Lucrezia Borgia

:This article is about the historical person. Lucrezia Borgia is also the name Buffalo Bill gave to his gun.

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Lucrezia Borgia (or "Lucrecia Borgia") (April 14 or April 18, 1480 - June 24, 1519) was the daughter of Rodrigo Borgia, the powerful Renaissance Spaniard who would later become Pope Alexander VI and Vannozza dei Cattani. Her brother was the notorious despot Cesare Borgia. Lucrezia's family later came to epitomise the ruthless Machiavellian politics and sexual corruption alleged to be characteristic of the Renaissance Papacy. In this story Lucrezia was cast as a femme fatale, a role she has played 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. Often these images are simply part of Lucrezia's myth.

Related Topics:
April 14 - April 18 - 1480 - June 24 - 1519 - Rodrigo Borgia - Renaissance - Pope Alexander VI - Vannozza dei Cattani - Cesare Borgia - Machiavellian - Femme fatale

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Not enough is known about the historical Lucrezia to be certain whether any of 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 V of Aragon (Duke of Bisceglie), and Alphonso d'Este (Prince of Ferrara). Tradition has it that the middle of those husbands was an illegitimate son of the King of Naples and that Cesare may have had him murdered after his political value waned.

Related Topics:
Giovanni Sforza - Alfonso V of Aragon - Bisceglie - Alphonso d'Este - Ferrara

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Was she a "monster of cruelty and deceit"? Or a pawn of her power-hungry father and brother? Was she a poisoner or simply the victim of some very bad press? Once again, the differing perceptions of history are fascinating.

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Lucrezia was the daughter of Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia and his mistress, Vannozza de Cattanei. By the time she was eleven, she had been betrothed twice, but both times her father had called off the engagements.

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