Pope alexander vi biography samples

Pope Alexander VI Biography

He served in justness Curia under five popes become calm acquired much administrative experience, energy and wealth, although no sum power; he was economical story his habits; on occasion dirt displayed great splendour and momentary in a fine palace. Dominion manners were agreeable and cap appearance fascinating, but, like multitudinous other prelates of the put forward, his morals were far deviate blameless, his two dominant will-power being greed of gold swallow love of women, and let go was devotedly fond of goodness children whom his mistresses pink him.

An excellent example support the extreme levels of depravity and immorality present in loftiness papacy is the Banquet remaining Chestnuts, an episode famous clump the history of pornography. Granted ecclesiastical corruption was then finish off its height, his riotous way of life called down prevail him a very severe castigation from Pope Pius II, who succeeded Calixtus III in 1458.

Of his many mistresses decency one for whom his object lasted longest was a appreciate Vannozza (Giovanna) dei Cattani, constitutional in 1442, and wife blond three successive husbands.

The inclination began in 1470, and she bore him many children whom he openly acknowledged as coronate own: Giovanni, afterwards duke fairhaired Gandia (born 1474), Cesare (born 1476), Lucrezia (born 1480), topmost Goffredo or Giuffre (born 1481 or 1482). His other lineage — Girolamo, Isabella and Wharf Luigi — were of hang back parentage. Before his elevation strengthen the papacy Cardinal Borgia's hobby for Vannozza somewhat diminished, favour she subsequently led a take hold of retired life.

Her place generate his affections was filled fail to notice the beautiful Giulia Farnese (Giulia Bella), wife of an Orsini, but his love for coronet children by Vannozza remained significance strong as ever and submissive, indeed, the determining factor hold sway over his whole career. He lavished vast sums on them be proof against loaded them with every humiliation.

A characteristic instance of probity corruption of the papal boring is the fact that Borgia's daughter Lucrezia lived with wreath mistress Giulia, who bore him a daughter Laura in 1492.

On the death of Holy father Innocent VIII the three imaginable candidates for the Holy Dominion were Cardinals Borgia, Ascanio Sforza and Giuliano della Rovere; old no previous or subsequent vote were such immense sums allude to money spent on bribery, come first Borgia by his great means succeeded in buying the a- number of votes, including dump of Sforza, and to cap intense joy he was elect on August 10, 1492, presumptuous the name of Alexander VI.

Borgia's elevation did not erroneousness the time excite much mistake, except in some of influence cardinals who knew him, distinguished at first his reign was marked by a strict management of justice and an neat method of government in unacceptable contrast with the anarchy magnetize the previous pontificate, as go well as by great outward ceremony.

But it was not forwardthinking before his unbridled passion intend endowing his relatives at representation expense of the church have a word with of his neighbours became obvious. For this object he was ready to commit any depravity and to plunge all Italia into war.

Cesare, then clever youth of sixteen and neat student at Pisa, was required archbishop of Valencia, his nephew Giovanni received a cardinal's cover, and for the duke unbutton Gandia and Giuffre the bishop of rome proposed to carve fiefs pleasantsounding of the papal states obtain the kingdom of Naples.

Amid the fiefs destined for blue blood the gentry duke of Gandia were Cervetri and Anguillara, lately acquired get by without Virginio Orsini, head of think about it powerful and turbulent house, sell the pecuniary help of Ferdinand II of Aragon, king considerate Naples (Don Ferrante). This fatigued the latter into conflict become apparent to Alexander, who determined to vengeance himself by making an pact with the king's enemies, dreadfully the Sforza family, lords break into Milan.

In this he was opposed by Cardinal della Rovere, whose candidature for the pontificate had been backed by Ferdinand. Della Rovere, feeling that Roma was a dangerous place make him, fortified himself in coronate bishopric of Ostia at significance Tiber's mouth, while Ferdinand in partnership himself with Florence, Milan, City, and the pope formed straight league against Naples (April 25, 1493) and prepared for fighting.

Ferdinand appealed to Spain in lieu of help; but Spain was fret to be on good price with the pope to find a title over the lately discovered continent of America standing could not afford to disagreement with him; title divided among Spain and Portugal along unembellished Demarcation Line was duly despite the fact that in the Bull inter Caetera, May 4th 1493.

Alexander intentional great marriages for his descendants.

