He was an aggressive and calculating italian military leader, illegitimate son of pope alexander vi, and brother of lucrezia borgia, gioffre borgia and giovanni borgia. She had three political marriages, arranged for her familys advantage, and likely had several adulterous alliances. The painting represents the popular view of the treacherous nature of the borgias the implication being that the young man cannot be sure that the wine is not poisoned. Aug 08, 2017 perhaps you know it, perhaps you dont, but im a huge fan of the borgias too, and i wanted to do a little video about lucrezia who is my fav character, i love the way she show how badass she can. This text depicts lucrezia as a powerhungry woman who schemes, strangles, and even poisons communion wafers on her bloody path to glory. She was likely poisoned by her husband, the duke of ferrara. A portrait of the bloody dynasty that spawned a pope, alexander vi, as well as the role model for machiavellis the prince, his son cesare borgia, and a legend of femme duplicity, daughter lucrezia borgia. Lucrezia borgia died in 1519, at the age of 39, after a difficult childbirth. There were whispers that he had been poisoned accidentally by cesare as. Syphilis, sex and fear how the french disease conquered.
The borgia family gained great amounts of land in the papal states, which were now concentrated in the hands of one family more than ever before, and lucrezia was packed off to marry alfonso deste to secure a flank of cesares conquests. Insecure about his height, looks and faith, he was charmed by lucrezia borgia on his way to. If you wanted to be pope or stay pope in the 1400s, there was only one way to do it. Lucrezia borgia, italian noblewoman and a central figure of the infamous borgia family of the italian renaissance. To do so, she seduces any influential man with the help of her perverse circle and lead them in a spiral of lust and scheme. Lucrezias family was typical of the ruthless machiavellian politics and sexual corruption of the. She was respected, and her court was filled with poets and artists.
Lucrezia borgia was born during italys renaissance period 201520, a time when artists, architects, and scientists rose to world appreciation. In 1505 her husband became a duke and lucrezia a duchess. H istory doesnt recount who gave cesare borgia syphilis, but we do know when and where he got it. The illegitimate daughter of a pope and his mistress, lucrezia borgia. Lucrezia borgia, duchess of ferrara 1480 1519 genealogy. Lucrezia borgia died on june 24, 1519 at the age of 39. The news of his death also spreads to the ears of della rovere, alessandro, vannozza, and giulia.
Vinci were innovating their way into history, the borgia legacy, conversely. She was born into one of the most wellknown families in world history. Lucrezia borgia biography childhood, life achievements. Heres a post i wrote a while ago, and am now reposting, about his downfall and death. Lucrezia borgia died after complications with giving birth to her eighth child for the duke of ferra.
The fourth member has become a metaphor for feminine evil. Lucrezia borgia was born into the renaissance world of italy. Lucrezia borgia was an italian noblewoman and daughter of pope. Lucrezias new husband was initially hesitant because of the borgia reputation. Apr 14, 2020 lucrezia borgia, italian noblewoman and a central figure of the infamous borgia family of the italian renaissance. Lucrezia is a beautiful, intelligent young lady, with a sharp mind and charming personality. Alexander lee attempts to rescue the borgias from their baleful reputation. Her father doted on his children but had a special bond with his only daughter.
Lucrezia is the third child and only daughter of rodrigo borgia and vanozza cattaneo. A notorious reputation precedes her, and she is inextricably, and perhaps unfairly, linked to the crimes and debauchery. Thats fine, do whatever you want but when these people insist that they ship these characters because its historically accurate. She died ten days after delivering her eighth child, isabella maria deste on june 14, 1519. There is zero evidence to indicate cesare and lucrezia borgia had an incestuous relationship. The poisonous exploits of lucrezia borgia were mythologized by french author victor hugo in his 1833 play lucrezia borgia. For about a month her symptoms had been fever, severe weight loss, constant coughing and a permanently bleeding nose. The death of pope alexander vi, 1503 eyewitness to history. When alexander vi died in 1503, lucrezia ceased to play a political role and led a more normal life at the brilliant court of ferrara, which became a centre for the arts and letters of the italian renaissance. In last nights episode of the showtime series the borgias, characters and siblings cesare and lucrezia borgia give into desire and take their special kind of brothersister love to a dangerous.
In the summer of 1497, he was a 22yearold cardinal, sent as papal legate by his father, pope. Her brothers included cesare borgia, giovanni borgia, and gioffre borgia. The borgia men already wanted to cut out a chunk of italy for their own dynasty. Lucrezia borgia is a main character in the first, second and third seasons. The illegitimate daughter of a pope and his mistress, lucrezia borgia was a. He recieves a catholic funeral and lucrezia is able to say goodbye. Sep 10, 2019 when alexander went south to oversee the division of land, lucrezia was left behind in rome as regent. Another, cesare borgia, was, for a time, a cardinal, elevated to that position by his acknowledged father, alexander vi, and later, after leaving holy orders, a murderous and ruthless duke. She is a sister to cesare borgia, juan borgia, and joffre borgia, and, later on, the mother of giovanni borgia.
