The House of Borgia ( , ;
Spanish
Spanish might refer to:
* Items from or related to Spain:
**Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain
**Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries
**Spanish cuisine
Other places
* Spanish, Ontario, Can ...
and an, Borja ; ca-valencia, Borja ) was an Italian-Aragonese Spanish noble family, which rose to prominence during the
Italian Renaissance
The Italian Renaissance ( it, Rinascimento ) was a period in Italian history covering the 15th and 16th centuries. The period is known for the initial development of the broader Renaissance culture that spread across Europe and marked the trans ...
. They were from Valencia, the surname being a
toponymic
Toponymy, toponymics, or toponomastics is the study of '' toponyms'' (proper names of places, also known as place names and geographic names), including their origins, meanings, usage and types. Toponym is the general term for a proper name of ...
from the town of
Borja, then in the
Crown of Aragon
The Crown of Aragon ( , ) an, Corona d'Aragón ; ca, Corona d'Aragó, , , ; es, Corona de Aragón ; la, Corona Aragonum . was a composite monarchy ruled by one king, originated by the dynastic union of the Kingdom of Aragon and the County of B ...
, in
Spain
, image_flag = Bandera de España.svg
, image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg
, national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond")
, national_anthem = (English: "Royal March")
, i ...
.
The Borgias became prominent in ecclesiastical and political affairs in the 15th and 16th centuries, producing two popes: Alfons de Borja, who ruled as
Pope Callixtus III
Pope Callixtus III ( it, Callisto III, va, Calixt III, es, Calixto III; 31 December 1378 – 6 August 1458), born Alfonso de Borgia ( va, Alfons de Borja), was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 8 April 1455 to his ...
during 1455–1458, and Rodrigo Lanzol Borgia, as
Pope Alexander VI
Pope Alexander VI ( it, Alessandro VI, va, Alexandre VI, es, Alejandro VI; born Rodrigo de Borja; ca-valencia, Roderic Llançol i de Borja ; es, Rodrigo Lanzol y de Borja, lang ; 1431 – 18 August 1503) was head of the Catholic Churc ...
, during 1492–1503.
Especially during the reign of Alexander VI, they were suspected of many crimes, including
adultery
Adultery (from Latin ''adulterium'') is extramarital sex that is considered objectionable on social, religious, moral, or legal grounds. Although the sexual activities that constitute adultery vary, as well as the social, religious, and legal ...
,
incest
Incest ( ) is human sexual activity between family members or close relatives. This typically includes sexual activity between people in consanguinity (blood relations), and sometimes those related by affinity (marriage or stepfamily), adoption ...
,
simony
Simony () is the act of selling church offices and roles or sacred things. It is named after Simon Magus, who is described in the Acts of the Apostles as having offered two disciples of Jesus payment in exchange for their empowering him to imp ...
,
theft
Theft is the act of taking another person's property or services without that person's permission or consent with the intent to deprive the rightful owner of it. The word ''theft'' is also used as a synonym or informal shorthand term for some ...
,
bribery, and
murder
Murder is the unlawful killing of another human without justification (jurisprudence), justification or valid excuse (legal), excuse, especially the unlawful killing of another human with malice aforethought. ("The killing of another person wit ...
(especially murder by
arsenic poisoning
Arsenic is a chemical element with the symbol As and atomic number 33. Arsenic occurs in many minerals, usually in combination with sulfur and metals, but also as a pure elemental crystal. Arsenic is a metalloid. It has various allotropes, bu ...
). Because of their grasping for power, they made enemies of the
Medici
The House of Medici ( , ) was an Italian banking family and political dynasty that first began to gather prominence under Cosimo de' Medici, in the Republic of Florence during the first half of the 15th century. The family originated in the Muge ...
, the
Sforza
The House of Sforza () was a ruling family of Renaissance Italy, based in Milan. They acquired the Duchy of Milan following the extinction of the Visconti family in the mid-15th century, Sforza rule ending in Milan with the death of the last me ...
, and the Dominican friar
Girolamo Savonarola
Girolamo Savonarola, OP (, , ; 21 September 1452 – 23 May 1498) or Jerome Savonarola was an Italian Dominican friar from Ferrara and preacher active in Renaissance Florence. He was known for his prophecies of civic glory, the destruction of ...
, among others. They were also
patrons of the arts
Patronage is the support, encouragement, privilege, or financial aid that an organization or individual bestows on another. In the history of art, arts patronage refers to the support that kings, popes, and the wealthy have provided to artists su ...
who contributed to the development of
Renaissance art
Renaissance art (1350 – 1620 AD) is the painting, sculpture, and decorative arts of the period of European history known as the Renaissance, which emerged as a distinct style in Italy in about AD 1400, in parallel with developments which occ ...
.
The Borgia family stands out in history as being infamously steeped in sin and immorality, yet there is evidence to suggest that this one-dimensional characterization is a result of undeserved contemporary critiques.
History
Early history
The Borja was a
noble house with origin in the town of
Borja (Zaragoza) in the then
Crown of Aragon
The Crown of Aragon ( , ) an, Corona d'Aragón ; ca, Corona d'Aragó, , , ; es, Corona de Aragón ; la, Corona Aragonum . was a composite monarchy ruled by one king, originated by the dynastic union of the Kingdom of Aragon and the County of B ...
. There were numerous unsubstantiated claims that the family was of
Jewish
Jews ( he, יְהוּדִים, , ) or Jewish people are an ethnoreligious group and nation originating from the Israelites Israelite origins and kingdom: "The first act in the long drama of Jewish history is the age of the Israelites""The ...
origin. These underground rumours were propagated by, among others,
Giuliano della Rovere
Pope Julius II ( la, Iulius II; it, Giulio II; born Giuliano della Rovere; 5 December 144321 February 1513) was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 1503 to his death in February 1513. Nicknamed the Warrior Pope or the ...
