Lucrezia Borgia

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This article is about the historical person. For the biographical opera, see Lucrezia Borgia (opera). Lucrezia Borgia is also the name Buffalo Bill gave to his gun.
Portrait of a Woman by Bartolomeo Veneziano, traditionally assumed to be Lucrezia Borgia.
Portrait of a Woman by Bartolomeo Veneziano, traditionally assumed to be Lucrezia Borgia.
Tomb of Alfonso I d'Este and Lucrezia Borgia, Ferrara.
Tomb of Alfonso I d'Este and Lucrezia Borgia, Ferrara.

Lucrezia Borgia (April 18, 1480 - June 24, 1519) was the daughter of Rodrigo Borgia, the powerful Renaissance Valencian who later became Pope Alexander VI, and Vannozza dei Cattanei. Her brothers included Cesare Borgia, Giovanni Borgia, and Gioffre Borgia.[1]

Lucrezia's family later came to epitomize the ruthless Machiavellian politics and sexual corruption alleged to be characteristic of the Renaissance Papacy. Lucrezia was cast as a femme fatale, a role she has been portrayed in many artworks, novels and films.

No authentic portrait of Lucrezia is known, though several paintings, such as Bartolomeo Veneziano's fanciful portrait (see illustration) have been said to depict her. She is described as having heavy blonde hair which fell past her knees, a beautiful complexion, hazel eyes which constantly changed colour, a full, high bosom and a natural grace which made her appear to "walk on air"[2] ; these were the physical attributes that were highly appreciated in Italy during that period.

Not enough is known about the historical Lucrezia to be certain that the stories about her active involvement in her father's and brother's crimes are true. Her father and/or brother certainly arranged several marriages for her, to important or powerful men, in order to advance their own political ambitions. Lucrezia was married to Giovanni Sforza (Lord of Pesaro), Alfonso of Aragon, Duke of Bisceglie, and Alfonso d'Este (Prince of Ferrara). Tradition has it that Alfonso of Aragon was an illegitimate son of the King of Naples and that Cesare may have had him murdered after his political value waned.

Contents

[edit] Marriages

[edit] First marriage: Giovanni Sforza

By the time she was thirteen, she had been betrothed twice, but both times her father had called off the engagements.

After Rodrigo became Pope Alexander VI, he had Lucrezia marry Giovanni Sforza to establish an alliance with that powerful Milanese family. The wedding was a scandalous event but was not much more extravagant than many other Renaissance celebrations.

Before long, the Borgia family no longer needed the Sforzas, and the presence of Giovanni Sforza in the papal court was superfluous. The Pope needed new, more advantageous political alliances, so he may have covertly ordered the execution of Giovanni. The generally accepted version is that Lucrezia was informed of this by her brother Cesare, and she warned her husband, who then fled Rome. Possibly Pope Alexander never made such an order, and it was a plot on the part of Cesare and Lucrezia to drive her boring husband away. Whichever way it was, Alexander and Cesare were pleased with the chance of arranging another advantageous marriage for Lucrezia. But before that could occur, they needed to get rid of Giovanni Sforza.

Alexander asked Giovanni's uncle, Cardinal Ascanio Sforza, to persuade Giovanni to agree to a divorce. Giovanni refused and accused Lucrezia of paternal and fraternal incest. Since the marriage had supposedly not been consummated, the Pope said that the marriage was not valid, and he offered Giovanni all of Lucrezia's dowry to agree. The Sforza family threatened to withdraw their protection of Giovanni if he refused Alexander's offer. Having no choice, Giovanni Sforza signed both a confession of impotence and the documents of annulment before witnesses.

[edit] Affair with Perotto

There has been speculation that during the prolonged process of the annulment, Lucrezia consummated a relationship with someone, probably Alexander's messenger Perotto. The result was that she was actually pregnant when her marriage was annulled for not having been consummated, and this is one of the facts her detractors have cited to support their derogatory view of her character. The child, named Giovanni but known to historians as the Roman Infante, was born in secret (1498) before Lucrezia's marriage to Alfonso of Aragon.

