Biography of Lucrezia Borgia

Charm and cunning

18 April 1480 
24 June 1519 
Was really so beautiful Lucrezia Borgia, as much to keep his alleged Pietro Bembo with Golden swirl among their cards? You do not have precise information about his birth, the most reliable would rise to 18 April 1480 in Subiaco (Rome), the third daughter of Rodrigo Borgia and Vannozza dei Cattanei, had three brothers: Juan, Caesar and Jofrè. Lucrezia was educated in the convent of St Sixtus and later entrusted to the care of the Pope's cousin, Adriana thousand. At the age of twelve is made get engaged, by proxy, with Don Gaspare da Procida, a Spanish nobleman. Bond which will then be melted by the father who gave in marriage to Giovanni Sforza. The marriage, which took place in 1493, not born auspiciously. In the spring of 1494 the couple, living in Rome, he moved to Pesaro, it is unknown whether during an epidemic of plague or for fear of the French. The Pope demands that his mistress Giulia with the mother-in-law join couple. However Giulia in contravention of Papal orders reaches her husband Orsino and despite Alexander VI the reproaches harshly, not persuade you to come back to him. Later, after the peace between the two lovers, will own the French to capture women while returning to Rome and only through the mediation of the Sforza and a substantial ransom, Alexander will have his women. The wedding of the daughter of the Pope are not cheap anymore, I can imagine John who returns to Rome to complain to his wife. All to no avail. And realizes that he doesn't want to mess against the Borgia that could remove him very quickly. Then seeks support from his uncle Ludovico il Moro in Milan, but it's all useless and start fights and injuries. The Borgias accused John of being a husband in name only, the latter accuses Lucrezia to be the mistress of his father and brother. The Borgias want to cancel the wedding, why not consumed, John did not give in. In Rome, meanwhile, decides to visit Lucretia that is declared virgo intacta. The marriage is annulled on 20 December 1497, Lucrezia had 17 years. That reason had the Pope to annul the marriage, causing much uproar and exposing his daughter to gossip and to the lubridio of the crowd? However, Lucrezia to recover, takes refuge in a convent, but rumors say it is another reason. Lucrezia must give birth. But if the marriage has not been consummated, if she was declared "virgo intacta" How is this possible? There are rumors that the baby is her father or her brother Cesare Borgia, others make various names. You do not even have proof that Lucretia is the true mother, but that the child is son of the Pope and his mistress Giulia Farnese. The small, christened John, will go down in history as "the infant romano." On 15 June 1497 the Duke of Gandia, Juan, brother of Lucretia, is fished dead body into the Tiber; for the suspects are gathering on Cesare Borgia who always scope instead of Captain of the Papal army occupied by Juan. Some say that Caesar killed Juan, because the latter was Lucrezia's lover and father of the infant. On 21 March 1498 Lucrezia marries again. Even the wedding celebrated in the Vatican with Alfonso of Aragon, Duke of Risceglie, ends tragically. Cesare Borgia, who had been rejected by Charlotte of Aragon, married Charlotte of Albert of Navarre, Louis appointed him Duke of Valentinois in Exchange Cesare's help to regain the Kingdom of Naples. Alfonso alarmed takes refuge from his relatives, leaving Lucrezia who is expecting a baby. Upsetting the prelates, the Pope to lift the morale of Lucrezia, appointing Governor of Spoleto, where will diligently his tenure. On 19 September 1489 Alfonso, behind his father's pressure, reaches Lucrezia and together they return to Rome, where in November Lucrezia gives birth to a boy who is called roderigo. On 15 July 1500 Alfonso is badly wounded. The culprit is Caesar, which is why the jealousy towards her sister. Assisted by the best doctors in the Pope, despite the serious injury, to the great joy of Lucrezia, Alfonso will heal. During the hospital stay Lucrezia never gave up her groom, however on August 18 after it away under a pretense, Michelotto da Corella, assassin of Cesare Borgia, kills Alfonso just in the rooms of Lucrezia. The Pope again intervenes to console the widow named Governor of Nepi. Meanwhile, as Lucrezia is away, the Pope thinks of a new marriage for her in search of new alliances and instructs Caesar to join her in Nepi to tell them. The candidate is Alfonso d'Este of Ferrara. Maybe for Lucrezia, 21 years old, you can start a new life away from his family. However the Este do not think so: there are too many gossip about Lucretia. But despite all opposition on 30 June 1501 the nuptials are celebrated: Lucrezia will be able, if not to be loved by her husband, at least to command respect, even if you cheated on her repeatedly.
Article contributed by the team of collaborators.