, and the family was frequently described as
marranos
Marranos were Spanish and Portuguese Jews living in the Iberian Peninsula who converted or were forced to convert to Christianity during the Middle Ages, but continued to practice Judaism in secrecy.
The term specifically refers to the cha ...
by political opponents. The rumours have persisted in popular culture for centuries, listed in the ''Semi-Gotha'' of 1912. The family themselves propagated a spurious genealogical descent from a 12th-century claimant to the crown of the
Kingdom of Aragon
The Kingdom of Aragon ( an, Reino d'Aragón, ca, Regne d'Aragó, la, Regnum Aragoniae, es, Reino de Aragón) was a medieval and early modern kingdom on the Iberian Peninsula, corresponding to the modern-day autonomous community of Aragon, ...
,
Pedro de Atarés
Pedro de Atarés ( in Borja – 21 February 1151) was a Spanish noble and member of the House of Aragón. He founded the Veruela Abbey, the oldest Cistercian monastery in Aragon.
Biography
Family
Pedro de Atarés was the son of García Sán ...
, Lord of Borja, who actually died childless.
Alfons
Alfons de Borja (1378–1458) was born to Francina Llançol and
Domingo de Borja in La Torreta,
Canals
Canals or artificial waterways are waterways or river engineering, engineered channel (geography), channels built for drainage management (e.g. flood control and irrigation) or for conveyancing water transport watercraft, vehicles (e.g. ...
, which was then situated in the
Kingdom of Valencia.
Alfons de Borja was a professor of law at the
University of Lleida
The University of Lleida (officially in Catalan: ''Universitat de Lleida'') is a university based in Lleida, Catalonia, Spain. It was the first university founded in Catalonia and in the ancient Crown of Aragon. It was founded in 1300, using the ...
, then a diplomat for the
Kings of Aragon
This is a list of the kings and queens of Aragon. The Kingdom of Aragon was created sometime between 950 and 1035 when the County of Aragon, which had been acquired by the Kingdom of Navarre in the tenth century, was separated from Navarre in ...
before becoming a cardinal. At an advanced age, he was elected
Pope Callixtus III
Pope Callixtus III ( it, Callisto III, va, Calixt III, es, Calixto III; 31 December 1378 – 6 August 1458), born Alfonso de Borgia ( va, Alfons de Borja), was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 8 April 1455 to his ...
in 1455 as a compromise candidate and reigned as Pope for just 3 years, until his death in 1458.
Rodrigo
Rodrigo Borgia
Pope Alexander VI ( it, Alessandro VI, va, Alexandre VI, es, Alejandro VI; born Rodrigo de Borja; ca-valencia, Roderic Llançol i de Borja ; es, Rodrigo Lanzol y de Borja, lang ; 1431 – 18 August 1503) was head of the Catholic Churc ...
(1431–1503) was born in
Xàtiva
Xàtiva (, es, Játiva ) is a town in eastern Spain, in the province of Valencia, on the right (western) bank of the river Albaida and at the junction of the Valencia–Murcia and Valencia Albacete railways. It is located 25 km west ...
, also in the Kingdom of Valencia, to Isabel de Borja i Cavanilles and
Jofré Llançol i Escrivà
Jofré Llançol i Escrivà, (c. 1390 - 1436/37), also known as Jofré de Borja y Escrivà and Jofré de Borja y Doms, was a Spanish noble from Xàtiva, Kingdom of Valencia. He was related by marriage to the Borgia family. He was an uncle of Card ...
. He studied law at Bologna and was
appointed as cardinal by his uncle, Alfons Borgia, Pope Callixtus III. He was elected Pope in 1492, taking the
regnal name
A regnal name, or regnant name or reign name, is the name used by monarchs and popes during their reigns and, subsequently, historically. Since ancient times, some monarchs have chosen to use a different name from their original name when they ...
Alexander VI. While a cardinal, he maintained a long-term illicit relationship with
Vannozza dei Cattanei
Giovanna Cattanei (13 July 1442 – 24 November 1518), commonly known as Vannozza Cattanei, was an Italian woman who was the chief mistress of Cardinal Rodrigo de Borgia, later to become Pope Alexander VI.
Early life
Born in 1442, most likel ...
, with whom he had four children:
Giovanni Giovanni may refer to:
* Giovanni (name), an Italian male given name and surname
* Giovanni (meteorology), a Web interface for users to analyze NASA's gridded data
* ''Don Giovanni'', a 1787 opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, based on the legend of ...
;
Cesare Cesare, the Italian language, Italian version of the given name Caesar (title), Caesar, may refer to:
Given name
* Cesare, Marquis of Beccaria (1738–1794), an Italian philosopher and politician
* Cesare Airaghi (1840–1896), Italian colonel
...
;
Lucrezia; and
Gioffre. Rodrigo also had children by other women, including one daughter with his mistress,
Giulia Farnese
Giulia Farnese (1474 – 23 March 1524) was an Italian noblewoman, a mistress to Pope Alexander VI, and the sister of Pope Paul III. Known as ''Giulia la bella'', meaning "Julia the beautiful" in Italian, Giulia was a member of the noble Farnes ...
.
As Alexander VI, Rodrigo was recognized as a skilled politician and diplomat. However, he was widely criticized during his reign for his over-spending,
sale of Church offices, lasciviousness, and
nepotism
Nepotism is an advantage, privilege, or position that is granted to relatives and friends in an occupation or field. These fields may include but are not limited to, business, politics, academia, entertainment, sports, fitness, religion, an ...
. As Pope, he sought to acquire more personal and papal power and wealth, often ennobling and enriching the Borgia family directly. He appointed his son, Giovanni, as
captain-general of the papal army, his foremost military representative, and established another son, Cesare, as a cardinal. Alexander used the marriages of his children to build alliances with powerful families in Italy and Spain. At the time, the
Sforza family
The House of Sforza () was a ruling family of Renaissance Italy, based in Milan. They acquired the Duchy of Milan following the extinction of the Visconti family in the mid-15th century, Sforza rule ending in Milan with the death of the last me ...
