The name borgia is synonymous with catholic religious corruption, as well as greed, incest, and murder. List of books and articles about papal history online. How historically accurate is showtimes the borgias. When celestine v abdicated in 1294 he was succeeded by pope boniface viii. Twohour borgias finale script to be released as ebook ign.
He studied law at bologna and was appointed as cardinal by his uncle, alfons borgia, pope callixtus iii. Jul 23, 20 pope alexander vi, born rodrigo borgia, comes to rome a handsome, ripesmelling spanish cleric who grows into a corpulent, wily power player, as generous as he is ruthless. Lr cesare borgia, lucrezia borgia, pope alexander vi and a young man, in a glass of wine with caesar borgia by john collier 1893 ian thomson 15 august 2019 7. In this papal decree, alexander decided that some parts of south america would be spanish or and some parts would be portuguese. She had three political marriages, arranged for her familys advantage, and likely had several adulterous alliances. The renaissance borgias and their machiavellian magnetism. When his nephew, alexander vi, came to power in 1492 the eternal city was suffering from the eternal. Chamberlins 1969 book the bad popes documented the lives of eight. Barnabe barnes 1606 play the devils charter, performed at the globe by the kings men, dramatizes the life of pope alexander vi and his daughter lucretia borgia. Anthony borgia was a medium who transcribed the thoughts of a deceased priest and author whom he had known in life. He sired at least twelve children through a number of mistresses. The showtime series the borgias, which i love, is filled with a lot of halftruths and embellishments.
A new pope and the most corrupt vatican since the borgias. He is pope by reason of being bishop of rome and thus, according to roman catholic belief, successor in the see of rome the holy see to its first bishop, st. Like all great historical fiction,it is based on historical truth but the author creates a story within the story. Forget everything you think you know about the most infamous family of. Two years previously, the ottoman army under the command of sultan mehmed ii captured constantinoplethe byzantine empire and the byzantine church fell. Taking the papal name of callixtus iii, he was the first spanish pope of. The death of pope alexander vi, 1503 eyewitness to history. The intertwining chronicles of the borgia and medici dynasties offer rich. All four are fine books, authoritative and wellwritten, by independent. The popes daughter, by dario fo the new york times. The darkness of the papal history reveal the papacy is the longestlasting elected office in the world, and the vast majority of popes have been good and honest christians. Book of hours of alexander vi, pope borgia facsimile edition. The subject of that search for truth is lucrezia borgia, the romanborn daughter of the spanish cardinal rodrigo borgia, who reigned as pope alexander vi. Pope alexander is known for writing inter caetera in 1493.
The borgia papacy was definitely a corrupted and morally unstable time in the history of the church. The hidden history is a gripping history of a tempestuous time and an infamous family. Borgias yearold daughter, lucrezia, his farfallinalittle butterflywill marry giovanni sforza, the cardinals cousin, in more political payoff. Cesare borgia, the illegitimate son of a pontiff, was the hero of the prince. They tend to mix up timelines and mesh stories to fit in with making a successful and entertaining tv show. Saint francis borgia jesuit superior general britannica. Jul, 2016 pope benedict xvi called bernanos a great french writer who was always fascinated by the idea of the saintshe mentions many in his novels. Apr 17, 2011 the real family behind the showtimes the borgias was even wilder and more corrupt than in the cable television series. If the borgias are to triumph, this charismatic, consummate politician with a huge. Born into the prominent borgia family in xativa in the. Cesare borgia, lucrezia, pope alexander, and a young man holding an empty glass. This book was included in the collection of some of pope francis favorite books, called the library of pope francis, as published by corriere della sera to this day, the four weeks of meditation exercises and reflection are used by the jesuit order, while ignatian retreats incorporate the elements of reflection and decisionmaking that lead.
The name borgia is synonymous with the corruption, nepotism, and greed that were rife in renaissance italy. Lucrezia borgia was an italian noblewoman and daughter of pope alexander vi. Mar 25, 2014 there was a borgia boom in 2011 when, aiming to capitalize on the commercial success of the tudors, the television world realized there was one obvious way to up the ante. Borgia, who would become pope alexander vi, gains his papacy with the support of the troublesome milanese, particularly cardinal ascanio sforza, whom he names vicechancellor. History and legend the more than 100year history of the borgia family. A notorious reputation precedes her, and she is inextricably. Francis borgia and francisco borja 15811658, a spanish general and viceroy of. Ultimately, even borgia would succumb to ill fortune when his father, pope alexander vi, became ill and died. Lucrezia borgia april 18, 1480june 24, 1519 was the illegitimate daughter of pope alexander vi rodrigo borgia by one of his mistresses. 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.
A history of the popes by eamon duffy first published in 1997, 3rd edition published 2006 an all encompassing history of the papacy from its beginnings nearly 2000 years ago. From saint peter, the first bishop, to pius the ninth, the present pope, including the history of saints, martyrs, fathers, of the church, religious orders, cardinals, inquisitions, schisms, and the great reformers. Borgia died a few years after the death of his father at the young age of 32. A spanishborn pontiff from the powerful borgia family, pope alexander vi was infamous for his libertine behavior and nepotism. Aug 22, 2008 another well preserved relic of the borgia is the former palace of the pope and his mistress, rosa vannozza, near the church in which are preserved the alleged chains of st. See more ideas about the borgias, lucrezia borgia and italian renaissance. Aug 18, 2014 saturday, the 12th of august, 1503, the pope fell ill in the morning. Gioffre borgia 14821516, son of pope alexander vi and younger brother of cesare borgia and lucrezia borgia. A notorious reputation precedes her, and she is inextricably, and. If you wanted to be pope or stay pope in the 1400s, there was only one way to do it. The life and times of rodrigo borgia, pope alexander vi arnold mathew on. Painting by john collier, a glass of wine with caesar borgia, from left.