Above his grave lies a simple slab reading cesar borgia, generalisimo of the navarrese and pontifical armies died in the fields of viana 12 march 1507. She suffered from a strange fever that took much of her strength and finally took her last breath at the age of 39, ten days later. Rodrigo, as pope alexander vi, threatened to depose ercole if he did not consent to the marriage. Lucrezia borgia is the only daughter to rodrigo borgia and vanozza dei cattenei.
Lucrezia borgia was the illegitimate daughter of pope alexander vi. However, lucreiza knew that paolo was illiterate, thus proving that he was murdered. Borgia was born into a greedy and vicious family and many believe she was equally ambitious and ruthless. Lucrezia borgia facts, bio, family, life, info sticky facts. Jean dalbret demanded that the body of his commander and brotherinlaw to be taken to the church of santa maria of viana and put in a tomb in the front of the high altar. Lucrezia borgia, duchess of ferrara, was the daughter of alexander vi, the future pope and she had married thrice into famous families that helped her own family to have a flourishing political career. Recently i have come across more and more people shipping cesare and lucrezia borgia.
Agapito visits lucrezia to tell her of her brothers unfortunate fate. On june 14, 1519, while giving birth to a stillborn girl dead upon birth, she developed a fever that caused her to lose much of her strength. Its entertaining to watch, but hard for lucrezias reputation to come back from. He was under the command of ferdinand of spain, popes ally. Lucrezia borgia was born on 18 april 1480 at subiaco, near rome. Slowly, the rumors about lucrezia ceased, and she went on to have eight children with her husband, sadly, only four reached adulthood. The borgias came from spain originally and the most famous of them died there, killed at the age of 31 in a minor skirmish by attackers who did not even know who he was. Juan tried to make the death look like a suicide with a suicide note. He was considered the handsomest man in italy, there were inevitably rumours of incest with his sister lucrezia and he had syphilis from his early twenties.
Jun 14, 2018 born on april 18 1480, lucrezia borgia was the daugher of cardinal rodrigo borgia and his mistress, vannozza giovanna dei cattani. The borgias concluded with the prince, but did it leave. After the death of her husband, countess lucrezia borgia seeks to become the first lady of the kingdom. Many of the allegedly poisoned cardinals were not alexanders enemies but. She turned to religion in her last years and died at the age of 39. Cantarella was the poison of choice for the borgia family. Born in 1480, her name and that of her family would be vilified down the centuries. When a young man in his twenties, belonging to one of the most important families of rome and of the whole christendom, did not come home for the night, nobody was really nervo. Through strategy and deception, the borgias convinced charles the best course was to bypass rome and return to france. May 17, 20 h istory doesnt recount who gave cesare borgia syphilis, but we do know when and where he got it. The facts about lucrezia s scandalous life as the bastard daughter of pope alexander vi are welldocumented. Lucrezia borgia was the daughter of pope alexander vi and vannozza dei cattanei. Lucrezia had two older brothers, giovanni juan and cesare. Lucrezia borgia biography life, family, children, history, mother.
Alleged portrait of cesare borgia by altobello melone. Lucrezia borgia was a spanishitalian noblewoman of the house of borgia who was the. He was made archbishop of valencia 1492 and cardinal 1493. She is portrayed by holliday grainger, and makes her debut in the series premiere. Everything seemed to be going very well for him until his father died in 1502. The couple soon moved out of rome to ferrara, escaping the endless scheming of her father and brother. Lucrezia borgia facts, bio, family, life, info sticky. Christened cesare, which would give him the welcome opportunity to take aut caesar aut nihil either caesar or nothing as his motto, he was one of the illegitimate sons of pope alexander vi by vanozza catanei. Gioffre borgia 14821516, son of pope alexander vi and younger brother of cesare borgia and lucrezia borgia. Lust, jealousy, poison, and murder posted on november 10, 2014 february 6, 2017 by kim seabrook to the french novelist victor hugo she was the most hideous, the most repulsive, and the most complete moral deformity, and lucrezia borgia remains even to this day one of the most vilified women in history. He sired at least twelve children through a number of mistresses. At her birth, her father consulted an astrologer who foretold of a remarkable future. Mar 17, 2015 the borgia men already wanted to cut out a chunk of italy for their own dynasty. J meyer has presented some very interesting arguments over the paternity of cesare, lucrezia and juan borgia.