, which comprised the Milanese faction, was one of the most powerful in Europe, so Alexander united the two families by marrying Lucrezia to
Giovanni Sforza Giovanni Sforza d'Aragona (5 July 1466 – 27 July 1510) was an Italian condottiero, lord of Pesaro and Gradara from 1483 until his death. He is best known as the first husband of Lucrezia Borgia. Their marriage was annulled on claims of his impo ...
. He also married Gioffre, his youngest son from Vannozza, to
Sancha of Aragon
Sancha of Aragon (1478 in Gaeta – 1506 in Naples), or Sancia of Aragon, was an illegitimate daughter of King Alfonso II of Naples and his mistress Trogia Gazzela. In 1494, she was married to Gioffre Borgia, youngest son of Pope Alexander VI. ...
of the
Crown of Aragon and Naples. He established a second familial link to the Spanish royal house through Giovanni's marriage during what was a period of on-again/off-again
conflict between France and Spain over the Kingdom of Naples.
It is reported that under Alexander VI's rule the Borgia hosted
orgies
In modern usage, an orgy is a sex party consisting of at least five members where guests freely engage in open and unrestrained sexual activity or group sex.
Swingers' parties do not always conform to this designation, because at many swin ...
in the Vatican palace. The "
Banquet of Chestnuts
The Banquet of Chestnuts (sometimes Ballet of Chestnuts, Festival of Chestnuts, or Joust of Whores) was a supper purportedly held at the Papal Palace in Rome and hosted by former Cardinal Cesare Borgia, son of Pope Alexander VI on 31 October 15 ...
" is considered one of the most disreputable balls of this kind.
Johann Burchard
Johann Burchard, also spelled Johannes Burchart or Burkhart (c.1450–1506) was an Alsatian-born priest and chronicler during the Italian Renaissance. He spent his entire career at the papal Courts of Sixtus IV, Innocent VIII, Alexander VI, Pi ...
reports that fifty
courtesan
Courtesan, in modern usage, is a euphemism for a "kept" mistress or prostitute, particularly one with wealthy, powerful, or influential clients. The term historically referred to a courtier, a person who attended the court of a monarch or other ...
s were in attendance for the entertainment of the banquet guests. It is alleged not only was the Pope present, but also two of his children, Lucrezia and Cesare. Other researchers however, such as Monsignor Peter de Roo (1839–1926), have rejected the rumors of the "fifty courtesans" as being at odds with Alexander VI's essentially decent but much maligned character.
Pope Alexander VI died in Rome in 1503 after contracting a disease, generally believed to have been
malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease that affects humans and other animals. Malaria causes symptoms that typically include fever, tiredness, vomiting, and headaches. In severe cases, it can cause jaundice, seizures, coma, or death. S ...
. Two of Alexander's successors,
Sixtus V
Pope Sixtus V ( it, Sisto V; 13 December 1521 – 27 August 1590), born Felice Piergentile, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 24 April 1585 to his death in August 1590. As a youth, he joined the Franciscan order ...
and
Urban VIII
Pope Urban VIII ( la, Urbanus VIII; it, Urbano VIII; baptised 5 April 1568 – 29 July 1644), born Maffeo Vincenzo Barberini, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 6 August 1623 to his death in July 1644. As p ...
, described him as one of the most outstanding popes since
St. Peter.
Cesare
![A Glass of Wine with Caesar Borgia - John Collier](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b0/A_Glass_of_Wine_with_Caesar_Borgia_-_John_Collier.jpg)
Cesare was Rodrigo Borgia's second son with Vannozza dei Cattanei. Cesare's education was precisely planned by his father: he was educated by tutors in Rome until his 12th birthday. He grew up to become a charming man skilled at war and politics. He studied law and the humanities at the
University of Perugia
University of Perugia (Italian ''Università degli Studi di Perugia'') is a public-owned university based in Perugia, Italy. It was founded in 1308, as attested by the Bull issued by Pope Clement V certifying the birth of the Studium Generale.
Th ...
, then went to the
University of Pisa
The University of Pisa ( it, Università di Pisa, UniPi), officially founded in 1343, is one of the oldest universities in Europe.
History
The Origins
The University of Pisa was officially founded in 1343, although various scholars place ...
to study theology. As soon as he graduated from the university, his father made him a cardinal.
Cesare was suspected of murdering his brother Giovanni, but there is no clear evidence to confirm this. However, Giovanni's death cleared the path for Cesare to become a layman and gain the honors his brother received from their father, Pope Alexander VI. Although Cesare had been a cardinal, he left the holy orders to gain power and take over the position Giovanni once held: a
condottiero. He was finally married to French princess
Charlotte d'Albret.
After Alexander's death in 1503, Cesare affected the choice of a next Pope. He needed a candidate who would not threaten his plans to create his own principality in
Central Italy
Central Italy ( it, Italia centrale or just ) is one of the five official statistical regions of Italy used by the National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT), a first-level NUTS region, and a European Parliament constituency.
Regions
Central It ...
. Cesare's candidate (
Pius III
Pius ( , ) Latin for "pious", is a masculine given name. Its feminine form is Pia.
It may refer to:
People Popes
* Pope Pius (disambiguation)
* Antipope Pius XIII (1918-2009), who led the breakaway True Catholic Church sect
Given name
* Pius ...
) did become Pope, but he died a month after the selection. Cesare was then forced to support
Giuliano della Rovere
Pope Julius II ( la, Iulius II; it, Giulio II; born Giuliano della Rovere; 5 December 144321 February 1513) was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 1503 to his death in February 1513. Nicknamed the Warrior Pope or the ...
. The cardinal promised Cesare that he could keep all of his titles and honors. Later, della Rovere betrayed him and became his fiercest enemy.
Cesare died in 1507, at
Viana Castle in
Navarre
Navarre (; es, Navarra ; eu, Nafarroa ), officially the Chartered Community of Navarre ( es, Comunidad Foral de Navarra, links=no ; eu, Nafarroako Foru Komunitatea, links=no ), is a foral autonomous community and province in northern Spain, ...
