Apr 14, 2020 lucrezia borgia, italian noblewoman and a central figure of the infamous borgia family of the italian renaissance. Lucrezia borgia was born during italys renaissance period 201520, a time when artists, architects, and scientists rose to world appreciation. He was born at rome while his father was cardinal, and on. Lucrezia borgia, duchess of ferrara 1480 1519 genealogy. As hes taken to the papal chambers, lucrezia stumbles away with her hands stained black, and its as upsetting as if she had her fathers blood on her hands. Lucrezia borgia, born april 18, 1480, romedied june 24, 1519, ferrara, papal states, italian noblewoman and a central figure of the. Lucrezia is a beautiful, intelligent young lady, with a sharp mind and charming personality.
Machiavelli, who greatly admired cesare, believed that he would have succeeded if it had not been for pope alexanders death in rome of malaria in 1503 and the fact that cesare himself came down with the disease as well and was temporarily put out of action. A lot of people still consider lucrezia borgia as femme fatale who killed her husbands and enjoyed the power, sex and wealthiness that the borgia family brought her. Lucrezia borgia was born on 18 april 1480 at subiaco, near rome. Cesare borgia, duke of valentinois and romagna 1476 1507, was the son of pope alexander vi by vanozza dei cattanei.
Syphilis, sex and fear how the french disease conquered the. Lucrezia borgia, duchess of ferrara, earned a reputation as a political. In the court of her third husband in ferrara, lucrezia borgia enjoyed a career as a renaissance consort. Aug 18, 2014 saturday, the 12th of august, 1503, the pope fell ill in the morning. Lucrezia borgia was an italian noblewoman and daughter of pope alexander vi. Cantarella was the poison of choice for the borgia family. Pope alexander vi died a year later, in august 1503. The summer of 1503 was oppressively hot and mosquitos were rampant.
After the hour of vespers, between six and seven oclock a fever appeared and remained permanently. A notorious reputation precedes her, and she is inextricably, and perhaps unfairly, linked to the crimes and debauchery. In 1512, borgia withdrew from public life and turned to religion. In the summer of 1497, he was a 22yearold cardinal, sent as. 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. In the summer of 1497, he was a 22yearold cardinal, sent as papal legate by his father, pope. Syphilis, sex and fear how the french disease conquered. The borgias came from spain originally and the most famous of them died there.
In 1503 alexander died, along with many of cesares political plans. Cesare and lucrezia borgia, a play by robert lalonde. Isabella maria deste born and died on 14 june 1519. Lucrezia borgia 18 april 1480 24 june 1519 was the daughter of pope alexander vi, and his longterm mistress vannozza dei cattanei. Giovanni sforza daragona 5 july 1466 27 july 1510 was an italian condottiero, lord of pesaro and gradara from 1483 until his death. Lucrezias family was typical of the ruthless machiavellian politics and sexual corruption of the. Life, love, and death in renaissance italy and millions of other books are available for instant access. Lucrezia borgia biography life, family, children, history. Life, love and death in renaissance italy bradford, sarah on.
Lucrezias father died unexpectedly of malaria on august 18, 1503. 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. Dec 30, 20 he was the son of pope alexander vi and brother of lucrezia borgia. Borgia was born into a greedy and vicious family and many believe she was equally ambitious and ruthless. It was written also that alexander did not even mention cesare or lucrezia during his illness. The borgias of history renaissance studies youtube. Lucrezia was known for being with a lot of men, but divorced her first husband, later claiming that he had been impotent. During the proceedings, lucrezia apparently had an affair with pedro calderon with whom she had a son. Cesare borgia, lucrezia, pope alexander, and a young man holding an empty glass. If you wanted to be pope or stay pope in the 1400s, there was only one way to do it. Lucrezia was the sister of cesare borgia, and the daughter of pope alexander vi her name is also one of the first that comes up when people think of famous poisoners in history. 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.