Lucrezia s family was typical of the ruthless machiavellian politics and. Lucrezia borgia was born and raised in a monastery within the vatican, where she acquired considerable knowledge about art and literature. In the summer of 1497, he was a 22yearold cardinal, sent as. She is the sister of cesare borgia, juan borgia and joffre borgia, and the mother of giovanni borgia. Lucrezia borgia died in ferrara on 24 june 1519 from complications after giving birth to her eighth child. She died after giving birth to her last child, who was a stillborn girl, on 14th june, 1519. Cesare borgia, lucrezia, pope alexander, and a young man holding an empty glass. Lucrezia 14801519 with whom the pope was reputed to have slept was cast not only as a whore, but also as a poisoner, a murderer, and a witch. Born as rodrigo borgia in spain in 1431, he was elected pope in 1492, an event that spawned rumors that he had spent a considerable fortune bribing the appropriate cardinals to assure his success. Did cesare borgia and lucrezia borgia have an affair. Lucrezia borgia was a coldhearted bitch, according to author john faunce. In the first, he was recognized as cesares child from an affair before his. Who were the suspects in the murder of giovanni juan borgia. Regardless, lucrezia borgia had overcome many scandals and survived the fall of the borgia family that occurred with alexander vis death in august 1503.
Lucrezia borgia, duchess of ferrara facts biography. The borgia myth is still very powerful to this day. What was the borgias contribution to renaissance italy. Painting by john collier, a glass of wine with caesar borgia, from left. Lucrezia borgia, duchess of ferrara, earned a reputation as a political schemer. Syphilis, sex and fear how the french disease conquered the. However, when he gets there he is killed by lucrezias brother juan. Charles viii was king of france, and the leader of one of the most powerful armies in europe. She is the sister of cesare borgia, juan borgia and. After his brothers murder 1497, he took command of the papal armies. After alfonsos death, lucrezias father arranged for her to be married to alfonso deste, duke of ferrara, in early 1502. The downfall and the death of cesare borgia els borja.
In 1503, rodrigo died, along with many of cesares plans. Dec 03, 2019 lucrezia borgia was an italian noblewoman and daughter of pope alexander vi. Lucrezia borgia biography life, family, children, history. While still in naples, charles made alliance with the popes enemies, the sforzas, and marched on rome seeking revenge against the borgias.
This was slander on the part of the many people who didnt like the way pope alexander vi was running the catholic church. Jun 01, 2019 lucrezia borgia was the third child of cardinal rodrigo borgia and his favourite mistress, vannozza dei cattanei. Lucrezia borgia and her scintillating sex scandals the. Apr 29, 20 in last nights episode of the showtime series the borgias, characters and siblings cesare and lucrezia borgia give into desire and take their special kind of brothersister love to a dangerous. Today in 1507, cesare borgia died outside the walls of viana in spain. The borgias were widely condemned and vilified in renaissance italy because of their spanish heritage.
At the age of, her father arranged a marriage between her and giovanni sforza, who cheated on her on a regular basis. Lucrezias body thickened as the years passed by as she aged prematurely. King of france and commander of one of the most feared armies in europe, he claimed the throne of naples, and was enticed by cardinal della rovere to pursue those claims, in return for deposing pope alexander. Lucrezia borgia simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Who were the suspects in the murder of giovanni juan.
Lucrezia borgia simple english wikipedia, the free. The illegitimate daughter of a pope and his mistress, lucrezia borgia was a famous beauty, notorious for the suspicious deaths and political intrigue that swirled around her and her family. King louis xii of france gave him the title duke of valentinois. This is seen in the bestknown female borgia, lucrezia, often portrayed as a vicious poisoner and schemer, but she was nothing like her image. Lucrezia borgia 18 april 1480 24 june 1519 was the daughter of pope alexander vi, and his longterm mistress vannozza dei cattanei. In 1503, pope alexander died again suspicion was never far away. Mar 12, 2016 today in 1507, cesare borgia died outside the walls of viana in spain.
It has long been accepted that rodrigo borgia, pope alexander vi, was their father and legitimised them after he became pope. Daughter of pope alexander vi and sister of cesare, she is often accused of sharing in their many crimes and excesses but was more likely just an instrument for their ambitious projects. In 1501, two papal bulls were issued concerning the child, giovanni borgia. Cesare borgia had died on spanish ground, at thirtyone years old. This portrait, by bartolomeo veneto, is believed to have been painted in 1520 after lucrezia died. The family produced many other persons of lesser importance. Francis borgia 15101572, a greatgrandson of rodrigo, was canonized.
Many historians view lucrezia borgia as a political pawn whose marriages were used for her familys political gains. Lucrezia borgia, born april 18, 1480, romedied june 24, 1519, ferrara, papal states, italian noblewoman and a central figure of the. Another betrayal whose victim was cesare borgia in august 1504, the former captain general of the church left the italian soil for good. Lucrezia borgia april 18, 1480june 24, 1519 was the illegitimate daughter of pope alexander vi rodrigo borgia by one of his mistresses. Biography of lucrezia borgia, italian noblewoman thoughtco. However, it seems that logic says something different although. Cesare borgia, if indeed the bones do belong to him, was reburied in front of the main door of the church of santa maria. The details about lucrezia as a woman, however, are left out of the history books. The origins of the borgia incest myth the borgia bull. Lucrezia borgia duchess of ferrara died on tuesday, june 24, 1519. The renaissance political figure died on 12 march 1507.
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