, Spain, while besieging the rebellious army of Count de
Lerín View of Lerín
Lerín is a town and municipality located in the province and autonomous community of Navarre, northern Spain.
External links
LERIN in the Bernardo Estornés Lasa - Auñamendi Encyclopedia Euskomedia Fundazioa
The Euskomedia Fund ...
. The castle was held by
Louis de Beaumont at the time it was besieged by Cesare Borgia and
King John's army of 10,000 men in 1507. In order to attempt to breach the extremely strong, natural fortification of the castle, Cesare counted on a desperate surprise attack. He was killed during the battle, in which his army failed to take the castle.
Lucrezia
Lucrezia was born in
Subiaco, Italy to Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia and Roman mistress Vannozza dei Catanei. Before the age of 13, she was engaged to two Spanish princes. After her father became Pope she was married to Giovanni Sforza in 1493 at the age of 13. It was a typical political marriage to improve Alexander's power; however, when Pope Alexander VI no longer needed the Sforzas, the marriage was annulled in 1497 on the dubious grounds that it had never been consummated.
Shortly afterwards she was involved in a scandal involving her alleged relationship with Pedro Calderón, a Spaniard generally known as Perotto. His body was found in the Tiber on February 14, 1498, along with the body of one of Lucrezia's ladies. It is likely that Cesare had them killed as an affair would have damaged the negotiations being conducted for another marriage. During this time rumors were also spread suggesting that a child born at this time,
Giovanni Borgia, also known as the ''Infans Romanus'' (child of Rome) was Lucrezia's.
Lucrezia's second marriage, to wealthy young Prince
Alfonso of Aragon, allowed the Borgias to form an alliance with another powerful family. However, this relationship did not last long either. Cesare wished to strengthen his relations with France and completely break with the
Kingdom of Naples
The Kingdom of Naples ( la, Regnum Neapolitanum; it, Regno di Napoli; nap, Regno 'e Napule), also known as the Kingdom of Sicily, was a state that ruled the part of the Italian Peninsula south of the Papal States between 1282 and 1816. It was ...
. As
Alfonso's father was the ruler of the Kingdom of Naples, the young husband was in great danger. Although the first attempt at murder did not succeed, Alfonso was eventually strangled in his own quarters.
Lucrezia's third and final husband was
Alfonso I d'Este, Duke of Ferrara
Alfonso d'Este (21 July 1476 – 31 October 1534) was Duke of Ferrara during the time of the War of the League of Cambrai.
Biography
He was the son of Ercole I d'Este, Duke of Ferrara and Eleanor of Naples and became duke on Ercole's death in ...
. After her father died in 1503, she lived a life of freedom in Ferrara with her husband and children. Unfortunately, her pregnancies were difficult and she lost several babies after birth. She died in 1519, 10 days after the birth and death of her last child, Isabella Maria. She was buried in a tomb with Isabella and Alfonso.
Lucrezia was rumored to be a notorious poisoner and she became famous for her skill at political intrigue. However, some recent revisionists have looked at her in a more sympathetic light, claiming her to be a victim of her family's deceptions.
Family tree
Borgias of Velletri
One branch of the family established ifself in the city of
Velletri
Velletri (; la, Velitrae; xvo, Velester) is an Italian ''comune'' in the Metropolitan City of Rome, approximately 40 km to the southeast of the city centre, located in the Alban Hills, in the region of Lazio, central Italy. Neighbouring com ...
where for many years they served in the administration of the
Papal States
The Papal States ( ; it, Stato Pontificio, ), officially the State of the Church ( it, Stato della Chiesa, ; la, Status Ecclesiasticus;), were a series of territories in the Italian Peninsula under the direct sovereign rule of the pope fro ...
.
Pietro Borgia, married Madonna Filomena
:* Ettore Borgia, married Porzia Landi
::* Camillo Borgia, Governor of Velletri
:::* Clemente Erminio Borgia, Governor of Velletri, married Cecilia Carboni
::::* Stefano Camillo Borgia (1681–1763), married Madalena Gagliardi
:::::* Giovanni Paolo Borgia, General in the Pontifical Army, married Alcmena
Baglioni-Malatesta
::::::* Camillo Borgia (1777–1817), Adjutant-General and Field Marshall in Murat's army, married Adelaide Quainson
:::::::*
Ettore Borgia
Ettore Borgia (Velletri, 1802 – Gioiosa Marea, 11 July 1892) was an politics of Italy, Italian politician and patriot.
Biography
Ettore Borgia, son of Don Camillo Borgia di Velletri and Adelaide Quainson (or Quenson), belonged to the noble H ...
(1802–1892), Italian politician
::::::*
Alessandro Borgia
Alessandro Borgia (1682, Velletri – 1764, Fermo) was an Italian bishop and archbishop.
Life
From a collateral patrician branch of Borgia family, he was the son of Don Clemente Erminio Borgia of Velletri (1640-1711) and Cecilia Carboni (1663-1 ...
(1783–1871),
Lieutenant of the Grand Master of the
Sovereign Military Order of Malta
The Sovereign Military Order of Malta (SMOM), officially the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta ( it, Sovrano Militare Ordine Ospedaliero di San Giovanni di Gerusalemme, di Rodi e di Malta; ...
:::::*
Stefano Borgia
Stefano Borgia (3 December 1731 – 1804) was an Italian Cardinal, theologian, antiquarian, and historian.
Life
Cardinal Borgia belonged to a well known family of Velletri, where he was born, and was a member of the collateral branch of House ...
(1731–1804),
cardinal
::::*
Alessandro Borgia
Alessandro Borgia (1682, Velletri – 1764, Fermo) was an Italian bishop and archbishop.
Life
From a collateral patrician branch of Borgia family, he was the son of Don Clemente Erminio Borgia of Velletri (1640-1711) and Cecilia Carboni (1663-1 ...
