well: Juan (1474-97) was made a Duke and married into the King of Castille's family; teenage Cesare (1475-1507) was given the Spanish Archbishopric of Valenza; Lucrezia (1480-1519) was regent whenever the Pope left Rome; and Joffre (1482-1517) was married to a Neapolitan princess.
In 1497, Juan Borgia rode to the Vatican with his brother Cesare, but was never seen alive again. The weeping pope called his beloved Juan “the centre for his dynastic hopes”, but Cesare denied killing his brother.
Renaissance Italy was made up of city states, most at risk of invasion. In 1499, Cesare led a force of foreign and papal troops into Italy. Cesare was sent by his father as a delegate to papal cities, to return law and order to large parts of Italy. This more military role suited Cesare perfectly, so in 1498, he gave up his cardinal's hat and became a French Duke. France was allying itself to the papacy, a link the Borgias wanted to foster.
Lucrezia was well-educated in Latin, Greek, Italian, French, music and poetry. But Renaissance women had to be obedient to their fathers and then their husbands. Even those who were heiresses saw their estates given over to their husband's control. The Borgias were determined to arrange a marriage for Lucrezia that would further their territorial interests. Her first proxy wedding at 13 was to some Spanish grandee. But when that political alliance no longer served a purpose, Pope Alexander dissolved the union and married her off to more important families.
In 1493 she married Giovanni Sforza, nephew of the powerful Duke of Milan. Their wedding was a splendid, lavish wedding at the Vatican Palace. Surprisingly this turned out to be a very good marriage.
But again, the Borgias found they no longer needed the Sforzas! The Pope wanted advantageous political alliances, so Giovanni had to go. The Pope decided to have Lucrezia's marriage annulled but young Sforza was forced to signed a confession of impotence and annulment. In revenge, he blackened his former wife's name so her much loved second husband was strangled by Cesare’s men.
Portrait of Lucrezia Borgia
painted by Bartolomeo Veneziano, c1500
Lucrezia's next marriage (in 1498) was to Duke Alfonso of Aragon, son of King of Naples. This was another political arrangement as her papal father needed to ally himself with Naples. Luckily Alfonso and Lucrezia fell in love.
Now married to the King of Navarre’s sister, Cesare had just allied himself with the King Louis XII of France. King Louis was planning another invasion of Italy, to reclaim his inheritance of Milan and Naples, and needed Cesare. Town after town fell to Cesare in the 1490s.
Later in 1502, the bride was married off again. Her third husband was Alfonso d'Este, son of Duke of Ferrara, an Italian family with a superior lineage to the Borgias. Alas Ercole d'Este had impoverished his duchy by providing huge dowries to his daughters Isabella and Beatrice d'Este, as well as building extensive architecture. So the Pope persisted, giving the d'Este family a HUGE dowry. Within 2 years of her marriage to Alfonso d’Este, Lucrezia’s father died. Cesare was arrested, fled Rome in 1507 and died in a Spanish war at 31 .. or was murdered.
Lucrezia flourished in her Ferrara court. As a patron of artists, musical and literary men, she loved poet-scholar Pietro Bembo and painter Dosso Dossi most. And the relatives Francesco Gonzaga and Isabella d'Este of Ferrara gave her great praise for her virtue and charity. How amazing! This was the antithesis of her scandalous reputation! However after a long history of complicated pregnancies, Lucrezia died birthing her 10th child in 1519, at 39.
Strangely Niccolo Machiavelli wrote in his book The Prince that Cesare was the model statesman for Italy. He was most impressed with Cesare's superb library, patronage of artists and invitations to scholars to live in the court. Once Cesare’s conquest of central and northern Italy was complete, he imposed good government on the captured cities. Machiavelli said that Borgia’s rule was the best Italy had seen for ages. Banditry ended, taxation was balanced and roads were improved. But remember he had the total backing of his father, the Pope, and his monarch King Louis XII of France.
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Despite Lucrezia's superb library, patronage and invitations to scholars to live in the court, women of significance were always judged more harshly than men when they deviated from their path. But mainly it was because other famous papal dynasties eg the Medicis& Farneses, behaved in much the same way as the Borgias – all promoted undeserving sons and nephews, most ignored celibacy and all were accused by their enemies of nasty crimes. However the Borgias were foreign and, unlike the local dynasties, had no descendants to reinvent their historical image. Poor Lucrezia.
Lucretia Borgia According to Original Documents and Correspondence of Her Day was written by Ferdinand Gregorovius and first published in 1874. Now on Kindle.
Later in 1502, the bride was married off again. Her third husband was Alfonso d'Este, son of Duke of Ferrara, an Italian family with a superior lineage to the Borgias. Alas Ercole d'Este had impoverished his duchy by providing huge dowries to his daughters Isabella and Beatrice d'Este, as well as building extensive architecture. So the Pope persisted, giving the d'Este family a HUGE dowry. Within 2 years of her marriage to Alfonso d’Este, Lucrezia’s father died. Cesare was arrested, fled Rome in 1507 and died in a Spanish war at 31 .. or was murdered.
Lucrezia flourished in her Ferrara court. As a patron of artists, musical and literary men, she loved poet-scholar Pietro Bembo and painter Dosso Dossi most. And the relatives Francesco Gonzaga and Isabella d'Este of Ferrara gave her great praise for her virtue and charity. How amazing! This was the antithesis of her scandalous reputation! However after a long history of complicated pregnancies, Lucrezia died birthing her 10th child in 1519, at 39.
Strangely Niccolo Machiavelli wrote in his book The Prince that Cesare was the model statesman for Italy. He was most impressed with Cesare's superb library, patronage of artists and invitations to scholars to live in the court. Once Cesare’s conquest of central and northern Italy was complete, he imposed good government on the captured cities. Machiavelli said that Borgia’s rule was the best Italy had seen for ages. Banditry ended, taxation was balanced and roads were improved. But remember he had the total backing of his father, the Pope, and his monarch King Louis XII of France.
The Este Castle, Ferrara,
the amazing home of Lucrezia Borgia
Even more strangely Lucrezia Borgia supposedly poisoned her lovers via a ring in her bedroom, slept with her brother and had a baby with her father. Being a woman, she was a particular target for every sexist historian, politician and cleric, becoming the dumping ground for the criticisms that would have otherwise been directed at the men.
Despite Lucrezia's superb library, patronage and invitations to scholars to live in the court, women of significance were always judged more harshly than men when they deviated from their path. But mainly it was because other famous papal dynasties eg the Medicis& Farneses, behaved in much the same way as the Borgias – all promoted undeserving sons and nephews, most ignored celibacy and all were accused by their enemies of nasty crimes. However the Borgias were foreign and, unlike the local dynasties, had no descendants to reinvent their historical image. Poor Lucrezia.
Lucretia Borgia According to Original Documents and Correspondence of Her Day was written by Ferdinand Gregorovius and first published in 1874. Now on Kindle.