May 17, 20 h istory doesnt recount who gave cesare borgia syphilis, but we do know when and where he got it. Cesare borgia was born on september 1475 in rome, papal states present day italy. Alleged portrait of cesare borgia by altobello melone. Nov 01, 2005 the very name lucrezia borgia conjures up everything that was sinister and corrupt about the renaissanceincest, political assassination, papal sexual abuse, poisonous intrigue, unscrupulous power grabs. Thanks to lucezias remedy for cantarella, rodrigo makes a miraculous recovery to everyones surprise, but there is a sforza plot to kill the popes family. Mar 12, 20 506 years ago today, one of the greatest military commanders that italy had ever seen was killed at the siege of viana. Renaissance italy was dominated by rich and powerful families whose reputations have been shaped by the many dark. Dec 03, 2019 lucrezia borgia was an italian noblewoman and daughter of pope alexander vi. 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. Heres a post i wrote a while ago, and am now reposting, about his downfall and death. Alexander lee attempts to rescue the borgias from their baleful reputation. Indeed, darkness is a prevalent element of the face of death, as the pageantry and opulence of the renaissance festivities is traded for the shadows of rome.
Some sources suggest that he was accidentally poisoned, although the cause is more likely. She was born into one of the most wellknown families in world history. Lucrezia borgia biography childhood, life achievements. She is a sister to cesare borgia, juan borgia, and joffre borgia, and, later on, the mother of giovanni borgia. Complications at birth caused the death of lucrezia ten days later.
He sired at least twelve children through a number of mistresses. The borgias renascent the popes daughter 14801501 lucrezia borgia. There were whispers that he had been poisoned accidentally by cesare as part of a plot to kill a cardinal, but his death was probably caused by a. H istory doesnt recount who gave cesare borgia syphilis, but we do know when and where he got it. Lucrezia is the third child and only daughter of rodrigo borgia and vanozza cattaneo. On 12th march 1507, cesare borgia rode to his death following a life of extraordinary feats son possibly, please see this post for more information on that of a pope, the first man ever to resign from the college of cardinals, gonfalonier and commander of the papal. Lucrezias family was typical of the ruthless machiavellian politics and sexual corruption of the times. Lucrezia was then married to alfonso, duke of bisceglie, allowing the pope yet another alliance. Yet, as bestselling biographer sarah bradford reveals in this breathtaking new portrait, the truth is far more fascinating than the myth.
Mar 07, 2017 lucrezia was the sister of cesare borgia, and the daughter of pope alexander vi her name is also one of the first that comes up when people think of famous poisoners in history. Her brothers included cesare borgia, giovanni borgia, and gioffre borgia. Mar 12, 2016 today in 1507, cesare borgia died outside the walls of viana in spain. She also held an impressive court, which ensured her career would thrive even as borgia fortunes in rome ended with her fathers death in 1503. Nov 27, 20 i met david oakes in the summer we had a long conversation about the borgias, and he was also sad it was canceled, he was such a charming man story. 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. It is speculated that her withdrawal was in response to the news that rodrigo, her. Lucrezia borgia is a main character in the first, second and third seasons. Life, love, and death in renaissance italy by sarah bradford. Lucrezia borgia simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. She had three political marriages, arranged for her familys advantage, and likely had several adulterous alliances.
She is the sister of cesare borgia, juan borgia and. Lucrezia borgia is the only daughter to rodrigo borgia and vanozza dei cattenei. 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. His father set him up as a king of the papal states but after his fathers death he was not able to preserve power for long. Painting by john collier, a glass of wine with caesar borgia, from left. Life, love and death in renaissance italy, sarah bradford relates the life of one of historys most controversial women. Their marriage was annulled on claims of his impotence in march 1497. Lucrezia borgia, duchess of ferrara, daughter of cardinal rodrigo borgia, afterwards pope alexander vi, by his mistress vanozza dei cattanei, was born at rome in 1480. Like many aspects of cesare borgias life, the date of his birth is a subject of dispute. Biography of lucrezia borgia, italian noblewoman thoughtco. I met david oakes in the summer we had a long conversation about the borgias, and he was also sad it was canceled, he was such a charming man story. The death of pope alexander vi, 1503 eyewitness to history. A notorious reputation precedes her, and she is inextricably. Dec 11, 20 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 d.
He is best known as the first husband of lucrezia borgia. She possesses many skills, such as violinplaying and dancing, and comes to the aid of her family on a number. The marriage with alfonso deste was fertile and produced eight children. Lucrezia borgia april 18, 1480june 24, 1519 was the illegitimate daughter of pope alexander vi rodrigo borgia by one of his mistresses. With jeremy irons, francois arnaud, holliday grainger, joanne whalley. Lucrezia borgia died on june 24, 1519 at the age of 39. She is portrayed by holliday grainger, and makes her debut in the series premiere. Buried, convento del corpus domini, ferrara, italy. Lucrezia borgia biography life, family, children, history, mother.