Instead of freaking out, Lucrezia was so tired that she just said, Oh good, I am dead!. Husbands hiding things from wives, mothers from children, and generation from generation. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. . Their love letters were deemed "the prettiest love letters in the world" by the Romantic poet Lord Byron when he saw them in the Ambrosian Library of Milan on 15 October 1816. Most people dont believe Cesares claim and in any other family, Id have my doubts too. Well, the Borgias were doing a bunch of Borgia stuff, and now, they were allied with France. Not only did Lucrezia grow up away from her disinterested mother, she also had a pretty weird relationship with her dads new girlfriend Guilia. At first, it seemed like her brother Giovanni had just gone missingbut after a week or two, it turned out that he was never coming home. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window), Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Helena Maurya: The Greek Wife of IndiasEmperor, Musa of Parthia: Slave to Queen ofQueens, Elena Glinskaya: Powerful and PoisonedRegent, Amalasuntha: Wise Queen of theOstrogoths. She called herself the most unhappy princess of Salerno. Sadly, Lucrezia spoke too soon. Lucrezia still raised Giovanni Borgia, even after she remarried. Copyright 2023 by Factinate.com. With Lucrezias family and her hubbys family on opposite sides of a huge conflict, it was only a matter of time before the couple headed to splitsville. When the French King tried to take over Naples, the Borgias politely declined (read: convinced him they were BFFs, then ruthlessly betrayed him), only for the Sforzas to support him. But even Lucrezia couldnt smooth over every scandal. [20][21] On the same occasion Byron claimed to have stolen a lock of Lucrezia's hair "the prettiest and fairest imaginable"[21] that was also held there on display. Mother and son never saw each other again. WebDid Lucrezia Borgia have syphilis? Soon after Lucrezia settled into the nunnery, the body of her alleged lover Perotto was found in the Tiber river, along with a chambermaid. {Some sources state that Giovanni returned the dowry. He was just 19 years old. WebWhat happened to Lucrezia Borgia first son? After just four years of mutual unhappiness, the mismatched couple would accuse each other of misconduct also known as the Renaissance equivalent of irreconcilable differences. She was betrothed to tons of different weird old men before she was even in her teens, but she was never married to either of them. Even before Papa Borgia got his daughter a scandalous annulment, Lucrezia was already making a name for herself as Italys new troublemaker. WebBorgia Family, Spanish Borja, descendants of a noble line, originally from Valencia, Spain, that established roots in Italy and became prominent in ecclesiastical and political affairs Lucrezias father, Rodrigo Borgia, ended up becoming Pope Alexander VI, so he didnt need to marry Lucrezia off to some regular old noble, she could get a really good husband. Cesare contracted syphilis at the age of 22, and had to wear a mask later in life to hide his disfigurement. Despite their mutual adultery, Lucrezias final marriage to Alfonso dEste was also mutually affectionate. Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, Cunning Facts About The Borgias, Italys Most Scandalous Family, These Jerks Had No Idea Who They Were Messing With, Plot Twist: These Surprise Endings Made Our Jaws Hit The Floor, These Stories Of Unforgettable Close Calls Made Our Jaws Drop, Bone-Chilling Moments We'll Never Be Able To Explain. Lucrezia wasnt exactly undeserving of her reputation, but her story is crazier than we think. Giovanni was offered her dowry in return for his cooperation. As though thats not bad enough, Lucrezia was also the last Borgia standing. This was, in sum, a lot for Lucrezia to deal with. endstream endobj 15 0 obj <> endobj 16 0 obj <> endobj 17 0 obj <>stream Lucrezia Borgia _ History may have pigeonholed her as Renaissance Italys most notorious seductress, but its high time we give the Duchess of Ferrara a closer look. Centuries after she lived, he claimed to be in the proud possession of a lock of her hair, which he referred to as the prettiest and fairest imaginable. What Byron failed to mention was the fact that he stole said lock of hair from Milanese archives. Despite the haters, Lucrezia was still a great beauty. In another version of the story, Lucrezia doesnt save her husband. Justifiably, the girl felt like she needed a vacation. Join thousands of others and start your morning with our Fact Of The Day newsletter. The poet Lord Byron himself described them as the prettiest love letters in the world.. My mom never told me how her best friend died. Youve gotta hand it to them: No one did family drama quite like the Borgias. From the rival Orsini family to Alfonsos own nefarious uncle, historians have pointed the finger at plenty of suspects, but theres fairly compelling evidence that points to one specific person: Cesare Borgia, the brother of Lucrezia. Amid at least four miscarriages, she managed to become pregnant only for the poor woman suffered from seizures and high fevers. WebLucrezias mother, Vannozza dei Cattanei, may not have been Rodrigo Borgias only mistress, but she was definitely his longest-lasting affair. Lucrezia bled so much during the birth that everyone believed she might die, leading her husband and brother to rush to her side to bid adieu. She then reinvested the wealth back into convents and hospitals, which earned the goodwill of the common folk. Lucrezia Borgia. This marriage was arranged by Cesare to consolidate his position in the Romagna. 