Some believe the child was her brother Cesare's, but that Perotto, due to his fondness for Lucrezia, claimed that it was his. During her pregnancy she stayed away from Rome at a convent, so no one would know of her state, and Perotto would bring her messages from her father in Rome. According to this theory, Lucrezia was worried that if news of her pregnancy reached the citizens of Rome, they would surely know it was Cesare's child. Cesare at the time was a Cardinal of the Holy Church; if he had been sharing an illicit sexual relationship with his sister during her marriage to Giovanni, it would have to be concealed from everyone, especially their father (the Pope).

In 1501, two papal bulls were issued concerning the child, Giovanni Borgia. In the first, he was recognized as Cesare's child from an affair before his marriage. The second, contradictory, bull recognized him as the son of Alexander VI. Lucrezia's name is not mentioned in either, and rumours that she was his mother have never been proven. The second bull was kept a secret for many years, and Giovanni was presumed to be Cesare's son. This is supported by the fact that in 1502, he became Duke of Camerino, one of Cesare's recent conquests, hence the natural inheritance of the Duke of Romagna's oldest son. However, some time after Alexander's death, Giovanni went to stay with Lucrezia in Ferrara, where he was accepted as her half-brother.

[edit] Second marriage: Alfonso of Aragon (Duke of Bisceglie)

Though at his first meeting with Alfonso, before the marriage took place, Cesare was very impressed by his good looks and nature, this soon changed to jealousy and hatred. It was said that Cesare did not like Alfonso because Lucrezia was very happy with him and had, since her marriage to him, stopped giving Cesare as much attention. Also, Cesare himself had a bout of syphilis and many scars remained on his face, even after recovery. This made him very conscious of his appearance, and so he started wearing masks and dressing in black. His own condition is said to have made him hate Alfonso of Aragon all the more, and once when the Prince was paying them a visit in Rome, Cesare's men had attacked him during the night. To retaliate, Alfonso's men shot arrows at Cesare one day while he strolled in the garden. This infuriated Cesare, and he had his servant(s) strangle Alfonso while in the recovery room. Lucrezia and Alfonso had only one child, Rodrigo, who predeceased his mother in August 1512 at the age of thirteen.

While the reason for Alfonso's murder might have also been jealousy, it did have a political background. Just like Lucrezia's first marriage, the second one soon became a useless alliance and a reason for embarrassment for the Pope and his son. Cesare had just allied himself with the King of France Louis XII, who claimed the duchy of Naples, which was in the hands of Alfonso's family at the time. Whatever the reasons for his murder, Lucrezia was genuinely fond of her husband and broken–hearted upon his death.

[edit] Third marriage: Alfonso d'Este (Prince of Ferrara)

After the death of her second husband, Lucrezia's father, Pope Alexander VI, wanted to arrange a third marriage. She then married Alfonso d'Este, Prince of Ferrara. She gave her third husband a number of children and proved to be a respectable and accomplished Renaissance duchess, effectively rising above her questionable past and surviving the fall of the Borgias following her father's death.

Neither partner was faithful: Lucrezia enjoyed a long relationship with her bisexual brother-in-law, Francesco Gonzaga, Marquis of Mantua.[3][4] as well as a love affair with the poet Pietro Bembo. Francesco's wife was the cultured intellectual Isabella d'Este, the sister of Alfonso, to whom Lucrezia had made overtures of friendship to no avail. The affair between Francesco and Lucrezia was passionate, more sexual than sentimental as can be attested in the fevered love letters the pair wrote one another. The affair ended when Francesco contracted syphilis and had to perforce end sexual relations with Lucrezia.[5]

Lucrezia Borgia died in Ferrara on 24 June 1519 from complications after giving birth to her eighth child. She was buried in the convent of Corpus Domini.[6]

On 15 October 1816 the Romantic poet Lord Byron visited the Ambrosian Library of Milan. He was delighted by the letters between Borgia and Bembo ("The prettiest love letters in the world"[7][8]) and claimed to have managed to steal a lock of her hair ("the prettiest and fairest imaginable."[8]) held on display[9][10][11].

[edit] Issue

Lucrezia was mother to either seven or eight children:

Lucrezia is ancestress of many notable people including Civil War general Pierre G.T. Beauregard[12] and actress Brooke Shields[13]

[edit] Rumors

Several rumors have persisted throughout the years, primarily speculating as to the nature of the extravagant parties thrown by the Borgia family. Many of these concern allegations of incest, poisoning, and murder on her part; however, no historical basis for these rumors have ever been brought forward, beyond allegations made by the rivals of the Borgias.

