Giovanni Borgia (1474)
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- For the other Giovanni Borgia, see Giovanni Borgia (1498).
Giovanni Borgia', 2nd Duke of Gandia (born Rome 1474- murdered Rome June 14, 1497) was the brother of the famous Cesare Borgia.
Giovanni was born in Rome in 1474 to Pope Alexander VI and Vannozza dei Cattani. He married Maria Enriquez de Luna, the Spanish betrothed of his deceased older half-brother, Pedro Luis, in September of 1493. He was made 2nd Duke of Gandia, Duke of Sessa, Grand Constable of Naples, the Papal Gonfalonier and General Captain, and Governor of St.Peters. He was murdered the night of June 14, 1497 near what would later become the Piazza della Giudecca {Roman Ghetto} in Rome. It has been speculated that his own brother Cesare Borgia had him murdered. His richly attired body with 30 golden ducats was untouched in the purse at his belt and his body was thrown into the Tiber. To the immense grief of the Pope, this act occasioned the heartless epigram by Sannazzaro on the Pope as "fisher of men." Giovanni's only attendant was slain, so there were no witnesses (Sabatini, II.4).
Giovanni and Maria had 2 children: Juan Borja (also known as Juan Borgia), who became the 3rd Duke of Gandia and Francisca de Jesus Borja, who became a nun at a convent in Valladolid. This Juan was the father of Saint Francis Borgia.
[edit] Possible Suspect besides Cesare?
Although not proven there is the possibilty that the Duke of Gandia died at the hands of Antonio Pico della Mirandola whose house was near the Tiber River and who also had a young daugther-which could explain Giovanni's remark that he was going to "amuse himself" on his mysterious ride. {Ibid}