(1682–1764),
Archbishop of Fermo
The Archdiocese of Fermo ( la, Archidioecesis Firmana) is a Roman Catholic ecclesiastical jurisdiction in northern Italy, with its seat in the city of Fermo, Marche. It was established as the Diocese of Fermo in the 3rd century, and elevated to a ...
::::* Fabrizio Borgia (1689–1754),
Bishop of Ferentino
The Roman Catholic diocese of Ferentino existed until 1986, when it was united into the new diocese of Frosinone-Veroli-Ferentino.
History
It is said, by Ferdinand Ughelli, that in the time of Emperor Constantine, in the 1st third of the fourt ...
::::* Angela Caterina Borgia (1694–1743), a nun and
Servant of God
"Servant of God" is a title used in the Catholic Church to indicate that an individual is on the first step toward possible canonization as a saint.
Terminology
The expression "servant of God" appears nine times in the Bible, the first five in th ...
Other notable members of the house of Borja
*
Rodrigo de Borja
Pope Alexander VI ( it, Alessandro VI, va, Alexandre VI, es, Alejandro VI; born Rodrigo de Borja; ca-valencia, Roderic Llançol i de Borja ; es, Rodrigo Lanzol y de Borja, lang ; 1431 – 18 August 1503) was head of the Catholic Churc ...
(b. 1349), Head of the Borja family, great-grandfather of Rodrigo (Pope Alexander VI).
*
Rodrigo Gil de Borja y Fennolet
Roderic Gil de Borja i Fennolet was a Valencian noble from Xàtiva, Kingdom of Valencia, with origins in the town of Borja, Zaragoza. He held the title of the Jurat de l'Estament Militar de Xàtiva in 1395, 1406 and 1407 respectively, a title tha ...
(lived late 14th century), Rodrigo's son, jurat of Xativa.
*
Jofré Llançol i Escrivà
Jofré Llançol i Escrivà, (c. 1390 - 1436/37), also known as Jofré de Borja y Escrivà and Jofré de Borja y Doms, was a Spanish noble from Xàtiva, Kingdom of Valencia. He was related by marriage to the Borgia family. He was an uncle of Card ...
(b. circa 1390 – d. 1436 or 1437), Rodrigo Gil's son; father of Rodrigo (Pope Alexander VI) and Pedro Luis.
*
Pedro Luis de Borja
Pedro Luis de Borja, Duke of Spoleto and Marquess of Civitavecchia (1432 – 26 September 1458) was the younger brother of Rodrigo Borgia and nephew of Cardinal Alonso de Borja, who in 1455 became Pope Callixtus III. He was called Don Pedro Luis.
...
(1432–1458), Duke of Spoleto and Marquess of Civitavecchia.
*
Roderic de Borja i Escrivà (? – 1478)
*
Pier Luigi de Borgia, 1st duke of Gandía
Seaside pleasure pier in Brighton, England. The first seaside piers were built in England in the early 19th century.">England.html" ;"title="Brighton, England">Brighton, England. The first seaside piers were built in England in the early 19th ...
(1458 or 1460 – 1488 or 1491).
*
Giovanni Borgia, 2nd Duke of Gandia Giovanni may refer to:
* Giovanni (name), an Italian male given name and surname
* Giovanni (meteorology), a Web interface for users to analyze NASA's gridded data
* ''Don Giovanni'', a 1787 opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, based on the legend of ...
(1474 or 1476 – 1497)
*
Gioffre Borgia
Gioffre Borgia (1481/82–1516/17), also known as Goffredo (Italian), or Jofré Borja (Valencian), was the youngest son of Pope Alexander VI and Vannozza dei Cattanei, and a member of the House of Borgia. He was the youngest brother of Cesare, ...
(1482–1516), son of Pope Alexander VI and younger brother of Cesare Borgia and Lucrezia Borgia. He married Sancha of Aragon, daughter of Alfonso II of Naples, obtaining as her dowry both the
Principality of Squillace (1494) and the
Duchy of Alvito
The Duchy of Alvito was a fiefdom of the Kingdom of Naples, in southern Italy.
Rule of the Cantelmo
The Cantelmo family, of French origins, arrived in Italy in the 13th century around the time the Angevins conquered Naples (1266). From the An ...
(1497). He later married Maria de Mila y Aragón, with whom he had a son,
Francesco Borgia.
*
Angela Borgia or Angela de Borja (c. 1486 – c. 1520–1522), lady of
Sassuolo
Sassuolo (; egl, label=Modenese dialect, Modenese, Sasól ) is an Italian town, ''comune'', and industrial centre of the Province of Modena in Emilia-Romagna.
Standing on the right bank of the river Secchia some southwest of Modena, the town ...
.
*
Enrique de Borja y Aragón
Enrique de Borja y Aragón (December 19, 1518, Gandía – September 16, 1540, Viterbo), was a Spanish noble of the House of Borgia. He was the Bishop of Squillace in Italy, and went on to become a Cardinal.
Family origins
Enrique was a me ...
(1518–1540)
*
Francis Borgia, 4th Duke of Gandía
Francis Borgia ( ca-valencia, Francesc de Borja; es, Francisco de Borja; 28 October 1510 – 30 September 1572) was a Spanish Jesuit priest. The great-grandson of Pope Alexander VI, he was Duke of Gandía and a grandee of Spain. After t ...
(1510–1572), great-grandson of Pope Alexander VI. Became an effective organizer of the
Society of Jesus
, image = Ihs-logo.svg
, image_size = 175px
, caption = ChristogramOfficial seal of the Jesuits
, abbreviation = SJ
, nickname = Jesuits
, formation =
, founders ...
. Canonized by
Clement X
Pope Clement X ( la, Clemens X; it, Clemente X; 13 July 1590 – 22 July 1676), born Emilio Bonaventura Altieri, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 29 April 1670 to his death in July 1676. Elected pope at ag ...
as "Saint Francis Borgia" on 20 June 1670.
