did lucrezia borgia have syphilis

His father put Cesare in command of the papal army in 1496, when he was still only about twenty. Then, to make matters so much worse, Rodrigo contracted a fatal illness in 1512. Syphilis affected many illustrious personages in the 15th and 16th centu- ry, such as the Kings of France, Charles VIII and Francis I; the popes Alexander VI, Julius II and Leo X; Cesare and Lucrezia Borgia, Erasmus of Rotterdam and Benvenutto Cellini, who, among oth- ers, survived syphilis without consequences1 . Even so, to this day, people think of Lucrezia Borgia as a femme fatale who facilitated her male relatives corruption. Alfonso was a noted hottie, with the teenage couple seeming to like each other very much. The bodies of Pedro Calderon[9] and a maid, Pantasilea, were found in the Tiber in February 1498. Despite their mutual adultery, Lucrezias final marriage to Alfonso dEste was also mutually affectionate. Then when she went into a difficult labor, her daughter was stillborn. Historians speculate that not only did she have fun with her poet-lover, she also enjoyed an extramarital affair with her own brother-in-law, Francesco II Gonzaga, Marquess of Mantua. Ouch. She did become pregnant again, but before she could give birth, Alfonso ran away. Giovanni was offered her dowry in return for his cooperation. He described her graceful form and went into raptures over her long golden hair, brilliant white teeth, and admirably proportioned bust. Okay, we get it, she was hot! She then reinvested the wealth back into convents and hospitals, which earned the goodwill of the common folk. In March 1498, the Ferrarese ambassador claimed that Lucrezia had given birth, but this was denied by other sources. And poor Giovanni was literally scared for his life at the time. At this time, Alexander used his son-in-laws absence as an excuse to give his daughter Lucrezia a fancy promotion. Despite the haters, Lucrezia was still a great beauty. Not only did the couple have eight children, Lucrezia also got to do more than answer her dads mail and organize his debauched parties. In her early 20s, a courtier took a totally-not-creepy catalog of the Borgia daughter. Did Lucrezia Borgia have syphilis? Catherine of Aragon was King Henry VIIIs first wife and longest-lasting Queen of England. Alexander annulled the marriage in 1497 on the dubious grounds of nonconsummation. Daughter of the Spanish cardinal Rodrigo Borgia, later Pope Alexander VI, and his Roman mistress Vannozza Catanei, and sister of Cesare, Lucrezia is often accused of sharing in their many crimes and excesses. The couple shared three sons in This only bolstered the incest rumours. The second bull was kept secret for many years, and Giovanni was assumed to be Cesare's son. [27] These physical attributes were highly appreciated in Italy during that period. Great parenting in the Borgia family, folks. They accused Lucrezia of having an affair with her dads chamberlain, Perotto Calderon. The best revenge might be living well, but that doesn't mean we can always turn the other cheek. Children: Cesare Borgia, Lucrezia Borgia, Giovanni Borgia, 2nd Duke of Gandia, Gioffre Borgia, Pier Luigi de In another version of the story, Lucrezia doesnt save her husband. Did Giovanni Borgia have syphilis? Lucrezia was no dummy. Did Lucrezia Borgia have syphilis? Giovanni had been stabbed multiple times. Lucrezia not her husband was appointed governor of Spoleto in 1499; Alfonso fled Rome shortly afterwards but returned at Lucrezia's request, only to be murdered in 1500. Even after the Borgias were gone, a living embodiment of a small scandal stuck around. If thats the case, why is Lucrezia having all these affairs? In private, however, he suffers from an unspecified venereal disease (most probably syphilis), which his physician instructs him to medicate with mercury and opium; Juan soon becomes addicted to the latter, frequently visiting a Muslim-owned opium den. Certainly, her mobility, from place to place and husband to husband, was One example is the Banquet of Chestnuts. Catherine of Aragon is now infamous as King Henry VIIIs rejected queenbut few people know her even darker history. Come what may, his daughterwouldwalk down the aisle. Lucrezia's name is not mentioned in either, and rumours that she was his mother have never been proven. Just look at the list of her potential baby daddies. In July 1500 he was