  • It is rumored that Lucrezia was in possession of a hollow ring that she used frequently to poison drinks. [1] [2] [3]
  • An early 20th-century painting by Frank Cadogan Cowper that hangs in the London art gallery, Tate Britain, portrays Lucrezia taking the place of her father, Alexander VI at an official Vatican meeting. This apparently documents an actual event, although the precise moment depicted, (a Franciscan friar kissing Lucrezia's feet), was invented by the artist.[4]
  • During the Renaissance, social climbers would commonly boast "I'm dining with the Borgias tonight." A smaller number would boast "I dined with the Borgias last night." Lucrezia was said to employ a chef and a poisoner (two separate people) full time to take care of her guests.

[edit] Biographies

[edit] Plays, operas, films, and novels

[edit] Plays and operas

  • Victor Hugo's tragedy, loosely based on the stories of Lucrezia, was transformed into a libretto by Felice Romani for Donizetti's opera, Lucrezia Borgia (1834), first performed at La Scala, Milan, 26 December 1834. When it was produced in Paris, in 1840, Hugo obtained an injunction against further productions. The libretto was then rewritten and retitled La Rinegata, with the Italian characters changed to Turks, and the performances were resumed. The first English-language production was in London on 30 December 1843.
  • Mentioned in the Roger Waters's song Leaving Beirut.
  • Momus has also referenced Lucrezia in a song Lucretia Borgia from the album The Little Red Songbook.
  • David Copelin's dark comedy Bella Donna dramatized a quasi-fictional series of events in the Borgia legend. First performed at the Toronto Fringe Festival in July, 2005; published by Playwrights Canada Press, 2006.
  • Joseph Aragon's musical Lucrezia Borgia portrayed the title character in a more charitable light than the accepted norm. First performed at the Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Festival by the Canadian Musical Theatre Development Group in July, 2007.

[edit] Films

  • Lucrezia Borgia (1922) a silent movie with Liane Haid, directed by Richard Oswald.
  • Don Juan (1926), one of the first Vitaphone/Silent films starring John Barrymore features the Borgia as villains.
  • Lucrèce Borgia (1935), a French film version with Edwige Feuillère, directed by Abel Gance.
  • Lucrezia Borgia (1940), an Italian film with Isa Pola, directed by Hans Hinrich.
  • Bride of Vengeance or A Mask for Lucretia (1949) starred Paulette Goddard as Lucretia (and Macdonald Carey as Cesare) in a fictionalized portrayal of her as her brother's tool who went straight once she had the chance, a view many historians endorse.
  • Lucrèce Borgia (1953), a French movie with Martine Carol, directed by Christian-Jaque.
  • The Shaggy Dog (1958), a Walt Disney film features a ring that was owned by Lucretia Borgia that has the power to turn men into dogs when its inscription is read aloud.
  • Le Notti segrete di Lucrezia Borgia (1982), a Spanish-Italian film with Finnish actress Sirpa Lane as Lucrezia, directed by Roberto Bianchi Montero.
  • Los Borgia (2006), a Spanish-Italian film with María Valverde as Lucrezia.
  • At different times both Scarlett Johansson and Christina Ricci have been slated to appear as Lucrezia in the as-yet-unmade film Borgia.