*
Juan de Borja y Castro (1533–1606)
*
Tomás de Borja y Castro
Tomás de Borja y Castro ( – September 13, 1610]) was a Spanish noble from the House of Borgia, House of Borja who became Bishop of Málaga and Archbishop of Zaragoza.
Biography
Tomás studied in the Colegio Mayor de San Ildefonso at ...
(1551–1610)
*
Juan Buenaventura de Borja y Armendia
Juan Buenaventura de Borja y Armendia (b. 1564*, Gandía, Valencia d. 1628, Santafé de Bogotá) was a Spanish noble of the House of Borja who served in multiple positions of power throughout the New Kingdom of Granada. He is perhaps best known ...
(1564* – 1628)
*
Íñigo de Borja
Don Íñigo de Borja y Velasco (1575–1622) was a Spanish nobleman and military commander who served as governor of Antwerp Citadel.
Family
Don Íñigo was born at Gandía in 1575 to the prominent Spanish noble house of Borja, the son of Franci ...
(1575–1622), great-grandson of Francis and elder brother of Gaspar.
*
Gaspar de Borja y Velasco
Gaspar de Borja y Velasco (26 June 1580 – 28 December 1645) was a Spanish cardinal, ecclesiastic and politician. He belonged to the house of Borgia (though he always used the Spanish spelling of ''Borja'') and served as Primate of Spain, Archb ...
(1580–1645), born at
Villalpando
Villalpando is a municipality located in the province of Zamora, Castile and León, Spain. According to the 2004 census (INE), the municipality has a population of 1,624 inhabitants.
Formerly the town was reputed for its saltpans, the Salinas ...
in Spain who unlike many of his relatives preferred to use the Spanish spelling "Borja". He served as
Primate of Spain
The Primacy of the Spains ( pt, Primaz das Espanhas; es, Primado de las Españas, ca, Primat de les Espanyes) is the primacy of the Iberian Peninsula, historically known as Hispania or in the plural as the Spains. The Archbishop of Braga, in ...
,
Archbishop of Seville, and
Archbishop and Viceroy of Naples.
*
Francisco de Borja y Aragón
Francisco de Borja y Aragón, conde de Rebolledo, prince of Squillace (1581 – September 26, 1658) was a Spanish writer, official in the court of King Philip III of Spain, and, from December 18, 1615 to December 31, 1621, viceroy of Peru.
Biogr ...
(1581–1658)
*
Fernando de Borja y Aragón Don Fernando de Borja y Aragón or Ferran de Borja y d'Aragón (1583, in Lisboa – 28 November 1665, in Madrid) was a Spanish noble from the House of Borja and the House of Castro. He was the third Count of Mayalde, Viceroy of the royal house, and ...
(1583–1665)
*
Arturo Borja Pérez (1892–1912), Ecuadorian poet who was part of a group known as the "
Generación decapitada" (Decapitated Generation).
*
Rosa Borja de Ycaza
Rosa Borja Febres-Cordero (Guayaquil, July 30, 1889 – Guayaquil, December 22, 1964) known as Rosa Borja de Ycaza was an Ecuadorian writer, essayist, dramatist, sociologist, poet, novelist, feminist and activist.
Biography
Rosa Borja de Ycaza w ...
(1889–1964), Ecuadorian writer, essayist, playwright, sociologist, poetess, novelist, feminist and activist.
*
Luz Elisa Borja Martínez (1903–1927), Ecuadorian poet, pianist, painter, and sculptor.
*
Rodrigo Borja Cevallos
Rodrigo Borja Cevallos (born 19 June 1935) is an Ecuadorian politician who was President of Ecuador from 10 August 1988 to 10 August 1992. He is also a descendant of the House of Borgia.
Life
Borja was born in Quito, the capital of Ecuador. ...
(1935), former
President
President most commonly refers to:
*President (corporate title)
*President (education), a leader of a college or university
*President (government title)
President may also refer to:
Automobiles
* Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ful ...
of the
Republic of Ecuador
Ecuador ( ; ; Quechua: ''Ikwayur''; Shuar: ''Ecuador'' or ''Ekuatur''), officially the Republic of Ecuador ( es, República del Ecuador, which literally translates as "Republic of the Equator"; Quechua: ''Ikwadur Ripuwlika''; Shuar: ''Eku ...
Gallery
File:Arms of the house of Borgia (2).svg, Coat of arms of the dukes of Gandía.
Blason fam es Enríquez.svg, Coat of arms of Maria Enriquez de Luna widow of Pedro and Juan Borgia
File:Coat of arms of Cesare Borgia as Duke of Valentinois.svg, Coat of arms of the dukes of Valentinois.
File:Coat of arms of Cesare Borgia as Duke of Romagna and Valentinois and Captain-General of the Church.svg, Coat of arms of Cesare Borgia as Duke of Romagna and Valentinois and Captain-General of the Church
File:Calixtus III.jpg, Alfons de Borja
Pope Callixtus III
File:Portrait of Pope Alexander VI Borgia (Vatican Museums - Musei Vaticani, Vatican).jpg, Rodrigo Borja
Rodrigo Borja Cevallos (born 19 June 1935) is an Ecuadorian politician who was List of heads of state of Ecuador, President of Ecuador from 10 August 1988 to 10 August 1992. He is also a descendant of the House of Borgia.
Life
Borja was born ...
Pope Alexander VI, father of Cesare, Giovanni, Lucrezia and Gioffre.
File:Girolamo Marchesi – Portrait of a man.jpg, Giovanni Borgia
2nd Duke of Gandia
File:Cesareborgia.jpg, '' Portrait of a Gentleman'', Cesare Borgia
Duke of Valentinois
Duke of Valentinois (french: Duc de Valentinois; it, Duca Valentino) is a title of nobility, originally in the French peerage. It is currently one of the many hereditary titles claimed by the Prince of Monaco despite its extinction in French law ...