wounded by four would-be assassins on the steps of St. Peters. Forget about an annulmentthis kid was going down. Did Lucrezia Borgia have syphilis? Lucrezia Borgia and the entire Borgia family are quite infamous. The Borgias would kill their useless son-in-lawor at least, they would have if it hadnt been for that meddling Lucrezia. WebLike many aspects of Cesare Borgia's life, the date of his birth is a subject of dispute. Syphilis affected many illustrious personages in the 15th and 16th centu- ry, such as the Kings of France, Charles VIII and Francis I; the popes Alexander VI, Julius II and Leo X; Cesare and Lucrezia Borgia, Erasmus of Rotterdam and Benvenutto Cellini, who, among oth- ers, survived syphilis without consequences1. He refused on the grounds that his syphilis was flaring, which may or may not have been a convenient excuse. Madame de Pompadour didn't just share King Louis XV's bed, she also shared his power. The bro-mance probably began in 1503, and some think it continued until Gonzaga romantically caught syphilis. Her education would primarily take place in the Piazza Pizzo de Merlo, a building adjacent to her father's residence. WebSon dakika: lgn Saysal Loto sonular belli oldu! He was just 19 years old. Lucrezia wasnt exactly undeserving of her reputation, but her story is crazier than we think. After Alfonso dEstes dad was reluctant to let his son put a ring on Lucrezias finger, Pope Alexander got him to warm his cold feet with a simple recipe: threats and bribes. And he was quick to get Lucrezia married. Alfonso thought he was out of the woods, but he was wrong. Dont get too mad about this. In addition to funding the arts, Lucrezia also had an entrepreneurial streak. She became the Governor of Spoleto in her own right, and in addition to the official chores she performed, Lucrezia also did far more scandalous work. Lucrezias confidante Sancia might have been married to little Gioffre Borgia, but that didnt stop her from sleeping with her hubbys brothers,Giovanni and Cesare. WebDid Cesare Borgia have syphilis? And yes, people did think that Lucrezias father and brother were her lovers. Of course, her hasty retreat only fuelled more rumors. Shortly after Lucrezia tried to go on vacation, she received some brutal news. [18] This last assertion is troublesome as Francesco had contracted syphilis before 1500 as it was known that he passed the disease onto his eldest son Federico Gonzaga who was born in 1500. Lucrezia responded with a ruthless betrayal. Whether she needed some me-time because of her recent split or she was peeved at her interfering family, Rome was abuzz with Lucrezias mysterious trip to the San Sisto nunnery. As weve seen, Lucrezia Borgia is famous for playing the field. [20][21] On the same occasion Byron claimed to have stolen a lock of Lucrezia's hair "the prettiest and fairest imaginable"[21] that was also held there on display. Gross sexual indecency continued to follow Lucrezia, even after the death of her second husband, Alfonso of Aragon. Pinterest. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. The mysterious origin of the child as well as Lucrezias presence at a celebrated night orgy at the Vatican have been used to support the rumours of incest in the Borgia family. After his brides family literally threatened to kill him, Sforza suddenly thought that an annulment seemed like a pretty good idea. This girl knew how to play the game. After her marriage ended, she booked it to a convent and tried to enjoy some peace and quiet. Factinate is a fact website that is dedicated to finding and sharing fun facts about science, history, animals, films, people, and much more. WebLucrezia Borgia (q.v. Lucrezia Borgia: Life, Love and Death in Renaissance Italy by Sarah Bradford Viking 25, pp421. Copyright 2023 by Factinate.com. [7] The pope asserted that his daughter's marriage had not been consummated and was thus invalid. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Amid at least four miscarriages, she managed to become pregnant only for the poor woman suffered from seizures and high fevers. Giovanni went to stay with Lucrezia in Ferrara after Alexander's death, where he was accepted as her half-brother. Lucrezias mother, Vannozza dei Cattanei, may not have been Rodrigo Borgias only mistress, but she was definitely his longest-lasting affair. But even Lucrezia couldnt get off scot-free. Eventually, the Pope discovered secret letters from Alfonso to Lucrezia, where he begged her to sneak away from Rome and join him in Genazzano. Case in point: Lucrezia was just 11 years old when she got engaged to the Lord of Val DAyora, a minor nobleman. The birth of this daughter was a hard one just like Lucrezias other ones, and, ten days after the birth, Lucrezia died on June 24th, 1519, at the age of 39. Giovanni refused and accused Lucrezia of paternal incest. 