Reader’s question Thais Einhardt Maia Martins, Sao Leopoldo, RS
Illustrates Cassio Yoshiyaki
Edition Felipe van Deursen
They were one of the most powerful families of the Renaissance. Originally from Spain, she settled in Rome, seat of the Church, the clan’s great source of power. In Italy, they accumulated fame, fortune and dozens of scandals. The Borgias have a dark history that, amid bribery, nepotism, sex, murder and other sins, elected three popes. See the main characters of this family in the family tree below.
Alfonso Borgia (Pope Callixtus III)
1378-1458
He was elevated to cardinal thanks to a political asset. It was he who brought about the reconciliation of King Alfonso 5th of Aragon with the Church. Later, Alfonso became pope. The three years of his pontificate were marked by the acquittal of Joan of Arc, who was executed at the stake in 1431.
Vannozza dei Cattanei
1442-1518
Lover and mother of Rodrigo Borgia’s four favorite children, she was also (supposedly) the lover of Cardinal Giuliano della Rovere, Rodrigo’s main enemy – and who would later become Pope Julius II. She was buried with cardinal honors, which caused a scandal at the time.
– Alessandro Farnese, Giulia’s brother, entered the Church thanks to Rodrigo. And ended up becoming the pope Paul III
(Dates marked with * are estimated)
1. Rodrigo Borgia
Afonso’s nephew, he was ordained a deacon by his uncle and pursued a career in the Church. An intelligent politician and skilled administrator, he amassed wealth and power under four different popes until, in 1492, aged 61, he seized the opportunity for himself. In exchange for votes in the conclave (the election for the new pope), he offered bishoprics, lands, Church positions, and four mules full of silver to his fellow cardinals. Thus, he became Alexander VI, the first pope with a recognized lover and children. In his pontificate, he tried to unify the Italian fiefdoms under the command of the Church
2. Giovanni Borgia
Historians differ as to whether he was the first or second of Rodrigo’s four children with Vannozza. What is certain is that Giovanni, Duke of Gandia and heartthrob with a penchant for other people’s wives, was found dead in the Tiber River, in Rome, with his throat cut and nine stab wounds. The case is still a mystery. The strongest speculation is that he was killed by his brother Caesar
3. Cesare Borgia
At the age of 18, he was named cardinal by his father. In office, he hosted dinners with more than 50 prostitutes dancing naked, according to his master of ceremonies, Johannes Burchard. Around the age of 22, he left the Church and married the sister of the King of Navarre, becoming a Duke. He was also prince of a territory created by his father, using Church lands. In 1502, he hired Leonardo da Vinci as a military architect and engineer. According to gossip, he was sister Lucrécia’s lover. Father of 11 bastards, died of syphilis
4. Gioffre Borgia
Youngest son of Rodrigo and Vannozza, he was also suspected of having killed his brother Giovanni. That’s because Giovanni was having an affair with Gioffre’s wife, who was four years older than him (Gioffre got married when he was 12 years old).
5.Lucrezia Borgia
At the age of 11, she was already betrothed to two boyfriends. But at 13, she married another, Giovanni Sforza. But the alliance with this powerful family proved unnecessary, so Pope Alexander 6th (her father) annulled the marriage on the grounds that it had not been consummated. Lucrécia had two more husbands. One of them, Afonso de Aragão, was assassinated at the behest of his brother César. In 1501, she came to command, on an interim basis, the Church. Maecenas, Lucrécia financed the work of several Renaissance poets and painters
pop family
Borgias still inspire today
In literature, the clan starred in works by Alexandre Dumas, author ofThe three Musketeersand Mario Puzo, who wrote The Godfather. In the comics, the Italian Milo Manara portrayed them inThe Borgias. On TV, there is an American and a European series. Not to mention that César Borgia was the model of inspiration for The princeby Machiavelli, and that he was once a villain in the game series Assassin’s Creed
- Rodrigo had four more unregistered children: Girolama, Isabella, Pedro Luiz and Bernardo
- “Men were found dead to make Rome tremble with fear,” wrote an ambassador of Caesar.
READ TOO:
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– Where did the table etiquette rules come from?
– The biggest stupidities of the arts and sciences
SOURCES Books Alexander VIby Volker Reinhardt; Catholic Encyclopedia; papal mythsby Leandro Rust; Papal Genealogyby George L. Williams; Those Naughty Popes and their Childrenby Charles Dillon