File:Veneto - Portrait of an Unidentified Young Lady - National Gallery.jpg, Lucrezia Borgia
Lucrezia Borgia (; ca-valencia, Lucrècia Borja, links=no ; 18 April 1480 – 24 June 1519) was a Spanish-Italian noblewoman of the House of Borgia who was the daughter of Pope Alexander VI and Vannozza dei Cattanei. She reigned as the Govern ...
Duchess of Ferrara and Modena
File:Goffredo Borgia.jpg, Gioffre Borgia
Gioffre Borgia (1481/82–1516/17), also known as Goffredo (Italian), or Jofré Borja (Valencian), was the youngest son of Pope Alexander VI and Vannozza dei Cattanei, and a member of the House of Borgia. He was the youngest brother of Cesare, ...
Prince of Squillace
File:San Francisco de Borja.jpg, Francisco Borgia
Saint Francis Borgia, S.J., 4th Duke of Gandia
File:JUAN DE BORJA Y ARMENDIA.jpg, Juan Buenaventura de Borja, President of the Real Audiencia de Santa Fe de Bogotá
File:Cardenal Gaspar de Borja y Velasco.JPG, Gaspar de Borja y Velasco
Gaspar de Borja y Velasco (26 June 1580 – 28 December 1645) was a Spanish cardinal, ecclesiastic and politician. He belonged to the house of Borgia (though he always used the Spanish spelling of ''Borja'') and served as Primate of Spain, Archb ...
Cardinal, Primate of Spain
The Primacy of the Spains ( pt, Primaz das Espanhas; es, Primado de las Españas, ca, Primat de les Espanyes) is the primacy of the Iberian Peninsula, historically known as Hispania or in the plural as the Spains. The Archbishop of Braga, in ...
, Archbishop of Seville, and Archbishop and Viceroy of Naples
File:Principe de Esquilache.jpg, Francisco de Borja y Aragón
Francisco de Borja y Aragón, conde de Rebolledo, prince of Squillace (1581 – September 26, 1658) was a Spanish writer, official in the court of King Philip III of Spain, and, from December 18, 1615 to December 31, 1621, viceroy of Peru.
Biogr ...
Prince of Squillace
Squillace ( grc, Σκυλλήτιον ''Skylletion''; grc-x-medieval, Σκυλάκιον ''Skylakion'') is an ancient town and ''comune'', in the Province of Catanzaro, part of Calabria, southern Italy, facing the Gulf of Squillace.
Squillace ...
and Viceroy of Peru
The viceroys of Peru ruled the Viceroyalty of Peru from 1544 to 1824 in the name of the monarch of Spain. The territories under ''de jure'' rule by the viceroys included in the 16th and 17th century almost all of South America except eastern Braz ...
In popular culture
The Borgias were infamous in their time, and have inspired numerous references in popular culture. They include novels, such as ''
City of God: A Novel of the Borgias'' (1979) by
Cecelia Holland
Cecelia Holland (born December 31, 1943) is an American historical fiction novelist.
Early life and education
Holland was born December 31, 1943, in Henderson, Nevada. She grew up in Metuchen, New Jersey, where she started writing at age 12, rec ...
,
''
The Family'' (2001) by
Mario Puzo
Mario Francis Puzo (; ; October 15, 1920 – July 2, 1999) was an American author, screenwriter, and journalist. He is known for his crime novels about the Italian-American Mafia and Sicilian Mafia, most notably ''The Godfather'' (1969), which ...
, and ''
Summer of Night
''Summer of Night'' is the first in a series of horror novels by American writer Dan Simmons, published in 1991 by Warner Aspect. It was nominated for a British Fantasy Award in 1992. The subsequent books are ''Children of the Night'' (1992), F ...
'' (1991) by
Dan Simmons
Dan Simmons (born April 4, 1948) is an American science fiction and horror writer. He is the author of the Hyperion Cantos and the Ilium/Olympos cycles, among other works which span the science fiction, horror, and fantasy genres, sometimes wi ...
,
plays, operas, comics, films like ''
The Borgia
''The Borgia'' ( es, Los Borgia, links=no) is a 2006 Spanish-Italian biographical film directed by Antonio Hernández. It stars Lluís Homar, Sergio Peris-Mencheta and María Valverde as, respectively, Rodrigo, Cesare and Lucrezia Borgia.
Cast
...
'' (2006), television series like ''
Borgia
The House of Borgia ( , ; Spanish and an, Borja ; ca-valencia, Borja ) was an Italian-Aragonese Spanish noble family, which rose to prominence during the Italian Renaissance. They were from Valencia, the surname being a toponymic from the town ...
'' (2011) and ''
The Borgias'' (2011) on
Showtime
Showtime or Show Time may refer to:
Film
* ''Showtime'' (film), a 2002 American action/comedy film
* ''Showtime'' (video), a 1995 live concert video by Blur
Television Networks and channels
* Showtime Networks, a division of Paramount Global w ...
, and video games the likes of ''
Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood'' (2010) by
Ubisoft
Ubisoft Entertainment SA (; ; formerly Ubi Soft Entertainment SA) is a French video game publisher headquartered in Saint-Mandé with development studios across the world. Its video game franchises include '' Assassin's Creed'', ''Far Cry'', '' ...
.
In series 4 of the sketch comedy TV show ''
Horrible Histories
''Horrible Histories'' is an educational entertainment franchise encompassing many media including books, magazines, audio books, stage shows, TV shows, and more.
In 2013, Lisa Edwards, UK publishing and commercial director of Scholastic Corpora ...
'', a song called "the Borgia Family" was featured in the section 'Radical Renaissance'.
The song is a parody of the theme song to
the Addams Family
''The Addams Family'' is a fictional family created by American cartoonist Charles Addams. They originally appeared in a series of 150 unrelated single-panel cartoons, about half of which were originally published in ''The New Yorker'' over ...
.
See also
*
Grandee of Spain
Grandee (; es, Grande de España, ) is an official aristocratic title conferred on some Spanish nobility. Holders of this dignity enjoyed similar privileges to those of the peerage of France during the , though in neither country did they ha ...