In 15th century italy, resorting to murdering ones political opponents as rodrigo borgia, who became the second borgia pope with the name of alexander vi, did, wasnt that unusual. The powerful, voracious rodrigo borgia, better known to history as pope alexander vi, was the central figure of the dynasty. Jan 12, 2016 a book on mercy might be expected to be a warm bath in kindliness, all sweetness and light, but pope francis, in the name of god is mercy, offers a toughminded reflection on an urgently. Aug 22, 2008 maybe these noble and simple children of the pope have a feeling of veneration for the second borgia because it was he who divided america between spain and portugal. Shelf awareness meyer brings his considerable skills to another infamous renaissance family, the borgias and a fresh look into the machinations of power in renaissance italy. The third edition includes an extended final chapter covering the last years of pope john paul ii and the election of benedict xvi. A new history of the notorious papal family 9781726009881. In the words of the author, an institution like the roman papacy, conceived in fraud and born in iniquity, was bound in the order of gods law, to produce its crop of evil, and of this crop probably the borgia pope is the most striking example, though by no means the only one. Cardinal borgia was elected pope on august 11, 1492. The vatican princess paperback a novel of lucrezia borgia.
I agree that the mix of accents in borgia is offputging at first but if you think that rome was a pretty cosmopolitan city and there would have been a mix of accents then maybe its not quite as annoying. The borgias by sarah dunant, the family by mario puzo, madonna of the. Pope alexander vi, born rodrigo borgia, comes to rome a handsome, ripesmelling spanish cleric who grows into a corpulent, wily. Meyer portrays rodrigo later pope alexander vi as affable and with a childish love for pomp. For those new to the history of renaissance italy, stratherns book is a. Alexander lee attempts to rescue the borgias from their baleful reputation. This part of rome had undergone some changes in the early 70s, when a new street which was called the via cavour was laid out leading from the central railroad.
What books contain the most detailed account of papal history in the first millennium. The borgia family had a lot of enemies before rodrigos ascension to the throne of stpeter, and made a lot more during is years as pope. Mar, 20 matthew fox former catholic priest discusses the vaticans work with the cia and its alliance with far right political forces and pope francis opposition to liberation theology in latin. The house of borgia was a spanisharagonese noble family, which rose to prominence during. This is a glorious volume from joseph ratzinger,now pope benedict xvi, who pays tribute to his predecessor, mentor and close friend, pope john paul ii. In his new departure of a book this is, improbably and quite delightfully, the 89yearold authors first novel, the pope s daughter, fo creates a colorful recreation of lucrezia borgias life.
The conquest of the romagna by the pope s warlord son, cesare borgia, was swift and vicious. Cesare as wild but competent, and the victim of his enemies slander. From incest to blasphemy, meet the least saintly pope in history. His nephew rodrigo became pope as alexander vi, and rodrigos illegitimate children were cesare and lucrezia borgia. In barnes play alexander sells his soul to the devil in exchange for the papacy.
The key role of the first powerful borgia alonso pope calixtus iii is detailed, although its significance to the big picture is only hinted at. Family affairs the most scandalous popes in history. In eight days, a new pope had to be chosen by ten of the fifteen cardinals. The borgia family stands out in history as being infamously steeped in sin and immorality, yet there is evidence to. The most notorious family in italian history was spanish.
As cardinal ratzinger he was the closest vatican prelate to john paul ii, working together. The life and times of rodrigo borgia, pope alexander vi. List of books and articles about borgias online research. Being engaged in the troublous task of making america catholic, alexander vi is perhaps a well chosen patron for their work. Sep 01, 2011 just as don corleone was pure fiction invented by mario puzo, i would suggest that the borgia pope depicted in history has also been invented by a series of writers over the centuries. After the hour of vespers, between six and seven oclock a fever appeared and remained permanently. Pope alexander vi simple english wikipedia, the free. For an evenings sport, cesare borgia, the popes son, invited his sister. Best books about the borgia family 68 books goodreads.
Rodrigo borgia pope alexander vi, a man who bought himself the papacy, and two of his infamous illegitimate childrencesare and lucreziawere notorious for incest, poisoning, theft, political manipulation, seizing power, assassinations, wealth, landtheft, and titles through bribery. Great book about the wife of jofre borgia, the popes. Contains numerous images decorated with floral, animal, fruit, and architectural motifs as well as medallions, all in vivid colors on a gold background, forming an impressive polychromatic group. Cantarella was the poison of choice for the borgia family.
Mar 31, 2020 from incest to blasphemy, meet the least saintly pope in history. Such is the power of the media that very many people believe marion brandos don corleone to be a real, historic person, and far more people believe the pope. Save the borgias campaigners will at least have some resolution, as the series finale script is to be released as an e book. The novel is about pope alexander vi rodrigo borgia and his family. Renaissance italy was dominated by rich and powerful families whose reputations have been shaped by the many dark. The book begins with the death of pope nicholas v in 1455. Check out this biography to know about his childhood, life and achievements. He was elected pope in 1492, taking the regnal name alexander vi. The book is a mainstay in catholic fiction classes, and bernanos himself continues to be a studied figure in politics, history, and literature, especially in his lively relationships with other. Rodrigo borgia who went on to become one of the baddest of the bad popes was born in valencia, spain, in 1431. 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 1497.
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