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Apr 18, 2024 · Lucrezia Borgia (born April 18, 1480, Rome—died June 24, 1519, Ferrara, Papal States) was an Italian noblewoman and a central figure of the infamous Borgia family of the Italian Renaissance.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
- She Was Illegitimate
- She Was only 13 at The Time of Her First Marriage
- Lucrezia’s Annulment Was Tainted with Accusations of Incest
- She Was Extremely Beautiful by The Standards of Her Day
- Her Second Husband Was Murdered – Possibly by Her Own Brother
- She Was Governor of Spoleto
- Rumours Began to Taint The Borgias
- Her Third Marriage Was Considerably More Successful
- Lucrezia Embarked on Passionate Affairs
- But She Was A Model Renaissance Duchess
Born on 18 April 1480, Lucrezia Borgia was the daughter of Cardinal Rodrigo de Borgia (who would later go on to be Pope Alexander VI) and his chief mistress, Vannozza dei Cattanei. Importantly – and unlike some of her half-siblings – Rodrigo acknowledged heras his child. This meant she was permitted an education, and not merely a convent one. Lucre...
Lucrezia’s education and connections meant she would marry well – in a way that was advantageous to both her family and her prospects. At the age of 10, her hand was officially in matrimony for the first time: in 1492, Rodrigo Borgia was made Pope, and he cancelled Lucrezia’s existing engagement in order to create an alliance through marriage with ...
Giovanni Sforza was furious about the annulment – particularly given it was to be on grounds on non-consummation – and accused Lucrezia of paternal incest. Rumours also swirled that Lucrezia was in fact pregnant at the time of the annulment, hence why she retired to a convent for 6 months during the proceedings. The marriage was eventually annulled...
Lucrezia’s allure came not just from her wealthy and powerful family. Contemporaries described her as having long blonde hair, white teeth (not always a given in Renaissance Europe), hazel eyes and a natural grace and elegance.
Lucrezia’s second marriage was short-lived. Her father arranged for her to marry Alfonso d’Aragonawho was Duke of Bisceglie and Prince of Salerno. Whilst the match conferred titles and status on Lucrezia, it also proved to be something of a love match. It quickly became clear that shifting Borgia alliances were making Alfonso uneasy: he fled Rome f...
Unusually for the time, Lucrezia was granted the position of Governor of Spoleto in 1499. The role was usually reserved solely for cardinals, and for Lucrezia as opposed to her husband to be appointed was certainly controversial.
One of the most lasting rumours that has stuck surrounding Lucrezia was her ‘poison ring’. Poison was viewed as a woman’s weapon, and Lucrezia was said to have a ring in which she stored poison. She could open the catch and quickly drop poison into their drink whilst they were turned the other way. There is no evidence for Lucrezia poisoning anyone...
In 1502, Lucrezia was married – for political reasons – again, this time to Alfonso d’Este, Duke of Ferrara. The pair produced 8 children, 4 of whom survived until adulthood. Brutal and politically astute, Alfonso was also a great patron of the arts, commissioning work by Titian and Bellini most notably. Lucrezia died in 1519, aged just 39, after g...
Neither Lucrezia nor Alfonso was faithful: Lucrezia embarked on a feverish affair with her brother-in-law, Francesco, Marquess of Mantua – their ardent love letters survive to this day and give a glimpse into their desires. Later, Lucrezia also had a love affair with the poet Pietro Bembo, which appears to have been somewhat more sentimental than h...
Lucrezia and Alfonso’s court was cultured and fashionable – the poet Ariosto described her ‘beauty, virtue, chastity and fortune’, and she won the admiration and respect of the citizens of Ferrara during the excommunication crisis of 1510. After the unexpected death of Rodrigo, the son from her first marriage to Alfonso d’Aragona, she withdrew to a...
- Sarah Roller
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Jun 8, 2018 · Lucrezia Borgia was born on April 18, 1480, the daughter of Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia (c. 1431 – 1503), later to become Pope Alexander VI, and his mistress Vannozza Cattanei, who was also the mother of Lucrezia's two older brothers, Cesare and Giovanni.
Dec 27, 2021 · As mentioned, Lucrezia Borgia was born in 1480, in the city of Subiaco close to Rome. She was the daughter of a prominent man - Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia, who would later become Pope Alexander VI, and one of his mistresses, Giovanna Vannozza dei Cattanei.
- She Was Born Into Scandal. Lucrezia Borgia entered the world on April 18, 1480. At the time, her father was “just” Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia—not yet Pope Alexander VI.
- Her Mother was a Mistress. Lucrezia’s mother, Vannozza dei Cattanei, may not have been Rodrigo Borgia’s only mistress, but she was definitely his longest-lasting affair.
- She Had a Bad Teacher. For such an infamous woman, we don't know much about Lucrezia Borgia’s upbringing. She wasn't raised in the heart of her father’s court (see: him being a priest and all).
- She Had Mommy Issues. Talk about mommy issues. Not only did Lucrezia grow up away from her disinterested mother, she also had a pretty weird relationship with her dad's new girlfriend Guilia.
Lucrezia Borgia (1480-1519) was Duchess of Ferrara, a renowned poisoner and political schemer who, in actuality, was a pawn in the intrigues of her father and brother. Lucrezia Borgia was born into the Renaissance world of Italy (1320-1520), a time when artists, sculptors, architects, scientists, and others rose to prominence.
Lucrezia Borgia was born on 18th April, 1480 in Subiaco, a place near the city of Rome. She was the daughter of Pope Alexander VI and Vannozza Cattanei, who was one her father’s mistresses, She grew up with two elder brothers- Cesare and Giovanni.