*
List of popes from the Borgia family
The Borgias, also known as the Borjas, were a European papal family of Spanish origin that became prominent during the Renaissance. The family produced three popes of the Catholic Church:
* Pope Callixtus III (born Alfons de Borja; 1378– ...
*
Borgia castles
*
Route of the Borgias
The Route of the Borgias is a cultural route, that includes sites associated with the Borja or ''Borgia'', located in their native Valencian Community, Spain. The marketing of the route was inaugurated in 2007.Source: ABCPaseo por la his ...
*
Borgia Apartments
The Borgia Apartments are a suite of rooms in the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican, adapted for personal use by Pope Alexander VI (Rodrígo de Borgia). In the late 15th century, he commissioned the Italian painter Bernardino di Betto (Pinturicch ...
*
Monastery of Sant Jeroni de Cotalba
The Monastery of Sant Jeroni de Cotalba (; es, San Jerónimo de Cotalba, "Saint Jerome of Cotalba") is a monastic building of Valencian Gothic, Mudéjar, Renaissance, Baroque and Neoclassical styles constructed between the 14th and 18t ...
*
Ducal Palace of Gandia
The Ducal Palace of Gandia was, from the 14th century, the residence of the Royal Dukes of Gandía, and from 1485, the Borja family. It was the birthplace of Saint Francis Borja.
The oldest part of the building dates from the 15th century in Va ...
*
Oratory of the Borgias
The Oratory of the Borgias or Church of the Tower is located in the municipality of Canals (Valencia), Spain. It is a church built in early Valencian Gothic style, probably in the 13th century.
It is located in front of the Borgias Tower and has ...
*
Tower and walls of the Borgias
The Tower and walls of the Borgias of the Valencian municipality of Canals (Spain), is a Bien de Interés Cultural with the code 46.23.081-003 and Ministerial annotation R-I-51-0010524 with date April 3, 2000. Is also known in valencian as ''Torre ...
*
Palace of the Borgias
*
Birthplace of Pope Alexander VI
Notes
References
* Fusero, Clemente. The Borgias. New York, Praeger Publishers, 1966.
* Grun, Bernard. The Timetables of History. New York, Simon and Schusters, 1946, pp. 218, 220, 222.
* Hale, John R. Renaissance. New York, Time-Life Books, 1965, p. 85.
"Mad Dogs and Spaniards: An Interview with Cesare Borgia." World and Image, 1996.* Rath, John R. "Borgia." World Book Encyclopedia. 1994 edition. World Book Inc., 1917, pp. 499–500.
* Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 1. (Old Catholic Encyclopedia) New York, Robert Appleton Company (a.k.a. The Encyclopedia Press), 1907.
* Duran, Eulàlia
The Borja Family: Historiography, Legend and Literature* Meyer, G.J.
The Borgias: The Hidden History, 2013* Chaplin, Danny
BORGIA, Behind The Myth: A New History of the Notorious Papal Family, 2018
External links
*
*
Francisco Fernández de Bethencourt – Historia Genealógica y Heráldica Española, Casa Real y Grandes de España, tomo cuarto*
Una rama subsistente del linaje Borja en América española, por Jaime de Salazar y Acha, Académico de Número de la Real Academia Matritense de Heráldica y Genealogía*
Boletín de la Real Academia Matritense de Heráldica y Genealogía*
*
ttp://rua.ua.es/dspace/bitstream/10045/4867/1/RHM_15_16.pdf La mirada sobre los Borja (Notas críticas para un estado de la cuestión)The Borja Family: Historiography, Legend and Literature by Eulàlia Duran, Institut d’Estudis CatalansInstitut Internacional d'Estudis Borgians*
García Rivas, Manuel: ''Los Borja americanos: su contribución al mundo de la cultura''. Revista Borja. Centro de Estudios Borjanos. Actas del Congreso Los Borja en el arte, Nº. 5. España, 2015–2016, p. 15Diario Borja – Borgia Tres siglos de Historia día a día
{{DEFAULTSORT:House Of Borgia
1455 establishments in Europe
1748 disestablishments in Europe
Borgia
The House of Borgia ( , ; Spanish and an, Borja ; ca-valencia, Borja ) was an Italian-Aragonese Spanish noble family, which rose to prominence during the Italian Renaissance. They were from Valencia, the surname being a toponymic from the town ...
Borgia
The House of Borgia ( , ; Spanish and an, Borja ; ca-valencia, Borja ) was an Italian-Aragonese Spanish noble family, which rose to prominence during the Italian Renaissance. They were from Valencia, the surname being a toponymic from the town ...
Borgia
The House of Borgia ( , ; Spanish and an, Borja ; ca-valencia, Borja ) was an Italian-Aragonese Spanish noble family, which rose to prominence during the Italian Renaissance. They were from Valencia, the surname being a toponymic from the town ...
Borja
Borja
Borgia
The House of Borgia ( , ; Spanish and an, Borja ; ca-valencia, Borja ) was an Italian-Aragonese Spanish noble family, which rose to prominence during the Italian Renaissance. They were from Valencia, the surname being a toponymic from the town ...
Borgia
The House of Borgia ( , ; Spanish and an, Borja ; ca-valencia, Borja ) was an Italian-Aragonese Spanish noble family, which rose to prominence during the Italian Renaissance. They were from Valencia, the surname being a toponymic from the town ...
Borgia
The House of Borgia ( , ; Spanish and an, Borja ; ca-valencia, Borja ) was an Italian-Aragonese Spanish noble family, which rose to prominence during the Italian Renaissance. They were from Valencia, the surname being a toponymic from the town ...
Borgia
The House of Borgia ( , ; Spanish and an, Borja ; ca-valencia, Borja ) was an Italian-Aragonese Spanish noble family, which rose to prominence during the Italian Renaissance. They were from Valencia, the surname being a toponymic from the town ...
Route of the Borgias
Monastery of Sant Jeroni de Cotalba