| Giovanni Borgia, 2nd Duke of Gandia | |
|---|---|
| Alleged portrait of Giovanni Borgia | |
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| Reign | 1488-1497 |
| Spouse(s) | Maria Enriquez de Luna |
| Issue | |
| Juan de Borja y Enriquez, 3rd Duke of Gandía Isabella de Borja y Enriquez |
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| Noble family | Borgia |
| Father | Pope Alexander VI |
| Mother | Vannozza dei Cattanei |
| Born | 1474 or 1476 Italy, presumably Rome |
| Died | 14 June 1497 Rome |
Giovanni Borgia, 2nd duke of Gandía (1474 or 1476 – 14 June 1497) was the son of Pope Alexander VI and the brother of Cesare Borgia, Gioffre Borgia, and Lucrezia Borgia. Giovanni, also known as Juan or Joan, was the second of the Pope's four children by Vanozza de' Catanei.[1][2] Due to a number of papal bulls issued after his murder, it is unclear whether Giovanni was born in 1474 or 1476 and it was long thought that he was the eldest son. Modern historians however now agree that 1476 is the most likely year of his birth, that he was the second son and younger than his brother Cesare.
Giovanni Borgia was probably born in Rome to then cardinal Rodrigo Borgia (later to become Pope Alexander VI) and his mistress Vannozza dei Cattanei (while she was married to Domenico da Rignano). He married Maria Enriquez de Luna, the Spanish betrothed of his deceased older half-brother, Pedro Luis, in September 1493. He was made 2nd Duke of Gandia, Duke of Sessa, Grand Constable of Naples, Governor of St. Peter's, and Gonfalonier and Captain General of the Church.
He was murdered the night of 14 June 1497 near what later became the Piazza della Giudecca (in the Ghetto of Rome). It has been speculated that his own brother Cesare Borgia had him murdered . However, there is another rumor which says that his younger brother Gioffre Borgia murdered him due to Giovanni's relationship with his wife, Sancia . His richly attired body was recovered from the Tiber River with 30 golden ducats untouched in the purse at his belt. To the immense grief of the pope, this act occasioned the heartless epigram by Sannazzaro on the pope as "fisher of men". Borgia's only attendant was also slain, so there were no known witnesses.[3]
Giovanni and Maria had two children: Juan de Borja y Enriquez (known as Juan Borgia), who became the 3rd duke of Gandía, and Francisca de Jesus Borja, who became a nun at a convent in Valladolid. This Juan was the father of Saint Francis Borgia.
In the 2011 miniseries The Borgias, he is played by David Oakes. In the 2011 series, written by Tom Fontana, Borgia, he is played by French actor Stanley Weber.