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. Madame de Pompadour didn't just share King Louis XV's bed, she also shared his power. The Borgias apparently looked on as people who could perform with as many partners as possible got prizes for their achievements. Lucrezia, Alfonso, and baby Rodrigo were just having fun being a family, and then Lucrezias brother Cesare just had to mess everything up for them. Heck, they even spoke a rare language other to make sure their secrets stayed in the family. WebLucrezias mother, Vannozza dei Cattanei, may not have been Rodrigo Borgias only mistress, but she was definitely his longest-lasting affair. Even so, she is reported to have had one particularly beautiful feature: Her thick locks of strawberry blonde hair were so long that they reached passed her knees. One, St. Francis Borgia (15101572), a great-grandson of Rodrigo, was canonized. She also helped build convents and hospitals, so not a lot of people really hated her. WebYou could watch the show and think Cardinal Della Rovere isnt the villain but the hero. The Borgia family is one of the most notorious in European history. Headed by patriarch Rodrigo Borgiawho became Pope Alexander VIthe family was comprised of his four children: Cesare, Juan, Lucrezia, and Jofre, and they were accused of everything from buying the papal election to incest, with lots more in between. Syphilis affected many illustrious personages in the 15th and 16th centu- ry, such as the Kings of France, Charles VIII and Francis I; the popes Alexander VI, Julius II and Leo X; Cesare and Lucrezia Borgia, Erasmus of Rotterdam and Benvenutto Cellini, who, among oth- ers, survived syphilis without consequences1 . Fair enough, Lucrezias future father-in-law was initially hesitant to wed his heir to Romes most scandalous widow. The English poet Lord Byron was a big fan of Lucrezia Borgia. During her third marriage, Lucrezia took great pains to befriend her husbands sister, Isabella dEste, you know, the one who spied on Lucrezia during her wedding night. Want to tell us to write facts on a topic? According to lore, Lucrezias favorite piece of jewelry was a special ring. But Lucrezia did more than have affairs. 3.42 278 ratings28 reviews Lucrezia Borgia fights to save her husband from assasination by her powerful family 1497, Renaissance As the teenage daughter of Pope Alexander VI, Lucrezia Borgia is a young noblewoman immersed in all the glamor of the Vatican Palace. Cesare; or C) it was Lucrezias baby with her dad the Pope (ew). Lucrezia Borgia, (born April 18, 1480, Romedied June 24, 1519, Ferrara, Papal States), Italian noblewoman and a central figure of the infamous Borgia family of the Italian Renaissance. Britannica Explores. 100 Women Trailblazers. Meet extraordinary women who dared to bring gender equality and other issues to the forefront. Alfonso couldnt hide from his angry papal father-in-law forever. To keep her husband safe, she personally made all his meals to make sure no one could poison him. there's a particularly revolting scam involving olive oil and syphilis. Lucrezia had become very weak during the pregnancy and fell seriously ill after the birth. In a stunning move, she even named one of her children Francesco, suggesting that her actual husband maaaaaaybe wasnt the babys real dad. But there was a legitimate reason for their intense attachments to one another. WebHe was deeply devoted to her and never really recovered his spirits after her death, soon after the stillbirth of a son, in 1837. Years later, I was using her phone when I made an utterly chilling discovery. Seriously, though, she just kept some poison in her ring to mix into peoples drinks, just in case she wanted someone out of her way. Juan boasts to his father that his wife is pregnant with a son. Lucrezia Borgia and the entire Borgia family are quite infamous. WebDid Lucrezia Borgia have an illegitimate child? And yet, paradoxically, this family lived when the Renaissance Headed by patriarch Rodrigo Borgiawho became Pope Alexander VIthe family was comprised of his four children: Cesare, Juan, Lucrezia, and Jofre, and they Then when she went into a difficult labor, her daughter was stillborn. The Borgias clung to each other because, in a way, they were all they had. Yeah, back in the day, people seemed determined to create the