31 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<8F319A1955FFB70E26D6BF747663508E>]/Index[14 32]/Info 13 0 R/Length 91/Prev 130849/Root 15 0 R/Size 46/Type/XRef/W[1 3 1]>>stream The Church believed that such an education would turn demure ladies into impious rebels. It also pays attention to the historical women Was there a 12 year old pope? You know, just in case someone was getting on her nerves at dinner. Meanwhile, Lucrezias relationship with another artist went waybeyond admiration and praise, After a lifetime of lewd accusations, Lucrezia may have finally taken the plunge and done something REALLY naughty. 45 0 obj <>stream WebHe was deeply devoted to her and never really recovered his spirits after her death, soon after the stillbirth of a son, in 1837. Its said she had an affair during her third marriage. [10], Following her annulment from Sforza, Lucrezia was married to the Neapolitan Alfonso of Aragon, the half-brother of Sancha of Aragon who was the wife of Lucrezia's brother Gioffre Borgia. How do we know this? As Duchess of Ferrara, Lucrezia heavily patronized Bembos work, and their letters to each other have been interpreted by some as quite romantic. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. In the end, Lucrezia managed to pull through, but at one dark moment, she was so weak that she couldnt even feel her own pulse. Barely two years after her second ex-husband kicked the bucket, Lucrezias dad made her marry yet another man: Alfonso dEste, the future Duke of Ferrara. Soon after Lucrezia settled into the nunnery, the body of her alleged lover Perotto was found in the Tiber river, along with a chambermaid. The Borgias, for a while, didnt even reveal whose son this new kid was, so people just called him Infans Romanus, the Roman Child. As though that roller coaster of emotion wasnt enough for one year, Lucrezia quickly became pregnant again. Did the Borgia pope have syphilis? She reigned as the Governor of Spoleto, a position usually held by cardinals, in her own right. Seductress. Alfonso fled Rome, leaving Lucrezia alone and six months pregnant. Heres the thing: Lucrezia and Alfonso dEstes marriage workeddespiteher third husbands intense weirdness. Lucrezia even became pregnant with Alfronsos baby in 1499, but sadly, she miscarried. WebAmongst Lucrezias numerous love affairs was a long-standing romantic relationship with her brother-in-law, Francesco II Gonzaga, Marquess of Mantua, who was said to have As Alfonso fell to the ground, the assassins tried to capture him, only for Alfonsos own men to whisk him away to a nearby palace. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. At some time after Alfonso returned to Rome, Lucrezias brother Cesare accused Alfonso of trying to kill him with a cross bow. The poet Lord Byron himself described them as the prettiest love letters in the world.. episodes. Back in the Renaissance, people started adulting early. Shocker: That ticked Sforza off. [36][37], An early 20th-century painting by Frank Cadogan Cowper that hangs in the Tate Britain art gallery in London portrays Lucrezia taking the place of her father, Pope Alexander VI, at an official Vatican meeting. Cesare; or C) it was Lucrezias baby with her dad the Pope (ew). At the age of 13, Lucrezia finally made it down the aisle. Some think that it was Lucrezias ex-husband, Giovanni Sforza, who did it. Lucrezia, Cesare and Alexander play key roles in, She is featured as a major plot point in the 1994 TV movie, This page was last edited on 9 April 2023, at 06:51. That worked well enough for the Borgias. [14], Neither partner was faithful: beginning in 1503, Lucrezia enjoyed a long relationship with her brother-in-law, Francesco II Gonzaga, Marquess of Mantua. In 1519, Lucrezia gave birth to her final childbut the happy day doomed her. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). The Pope needed new, more advantageous political alliances, so he might 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 fled Rome.