Did the Borgia pope have syphilis?
He was considered the handsomest man in Italy, there were inevitably rumours of incest with his sister Lucrezia and he had syphilis from his early twenties. His father put Cesare in command of the papal army in 1496, when he was still only about twenty.
What does Machiavelli say about Cesare Borgia?
Machiavelli again cites the example of Borgia in taking up the question of “whether it is better to be loved than feared.” Not unsurprisingly, Machiavelli writes that, if one had to choose, it is better to be feared than loved: “Cesare Borgia was considered cruel; nonetheless, that cruelty united Romagna and brought it …
How is Alexander VI described by Machiavelli?
Not only was Alexander a famous liar, but he also was a violent dude. According to Machiavelli, he, “more than any other pope in history showed what could be done with finance and force of arms” (11.4), and it was because of his greediness that popes after him inherited a pretty nice chunk of land.
Was Pope Borgia real?
The Borgias, also known as the Borjas, were a European papal family of Spanish origin that became prominent during the Renaissance. Pope Alexander VI (born Rodrigo Lanzol Borgia; 1431–1503) – served as pope from 11 August 1492 until his death on 18 August 1503; his maternal uncle was Pope Callixtus III.
Who was the second Pope of the Borgia?
Alexander VI was not the only Borgia to become pope. In fact, he was the second of three Borgias to lead the Catholic Church. His uncle was Pope Callixtus III, who assisted Alexander in his rise to power. Then, more than 150 years after Alexander’s ascension to Pope, his great-great-great-grandson would be elected Pope Innocent X.
What did Alexander VI do with Cesare Borgia?
For his entire life, Alexander VI had raised Cesare Borgia to become a member of the clergy, first giving him an expensive education and then appointing him to cardinal at an extraordinarily young age. But Giovanni’s loss had changed everything—and behind the scenes, Cesare was plotting a move that would shock everyone.
What did Pope Callixtus do with Pope Rodrigo Borgia?
After the election of his uncle Pope Callixtus III, Callixtus made Rodrigo Borgia a cardinal. Soon after, he went even further and made Rodrigo then vice-chancellor of the Catholic Church. This set Rodrigo up for a future ascension to the papacy. These nepotistic appointments were a common practice in the church at the time.
How old was Cesare Borgia when he died?
The Borgias came from Spain originally and the most famous of them died there, killed at the age of 31 in a minor skirmish by attackers who did not even know who he was.