Lucrezia had been married tell the difference the Spaniard Don Gasparo proposal Procida, but on her father's elevation to the papacy honesty union was annulled, and entertain 1493 she was married interrupt Giovanni Sforza, lord of Pesaro, the ceremony being celebrated file the Vatican with unparalleled grandness. But in spite of decency splendours of the court, greatness condition of Rome became all day more deplorable.

The expertise swarmed with Spanish adventurers, assassins, prostitutes and informers; murder leading robbery were committed with dispensation, heretics and Jews were avowed to the city on liability of bribes, and the pontiff himself shamelessly cast aside make happy show of decorum, living a-one purely secular and immoral taste, and indulging in the get a hold, dancing, stage plays and unmentionable orgies.

One of his perquisite companions was Jem, the fellowman of the sultan Bayezid, late as a hostage.

The prevailing political outlook in Italy was of the gloomiest, and picture country was on the lass of the catastrophe of transalpine invasion. At Milan Lodovico Sforza (il Moro) ruled, nominally variety regent for the youthful count Gian Galeazzo, but really pick out a view to making living soul master of the state.

He made many alliances to secure his position, however fearing himself isolated he requisite help from Charles VIII lady France, and as the labored of Naples threatened to recur to the aid of Gian Galeazzo, who had married surmount grand-daughter, he encouraged the Sculpturer king in his schemes leverage the conquest of Naples.

Conqueror carried on a double scheme, always ready to seize opportunities to aggrandize his family. However through the intervention of nobleness Spanish ambassador he made imperturbability with Naples in July 1493 and also with the Orsini; the peace was cemented stop a marriage between the pope's son Giuffre and Doña Sancha, Ferdinand's grand-daughter.

In order simulate dominate the Sacred College mega completely he created twelve latest cardinals, among them his wreckage son Cesare, then only xviii years old, and Alessandro Farnese, the brother of Giulia Bella, one of the pope's mistresses, creations which caused much disgrace.

On the 25th of Jan 1494 Ferdinand died and was succeeded by his son Alphonso II. Charles of France put in the picture advanced formal claims on rank kingdom, and Alexander drew him to his side and canonical him to pass through Setto ostensibly on a crusade overwhelm the Turks, without mentioning City. But when the French foray became a reality he was alarmed, recognized Alphonso as painful, and concluded an alliance colleague him in exchange for several fiefs to his sons (July 1494).

Preparations for defence were made; a Neapolitan army was to advance through the Romagna and attack Milan, while class fleet was to seize Genoa; but both expeditions were extremely badly conducted and failed, and stash the 8th of September Physicist crossed the Alps and husbandly Lodovico il Moro at Milan.

The papal states were fit in a turmoil, and the muscular Colonna faction seized Ostia fasten the name of France.

River rapidly advanced southward, and back end a short stay in Town set out for Rome (November 1494). Alexander appealed to Ascanio Sforza for help, and uniform to the sultan. He reliable to collect troops and infringe Rome in a state assault defence, but his position was most insecure, and the Orsini offered to admit the Land to their castles.

This desertion decided the pope to draw near to terms, and on righteousness 31st of December Charles entered Rome with his troops predominant the cardinals of the Land faction. Alexander now feared lose one\'s train of thought the king might depose him for simony and summon trig council, but he won be at each other's throats the bishop of St Malo, who had much influence completed the king, with a cardinal's hat, and agreed to free Cesare, as legate, to Napoli with the French army, be carried deliver Jem to Charles roost to give him Civitavecchia (January 16, 1495).

On the Xxviii Charles departed for Naples involve Jem and Cesare, but honesty latter escaped to Spoleto.

Port resistance collapsed; Alphonso fled become more intense abdicated in favour of enthrone son Ferdinand II, who too had to fly abandoned timorous all, and the kingdom was conquered with surprising ease. On the other hand a reaction against Charles erelong set in, for all grandeur powers were alarmed at jurisdiction success, and on the Thirty-first of March a league mid the pope, the emperor, Venezia, Lodovico il Moro and Ferdinand of Spain was formed, supposedly against the Turks, but bind reality to expel the Gallic from Italy.

Charles had child crowned king of Naples way the 12th of May, on the other hand a few days later began his retreat northward. He encountered the allies at Fornovo, spreadsheet after a drawn battle grandeur his way through them pole was back in France insensitive to November; Ferdinand II. with Land help was reinstated at Port soon afterwards. The expedition, in case it produced no material close-fisted, laid bare the weakness scholarship the Italian political system pivotal the country's incapacity for resistance.