[edit] Novels

  • The historical novel, Prince of Foxes, made into a movie of the same name starring Orson Welles and Tyrone Power.
  • F.M. Klinger´s 1791 novel Fausts Leben, Thaten und Höllenfahrt features an episode in which the Borgias figure, including an affair between Faust and Lucrezia.
  • Rafael Sabatini's novel The Shame of Motley features Lucrezia and Cesare Borgia as supporting characters.
  • Rafael Sabatini wrote a book, The Life of Cesare Borgia, available at Project Gutenberg., that attempts to treat the Borgias historically.
  • Gregory Maguire's novel Mirror, Mirror is a historical fantasy that retells the story of Snow White, in which Lucrezia figures prominently as the evil stepmother. She is depicted as a decadent, vain and beautiful woman with a mind for politics and little regard for others. Her affair with her father is hinted at but never confirmed, but her relationship with Cesare is a major plot point.
  • Jeanne Kalogridis's book The Borgia Bride tells the story of Sancha of Aragon (sister of Alfonso who later married Lucrezia) married to Jofre Borgia about her life in Rome and her involvement with Cesare and Lucrezia. The latter is depicted as having an incestuous relationship with her father and brother but not as a vicious person. She's mostly manipulated by her family.
  • Jean Plaidy's two novels, "Madonna of the Seven Hills" and "Light On Lucrezia" follow the story of Lucrezia and her entanglement with her father and brothers. Plaidy's writing is well-supported by research and her extensive knowledge of European history; based on her understanding, Plaidy portrays Lucrezia as a pawn of her father and brother Cesare.
  • Kerri Hawkins' 2002 novel Blood Legacy: The Story of Ryan includes Lucrezia, her father and brother Cesare as minor characters.
  • A novel The Family, written by Mario Puzo, was centered around the Borgia family. Although this novel was started early in his career, it was his last novel to be completed. Puzo called the Borgias "the first crime family" and incorporated many of their exploits and characteristics into his blockbuster novel, "The Godfather"; most prominently the notion that family loyalty was of primary importance above all else.
  • David Davalos' 2002 play Daedalus features Lucrezia Borgia involved in a secret love affair with Leonardo da Vinci, who is working as a military engineer for her brother Cesare.
  • Milo Manara, an Italian comic book creator, drew a comic book divided in three parts depicting the story of the Borgia family. The texts were written by Alejandro Jodorowsky.
  • A fictionalized version of Lucrezia appeared in issues 98-100 of Avengers West Coast as the supervillain Cyana, a member of the fourth incarnation of the Lethal Legion.
  • She appears as a side character in the Dutch book De Scharlaken Stad, by Hella S. Haasse. The book tells the story of her brother Giovanni Borgia.
  • A fictionalized version of Lucrezia, along with her brother Cesare, appeared as villains in the 2005 Buffyverse novel Queen of the Slayers.
  • The novel Lucrezia Borgia and the Mother of Poisons, Roberta Gellis, Forge Books, 2004. Depicts Lucrezia as an amateur sleuth tracking down who is doing the poisoning and learning about the properties of aconite along the way.
  • The novel Lucrezia Borgia, John Faunce, Three Rivers Press; Reprint edition 2004
  • The historical novel, Lucrezia Borgia, by Maria Bellonci, Mondadori, 2003, was first published in 1939, winning the Viarreggio Literary Award and the Galante Prize. An English translation, The Life and Times of Lucrezia Borgia, is available from Phoenix Press.

[edit] Television and other media

  • Lucrezia Borgia animation short done on Shermon and Peabody part of the first season of the Rocky and Bullwinkle show.

[edit] References

  1. ^ The Borgias by Ivan Cloulas page 52
  2. ^ George R. Marek "The Bed and The Throne" p.142
  3. ^ Lucrezia Borgia: Life, Love and Death in Renaissance Italy, Sarah Bradford, Viking, 2004
  4. ^ Observer review of Lucrezia Borgia: Life, Love and Death in Renaissance Italy
  5. ^ Marek.p.169
  6. ^ Ferrara 2002 Anno di Lucrezia Borgia. Comune di Ferrara.
  7. ^ Viragos on the march, The Spectator, June 25, 2005, by Ian Thomson, a review of Viragos on the march by Gaia Servadio. I. B. Tauris, ISBN 1850434212.
  8. ^ a b Pietro Bembo: A Renaissance Courtier Who Had His Cake and Ate It Too, Ed Quattrocchi, Caxtonian: Journal of the Caxton Club of Chicago, Volume XIII, Nº. 10, October 2005.
  9. ^ The Byron Chronology: 1816-1819 - Separation and Exile on the Continent.
  10. ^ Byron by John Nichol.
  11. ^ Letter to Augusta Leigh, Milan, October 15, 1816. Lord Byron's Letters and Journals, Chapter 5: Separation and Exile.
  12. ^ Frances P.Keyes"Madame Castel's Lodger"pages 40-41
  13. ^ wwwWorldroots.com