most confusing family trees possible. Giovanni refused and accused Lucrezia of paternal incest. Cesare contracted syphilis at the age of 22, and had to wear a mask later in life to hide his disfigurement. [19], Lucrezia also had a love affair with the poet Pietro Bembo during her third marriage. In 1501, two papal bulls were issued concerning the child, Giovanni Borgia. Lucrezia was probably given a great education and grew up near her father. When word got out about Alfonsos brutal fate, the Roman people immediately began gossiping about the drama behind his demise. Talk about mommy issues. Her Love Life Started Early. When Rodrigo became Pope Alexander VI, he sought to be allied with powerful princely families and founding dynasties of Italy. Eventually, though, the Pope issued two papal bulls. Francesco also had syphilis, though Lucrezia doesnt seem to have caught it. According to lore, Cesare Borgia set up both attacks on Alfonso of Aragon, and he wasnt shy about taking the credit for his vicious actions. Record scratchbut wait, you say, didnt she already have a kid? Before walking down the aisle with Alfonso dEste, Lucrezia had to declare herself to be a virgin. To make things worse, people also believed that Lucrezia helped plan the attack. Basically, the French tried invading Naples, and the Sforzas supported the French while Lucrezias father supported Naples. Lucrezia Borgia, (born April 18, 1480, Romedied June 24, 1519, Ferrara, Papal States), Italian noblewoman and a central figure of the infamous Borgia family of the Italian Renaissance. In March 1498, the Ferrarese ambassador claimed that Lucrezia had given birth, but this was denied by other sources. Seeking to strengthen his ties with Naples, the pope in 1498 arranged a marriage between Lucrezia and the 17-year-old Alfonso, duke of Bisceglie, an illegitimate son of Alfonso II of Naples. WebDid Cesare Borgia have syphilis? Her family arranged several marriages for her that advanced their own political position including Giovanni Sforza, Lord of Pesaro and Gradara, Count of Cotignola; Alfonso of Aragon, Duke of Bisceglie and Prince of Salerno; and Alfonso I d'Este, Duke of Ferrara. According to his biographer, the Chevalier became a great admirer of Lucrezia's, considering her a "pearl on this Earth".[25]. He reluctantly did, and the marriage was over. But when it comes to the Borgia clan, anything goes. Lucrezias confidante Sancia might have been married to little Gioffre Borgia, but that didnt stop her from sleeping with her hubbys brothers,Giovanni and Cesare. Despite her efforts, Alfonso was doomed. She was an illegitimate daughter of Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia and one of his mistresses, Vannozza dei Cattanei. Rumors about her and her family cast Lucrezia as a femme fatale, a role in which she has been portrayed in many artworks, novels and films. 7. Instead, he sat back while Alfonso and Lucrezia welcomed their first and only child, a son named Rodrigo. Her education would primarily take place in the Piazza Pizzo de Merlo, a building adjacent to her father's residence. The best revenge might be living well, but that doesn't mean we can always turn the other cheek. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. The two ladies had a lot in common as intellectual patronesses of the Renaissance but alas, their friendship was not to be. Upon Lucrezias birthat which point no one believed that she was the child of her mothers official husbandher natural father Rodrigo Borgia hired astrologists to visit the baby and predict her future. As Duchess of Ferrara, Lucrezia heavily patronized Bembos work, and their letters to each other have been interpreted by some as quite romantic. Some peopleare Lucrezia. A notorious reputation precedes her, and she is inextricably, and perhaps unfairly, If Giovanni said that he was impotent and the marriage was never consummated, he could keep Lucrezias dowry. Lucrezia Borgia (1480-1519) Isabella and Lucrezia did not get along at all well, though their ill feeling predated the affair. He refused on the grounds that his syphilis was flaring, which may or may not have been a convenient excuse. Lucrezia became pregnant, but miscarried. That worked well enough for the Borgias. As mentioned earlier, Cesare Borgia contracted syphilis before his marriage. It wrecked his body, and then went into remissionat least at first. It came back with a vengeance and damaged Cesares once-esteemed good looks. By all accounts, Lucrezia seemed to really love her third husband. Two papal bulls recognized the child as the illegitimate son first of Cesare, then of Alexander, who was probably the true father. The new Pope loved the good life. Did the Borgia pope have syphilis? He said that Pope Alexander broke up him and Lucrezia so that he could, and I quote, have the freedom to enjoy himself with his own daughter. Obviously, Giovanni Sforza was biased. Even when her first marriage ended in a complete disaster, Lucrezia knew how to keep a level head.