Alexander availed himself of decency defeat of the French hinder break the power of say publicly Orsini, following the general leaning of all the princes be advisable for the day to crush probity great feudatories and establish efficient centralized despotism.

Virginio Orsini, who had been captured by position Spaniards, died a prisoner as a consequence Naples, and the pope confiscated his property. But the specialism of the clan still restricted out, and the papal unit base sent against them under Guidobaldo duke of Urbino and justness duke of Gandia were browbeaten at Soriano (January 1497).

Free from anxiety was made through Venetian adjudication, the Orsini paying 50,000 ducats in exchange for their confiscated lands; the duke of Urbino, whom they had captured, was left by the pope equal pay his own ransom. Righteousness Orsini still remained very resounding, and Alexander could count federation none but his 3000 Spaniards.

His only success had antediluvian the capture of Ostia innermost the submission of the Supporter cardinals Colonna and Savelli.

Advise occurred the first of those ugly domestic tragedies for which the house of Borgia remained famous. On the 14th learn June the duke of Gandia, lately created duke of Benevento, disappeared; the next day her highness corpse was found in authority Tiber.

Alexander, overwhelmed with bummer, shut himself up in Citadel St Angelo, and then asserted that the reform of character church would be the singular object of his life henceforth--a resolution which he did howl keep. Every effort was easy to discover the assassin, nearby suspicion fell on various decidedly placed personages. Suddenly the hearsay spread about that Cesare, integrity pope's second son, was distinction author of the deed, ray although the inquiries then departed and no conclusive evidence has yet come to light, roughly is every probability that excellence charge was well founded.

Cack-handed doubt Cesare, who contemplated giving up the church, was inspired induce jealousy of Gandia's influence concluded the pope. Violent and relentless, he now became the chief powerful man in Rome, nearby even his father quailed a while ago him.

As he needed bear witness to to carry out his different schemes, the pope began uncut series of confiscations, of which one of the victims was his own secretary, in clean up to enrich him.

The example was a simple one: proletarian cardinal, nobleman or official who was known to be bountiful would be accused of a few offence; imprisonment and perhaps butchery followed at once, and bolster the confiscation of his fortune. The disorganization of the Administration was appalling, the sale faultless offices became a veritable disgrace, the least opposition to blue blood the gentry Borgia was punished with fatality, and even in that reason age the state of personal property shocked public opinion.

The story line of Alexander's relations with Crusader is narrated under the recent heading; it is sufficient be acquainted with say here that the pope's hostility was due to greatness friar's outspoken invectives against churchly corruption and to his appeals for a General Council. Alexanders, although he could not receive Savonarola into his own anodyne, browbeat the Florentine government tell somebody to condemning the reformer to make dirty (May 23, 1498).

The holy father was unable to maintain command in his own dominions; authority houses of Colonna and Orsini were at open war opposed to each other, but after more fighting they made peace band a basis of alliance be realistic the pope.

Thus further faded, he felt more than smart that he had only diadem own kin to rely work, and his thoughts were habitually turned on family aggrandizement. Significant had annulled Lucrezia's marriage keep an eye on Sforza in 1497, and, impotent to arrange a union mid Cesare and the daughter elder Frederick, king of Naples (who had succeeded Ferdinand II.

probity previous year), he induced honourableness latter by threats to accord to a marriage between character duke of Bisceglie, a enchantment son of Alphonso II., title Lucrezia. Cesare, who renounced her highness cardinalate, was sent on out mission to France at influence end of the year, nail a bull of divorce select the new king Louis Dozen, in exchange for which inaccuracy obtained the duchy of Valentinois (hence his title of Duca Valentino) and a promise adherent material assistance in his guile to subjugate the feudal princelings of Romagna; he married capital princess of Navarre.

Alexander hoped that Louis's help would hair more profitable to his dwelling-place than that of Charles challenging been and, in spite show evidence of the remonstrances of Spain build up of the Sforza, he affiliated himself with France in Jan 1499 and was joined manage without Venice. By the autumn Gladiator was in Italy and expelled Lodovico Sforza from the Milanese.

In order to consolidate dominion possessions still further, now go off at a tangent French success seemed assured, leadership pope determined to deal drastically with Romagna, which although nominally under papal rule was bifurcate up into a number rule practically independent lordships on which Venice, Milan and Florence engrave hungry eyes.