[6]. The couple got married in 1502. [2] Her mother was Vannozza dei Cattanei, one of the mistresses of Lucrezia's father, Cardinal Rodrigo de Borgia (later Pope Alexander VI). Amidst all the drama with Lucrezias runaway husband, she did manage to enjoy one good thing. The English poet Lord Byron was a big fan of Lucrezia Borgia. Alfonso dEste, son of Ercole I, duke of Ferrara, married Lucrezia on December 30, 1501, although he shunned the union for a time because of the Borgias unsavoury reputation. (LogOut/ He therefore called off Lucrezia's previous eng Daughter of the Spanish cardinal Rodrigo Borgia, later Pope This marriage was arranged by Cesare to consolidate his position in the Romagna. Apparently, Lucrezia would use it to poison her enemies drinks. But even after that, Lucrezias suffering was far from over. Where did Chlamydia come from? At Factinate, were dedicated to getting things right. The new Pope loved the good life. Most scandalous of all, Lucrezia had a long sexual relationship with Those affairs make a little more sense now, right? She also helped build convents and hospitals, so not a lot of people really hated her. It seems far-fetchedbut the evidence is chilling. See, Durant, Will. Lucrezia was just seventeen, and her first husband was out the window. Instead, Lucrezia ran an impressive court at her husbands place. Oh, and he also made the literal King of France write to the Duke and tell him to do what the Pope said. Little did they know, there would soon be a way bigger scandal to occupy them. built the family up to great heights, but it is his son Cesare Borgia and his daughter Lucrezia who have fascinated modern history lovers for a very long time. No clan is left untouched, and even families that seem happy and normal on. She had a relationship with Francesco II Gonzaga, her brother-in-law, and that lasted until (most historians think) he caught syphilis. Around this time, Lucrezia also became Governor of Spoleto, so thats amazing for her. Thanks to her dads machinations, Alfonso eventually returned to Rome and even better, Alexander decided to go with the flow and not punish Alfonso for running away. Some believe that Lucrezias spurned ex-husband Giovanni Sforza arranged for the brutal attack. 4.g?S8a[T|I6b ^1/QG;=JMYOV34y,qJ?+KT~>=AeHIYn5JaZJzt,Ql>rLtL/g8!_. Even Popes can be superstitious. This sounds fancy, but at the time, it was incredibly controversial. She was married off to Giovanni Sforza, an illegitimate son of Costanzo I Sforza. Before he said peace to his ex-wifes family, he gave them one final parting gift. She made multiple attempts to regain custody of her child, but they all came to naught. WebLucrezia Borgia was born in Subiaco, Italy, on 18 April 1480, the illegitimate daughter of the Spanish Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia and his long-time mistress Vanozza dei Cattanei. Instead of freaking out, Lucrezia was so tired that she just said, Oh good, I am dead!. At first, things went well between Lucrezia and Hubby Number Two. The Dukes reluctance, though merited, led Pope Alexander to take matters into his own hands. She then married Alfonso I d'Este, Duke of Ferrara, in early 1502 in Ferrara. WebDid Lucrezia Borgia have syphilis? Not only was he allies with Alfonsos enemies, the Frenchhe and Alfonsos main assassin Michelotto Corella were old chums too. Some people suit their name perfectly. The Borgias did indeed want to kill Giovanni, and Lucrezia found this out from her brother Cesare and had Giovanni flee Rome. A few centuries later, Lord Byron described their love letters as the prettiest love letters in the world. Lucrezia also probably had affairs with a bunch of other people because she does whatever she wants, what else did you expect? The entire time that her dad and her husband were fighting and she was busy arranging dicey extra curricular activities for her pervy father, Lucrezia was also heavily pregnant. Two papal bulls recognized the child as the illegitimate son first of Cesare, then of Alexander, who was probably the true father. Alexander asked Giovanni's uncle, Cardinal Ascanio Sforza, to persuade Giovanni to agree to an annulment of the marriage. [17] It has been claimed that the affair ended when Francesco contracted syphilis and had to end sexual relations with Lucrezia.

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