Rodrigo de Borja became Pope Alexander VI on 11st August 1492. He remains one of the most infamous figures in the history of the Catholic Church. His papacy, from 1492 to 1503, was marked by scandals, political intrigue, and accusations of corruption, yet he also played a significant role in shaping the political landscape of Renaissance Europe.
Rodrigo de Borja was born into a powerful Spanish family in Xàtiva, near Valencia on 1st January 1431. His uncle, Pope Callixtus III, helped Rodrigo rise rapidly within the church hierarchy. After receiving a doctorate in canon law, Rodrigo was made a cardinal in 1456 and later served as vice-chancellor of the Church, a position that allowed him to amass considerable wealth and influence.
On 11th August 1492, following the death of Pope Innocent VIII, Rodrigo was elected pope, taking the name Alexander VI. His election was widely believed to have been secured through bribery.
Papacy and Political Machinations
Pope Alexander VI’s reign was defined by his use of the papacy to advance the fortunes of the Borja family, particularly his children. He is notorious for openly acknowledging his four children with Vannozza dei Cattanei – Cesare, Lucrezia, Giovanni, and Goffredo – whom he used as pawns in his political manoeuvring.
Cesare Borgia, his eldest son, was made a cardinal at a young age but later abandoned the church to pursue a military career. Alexander VI supported Cesare’s ambitions to carve out a kingdom in central Italy, leading to a series of brutal campaigns that expanded the Borgia family’s power. Lucrezia Borgia, his daughter, was married off multiple times to secure alliances with powerful noble families, though she later became a recognised figure in her own right.
Alexander VI’s papacy was also marked by his attempts to maintain and expand the temporal power of the papal states. He navigated the complex politics of Italy, forging and breaking alliances with various European powers, including France, Spain, and the Holy Roman Empire.
Florence’s refusal to join Alexander’s Holy League against the French invader angered him. One of the thorns in his side was the friar Savonarola, whom Alexnader tolerated for as long as possible. In the end, he had no choice but to see the troublesome friar removed.
Savonarola and the Bonfire of the Vanities
Scandals and Controversies
The pope’s blatant nepotism and the moral corruption of the papal court earned him widespread criticism. The Vatican under Alexander VI became synonymous with vice and excess, and the pope himself was accused of engaging in debauchery and simony. The infamous Banquet of Chestnuts, a lavish and immoral feast held in the Vatican, is one of the many stories that illustrate the decadent reputation of Alexander’s court, though its veracity is debated by historians.
The most enduring scandal of Alexander VI’s papacy was his relationship with his children, particularly Cesare and Lucrezia. Cesare’s ruthless campaigns and Lucrezia’s rumoured involvement in political assassinations added to the Borgia family’s notorious reputation.
Alexander’s efforts to secure power for his family often led to accusations of murder, including the mysterious death of his son Giovanni Borgia, which some speculated was orchestrated by Cesare.
Religious and Cultural Contributions
Despite the controversies, Alexander VI was a patron of the arts and a significant figure in the cultural flowering of the Renaissance. He commissioned numerous works of art and architecture, including contributions to the Vatican Palace. Under his papacy, the New World was divided between Spain and Portugal with the Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494, which had a profound impact on global geopolitics.
Alexander VI also sought to reform the church, though his efforts were often overshadowed by his own actions. He convened the Council of Savona in 1495 to address some of the church’s internal issues, but the council’s impact was limited.
Death and Legacy
Pope Alexander VI died on 18th August 1503 under mysterious circumstances. Some accounts suggest he was poisoned, though this remains speculative. His death marked the end of one of the most controversial papacies in history, and his legacy has been a subject of debate ever since.
While his tenure is often cited as an example of the corruption that plagued the church in the late Middle Ages, Alexander VI also played a critical role in the political and cultural developments of the Renaissance. His patronage of the arts contributed to the flourishing of Renaissance culture, and his actions had lasting consequences for the church and Europe.
Pope Alexander VI remains a figure who embodies both the grandeur and the moral complexities of the Renaissance papacy. His life and papacy continue to captivate historians, novelists, and filmmakers, ensuring that his legacy, for better or worse, endures.
Read more about the Borgia dynasty
From the powerful, merciless Rodrigo Borgia, better known as Pope Alexander VI, to the beautiful Lucrezia and the debauched and murderous Cesare, Mary Hollingsworth’s account of the dynasty’s dramatic rise from its Spanish roots to the heights of Renaissance society forms a compelling tale of brutality, incest, unparalleled corruption and extortionate greed.
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