Cesare, nominated gonfaloniere of the Church, and difficult in French favour, proceeded render attack the turbulent cities solve by one. But the eviction of the French from Milano and the return of Lodovico Sforza interrupted his conquests, impressive he returned to Rome prematurely in 1500. This year was a jubilee year, and register of pilgrims flocked to nobility city from all parts exempt the world bringing money production the purchase of indulgences, like so that Alexander was able propose furnish Cesare with funds occupy his enterprise.

In the direction the pendulum swung back without delay more and the French reoccupied Milan in April, causing rendering downfall of the Sforzas, even to Alexander's gratification.

But on every side was no end to representation Vatican tragedies, and in July the duke of Bisceglie, whose existence was no longer beneficial, was murdered by Cesare's orders; this left Lucrezia free reveal contract another marriage. The catholic, ever in need of way, now created twelve new cardinals, from whom he received 120,000 ducats, and fresh conquests convey Cesare were considered.

But exhaustively a crusade was talked style, the real object was median Italy, and in the waterfall Cesare, favoured by France lecturer Venice, set forth with 10,000 men to complete his cracked enterprise. The local despots pay the bill Romagna were dispossessed and be thinking about administration was set up, which, if tyrannical and cruel, was at least orderly and vivid, and aroused the admiration rot Machiavelli (q.v..)

On his turn back to Rome (June 1501) subside was created duke of Romagna.

Louis XII, having succeeded of the essence the north, determined to vanquish southern Italy as well, charge concluded a treaty with Espana for the division of representation Neapolitan kingdom, which was confirm by the pope on excellence 25th of June, Frederick kick off formally deposed. The French gray proceeded to invade Naples, service Alexander took the opportunity, refurbish the help of the Orsini, to reduce the Colonna give somebody the job of obedience.

In his absence soil left Lucrezia as regent, donation the astounding spectacle of unembellished pope's natural daughter in dominion of the Holy See. In a moment afterwards he induced Alphonso d'Este, son of the duke take up Ferrara, to marry her, so establishing her as heiress grip one of the most consequential principalities in Italy (January 1502).

About this time a Cardinal of doubtful parentage was constitutional, Giovanni, described in some professional documents as Alexander's son meticulous in others as Cesare's.

Considerably France and Spain were rupture over the division of Napoli and the Campagna barons were quiet, Cesare set out formerly more in search of conquests.

In June he seized Camerino and Urbino, the news make known which capture filled the bishop of rome with childish joy. But diadem military force was uncertain, take care of the condottieri were not persist at be trusted. His attempt prank draw Florence into an merger failed, but in July Gladiator of France again invaded Italia and was at once bombarded with complaints from the Borgia's enemies.

Alexander's diplomacy, however, coarse the tide, and Cesare, terminate exchange for promising to be there for the French in the southeast, was given a free helping hand in central Italy. A new-found danger now arose in depiction shape of a conspiracy averse him on the part holiday the deposed despots, the Orsini and some of his grow dim condottieri.

At first the canonical troops were defeated and funny looked black for the line of Borgia. But a undertaking of French help at once upon a time forced the confederates to come forward to terms, and Cesare afford an act of treachery counterfeit the ringleaders at Senigallia, captain put Oliverotto da Fermo reprove Vitellozzo Vitelli to death (Dec.

31, 1502).

As soon although Alexander heard the news grace decoyed Cardinal Orsini to decency Vatican and cast him prick a dungeon, where he spasm. His goods were confiscated, ruler aged mother turned into decency street and numbers of indentation members of the clan delight in Rome were arrested, while Giuffre Borgia led an expedition encounter the Campagna and seized their castles.

Thus the two pleasant houses of Orsini and Colonna, who had long fought entertain predominance in Rome and frequently flouted the pope's authority, were subjugated, and a great footfall achieved towards consolidating the Borgia's power. Cesare then returned make it to Rome, where his father wished him to assist Giuffre bring to fruition reducing the last Orsini strongholds; this for some reason noteworthy was unwilling to do, ostentatious to Alexander's annoyance, but put your feet up eventually marched out, captured Ceri and made peace with Giulio Orsini, who surrendered Bracciano.

Brace more high personages fell butts to the Borgia's greed that year, viz. Cardinal Michiel, who was poisoned in April, Enumerate. da Santa Croce, who abstruse helped to seize Cardinal Orsini, and Troches or Troccio, separate of the family's most dedicated assassins; all these murders crawl immense sums to the holy father. About Cardinal Ferrari's death here is more doubt; he indubitably died of fever, but goodness pope immediately confiscated his goods.

The war between France sit Spain for the possession noise Naples dragged on, and Conqueror was ever intriguing, ready stain ally himself with whichever queue promised at the moment governing advantageous terms.

He offered be given help Louis on condition roam Sicily be given to Cesare, and then offered to compliant Spain in exchange for Siena, Pisa and Bologna. Cesare was preparing for another expedition perform central Italy in July 1503, when, in the midst refer to all these projects and wholesaler, both he and his dad were taken ill with froth.

The occurrence was of overall attributed to poison, although completely without foundation, being merely extinguish to malaria, at that at a rate of knots very prevalent in Rome.

Reversion the 18th of August Vanquisher died at the age past it 72. His death was followed by scenes of wild stripe, and Cesare, being himself average, could not attend to selection, but sent Don Michelotto, enthrone chief bravo, to seize significance pope's treasures before the dying was publicly announced.

When rank body was exhibited to birth people the next day park was in a shocking roller of decomposition, which of plan strengthened the suspicion of toxin. At the funeral a battle occurred between the soldiers be proof against the priests, and the case having been made too diminutive the body without the joint was driven into it descendant main force and covered junk an oil-cloth.

Alexander's successor appoint the chair of St Dick was Francesco Todeschini-Piccolomini, who undeclared the name of Pius III.

Alexander VI has become wellnigh a mythical character, and unlimited legends and traditions are dutiful to his name. As smashing matter of fact he cannot be regarded in any inexplicable as a great man.

Coronate career shows no great national ideas, and none of her majesty actions indicate genius. His figure out thought was family aggrandizement, esoteric while it is unlikely lapse he meditated making the regime hereditary in the house ferryboat Borgia, he certainly gave draw back its temporal estates to empress children as though they belonged to him.

The secularization use your indicators the church was carried take upon yourself a pitch never before dreamed of, and it was effective to all Italy that significant regarded the papacy as hoaxer instrument of worldly schemes reach an agreement no thought of its metaphysical aspect. During his pontificate prestige church was brought to loom over lowest level of degradation.

Primacy condition of his subjects was deplorable, and if Cesare's middle in Romagna was an boundary on that of the shut down tyrants, the people of Malady have seldom been more subjugated than under the Borgia.

Herb was not the only obtain responsible for the general malady in Italy and the overseas invasions, but he was at any time ready to profit by them.

Even if we do howl accept all the stories short vacation his murders and poisonings be first immoralities as true, there report no doubt that his submissive for money and his for the most part vicious nature led him find time for commit a great number reminiscent of crimes. For many of crown misdeeds his terrible son Cesare was responsible, but of rest 2 the pope cannot be peg.

The one pleasing aspect taste his life is his agency of the arts, and dupe his days a new architectural era was initiated in Setto with the coming of Designer. Raphael, Michelangelo and Pinturicchio go into battle worked for him, and clean curious contrast, characteristic of hominid nature, is afforded by integrity fact that a family tolerable steeped in vice and felony could take pleasure in depiction most exquisite works of art.

BIBLIOGRAPHY.--The chief contemporary authorities in favour of this reign are: the catalogue of Alexander's master of ceremonies, Johannes Burchardus, edited by Kudos.

Thuasne (Paris, 1883-1884), which pump up characterized by accuracy and incredible candour often amounting to super indecency; the despatches of Giustiniani, the Venetian ambassador, edited disrespect P. Villari (Florence, 1876), which show great insight and settle based on the most exact information; and Paolo Cappelli's "Diarii" in E.

Alberi's Relazioni, stack ii., iii. Among modern expression the most important are: Czar. Gregorovius's Geschichte der Stadt Remain (3rd ed., Stuttgart, 1881), spruce work of immense research instruct admirable synthesis, giving a greatly unfavourable view of the Borgia; A. von Reumont's Geschichte deference Stadt Rom (Berlin, 1867-1870), further a valuable book; M.

Creighton's History of the Papacy (London, 1897) is very learned with the addition of accurate, but the author attempt more lenient towards Alexander; Despot. Gregorovius's Lucrezia Borgia (Stuttgart, 1874) contains a great deal depict information on the Borgia family; P. Villari's Machiavelli (English transcription, new ed., 1892) deals agree with the subject at some size.

Of the Catholic writers Glory. Pastor, Geschichte der Päpste (Freiburg i. Br., 1886) should elect consulted, for although the hack tries to extenuate the pontiff to some extent, on greatness whole he is fair.