Table of Contents PENGUIN BOOKS Title Page Copyright Page Acknowledgements Foreword PART ONE - The Pope’s Daughter 1480 – 1501 The Pope’s Daughter Countess of Pesaro The Borgias Renascent The Tragic Duchess of Bisceglie Turning Point Farewell to Rome PART TWO - Duchess of Ferrara 1502 – 19 The Road to Ferrara 8.A New Life The Heavens Conspire 10 The Dark Marquis 11 Duchess of Ferrara 12 The Congiura 13 ‘Horrors and Tears’ 14 The Years of War, 1509 – 12 15 Lucrezia Triumphant 16 The Last Year of Tranquillity 17 The End Postscript Archives Source Notes Bibliography Index FOR THE BEST IN PAPERBACKS, LOOK FOR THE I Pope Alexander VI (Rodrigo Borgia), Lucrezia’s father Detail from a fresco by Pinturicchio in the Borgia Apartments in the Vatican painted shortly after Rodrigo’s accession to the papacy in 1492 Vannozza Cattenai, Lucrezia’s mother Also known as Giovanna de’Cattaneis The beauty which fascinated Lucrezia’s father is hardly evident in this portrait, executed in her later years by an unknown artist Subiaco The Rocca, or stronghold, traditionally Lucrezia’s birthplace, still dominates this small town in the hills south-east of Rome Lucrezia Borgia Traditionally held to be a portrait of the teenage Lucrezia depicted as St Catherine in the fresco The Disputation of Saint Catherine by Pinturicchio in the Sala dei Santi in the Borgia Apartments in the Vatican, 11492 – Cesare Borgia Always – almost certainly correctly – held to be a portrait of the dangerous ‘il Valentino’ at the height of his power By Altobello Melone Sancia d’Aragona and Jofre Borgia, depicted at the time of their wedding in Naples in May 1494 Sancia, wearing a coronet, rides in front of her natural father, King Alfonso II She is immediately preceded by Jofre, recently created Prince of Squillace Juan Borgia, Second Duke of Gandia Detail from The Disputation of Saint Catherine Juan’s arrogance and his fondness for exotic clothes emerge in this depiction painted presumably before his departure for Spain in August 1493 to marry Maria Enriques Giulia Farnese, known as ‘Giulia la Bella’, Alexander VI’s teenage mistress and the wife of Orsino Orsini Her brother Alessandro Farnese, created cardinal by Alexander, later became Pope Paul III Detail from The Transfiguration by Raphael painted c 1519 – 20 and therefore years after the events described in this book Giovanni Sforza, Count of Pesaro Lucrezia’s first husband whom she divorced on the grounds of non-consummation 10 Alfonso d’Aragona, First Duke of Bisceglie, natural son of Alfonso II and brother of Sancia Lucrezia’s second husband The upper illustration shows him riding behind the musicians, wearing a dark cloak and escorting the Spanish general Gonsalvo de Cordoba (centre) into Naples after the defeat of the French at Ostia In the lower illustration he is in the foreground riding into Naples in May 1497 Este, Sigismondo d’ (Alfonso’s brother) Este, Sigismondo d’ (Ercole’s brother) Estuniga, Lope de Faenza, Astorre Manfredi, lord of Farnese, Cardinal Alessandro see Paul III, Pope Farnese, Angelo Farnese, Girolama Farnese, Giulia (Orsini): as Alexander VI’s mistress; visits Pesaro; on Caterina Gonzaga; leaves Pesaro to see dying brother; captured by French and released Federico (chancellor) Federigo, King of Naples: coronation; declines Alexander’s proposed marriage of Cesare Borgia to Carlotta; and Alfonso’s marriage settlement with LB; Ferdinand of Aragon supports; returns Alfonso to LB Ferdinand, King of Aragon and of Spain: rule in Aragon; conquers Granada; relations with Alexander VI, 23, 30; non – attendance at Juan Gandia’s wedding; conflict with Louis XII; Ferdinand, King of Aragon—cont secret treaty with Louis XII; and marriage of LB and Alfonso d’Este; and Rodrigo Bisceglie’s estates; seeks favour with Julius II; and Cesare’s imprisonment; in alliance with Julius II and Venice; claim to Kingdom of Naples; attacks France; death Ferrante, King of Naples Ferrara: Este rule in; LB’s popularity in; delegation to LB in Rome; LB travels to; character; LB’s arrival in; LB’s life and amusements in; plague in; and papal ambitions; under Ercole; Alfonso’s rule and reforms in; secret passageways; building improvements; grain crisis; Conspiracy (‛Congiura’) in; carnival in; new year celebrations; Julius II’s hostility to; war against Venice; Jews in; French troops reinforce; Leo X resumes war against; convents; Dominicans in; fortifications strengthened; celebrates return of Alfonso from Paris; decline; earthquake (1570) Ferrari, Giovanni, Cardinal of Modena Ferrera, Juan Fertella, La (clown) Fino, Giovanni di Florence Flores, Bartolomeu, Archbishop of Cosenza Foix, Catherine de Foix, Gaston de Foligno food and diet Forli Forno, El Modenese del Forno, Girolamo del Forno, Masino del Fornovo, battle of (1495) France: invades Italy; Cesare Borgia allies with; defeats Venice at Agnadello; moves south in Italy ; troops reinforce Ferrara; in battle of Ravenna; attacked by Spain and England; and Francis I’s expedition to recover lost Italian possessions Francesco Gonzaga, Marquis of Mantua: seeks influence with Pope; Fornovo victory against Charles VIII; commands Holy League forces; meets LB; and Giovanni Sforza’s flight from Pesaro; Cesare Borgia requests horses from; with Louis XII in Italy; nervousness of Cesare Borgia; marriage to Isabella d’Este; protests at seizing of Dorotea Malatesta; and LB’s arrival in Ferrara; letters from Isabella; Marchioness of Cotrone writes to; absence from LB’s wedding with d’Este; and Isabella’s fear of Cesare Borgia; Isabella warns of Cesare’s plotting; makes peace with Cesare; letter from Pico della Mirandola; on Alexander’s death; reconciles Ercole and Ippolito d‘Este; appearance and character; relations and correspondence with LB ; sexual activities; syphilis; marriage relations; with French army against Naples; and grain crisis in Ferrara; LB seeks help in securing release of Cesare; and LB’s son’s illness; protects Giulio d’Este; and arranged Bentivoglio/Torelli marriage; Alberto Pio stirs up trouble with Alfonso d’Este; and d’Este Congiura conspiracy; supports Julius II; hostility with Alfonso d’Este; and birth of LB’s son Ercole; LB appeals to apprehend killer of Don Martino; and murder of Ercole Strozzi; illness; leads papal forces against Ferrara; captured and imprisoned by Venetians; freed from prison; Julius, II appoints Gonfalonier of Church; LB appeals to for help in papal wars; concern for LB’s safety; hopes to invite LB to Mantua; attempts to divert Julius II from Ferrara; withdraws from discussions of Most Holy League; believes Ferrara finished; rebukes wife; LB tells of Jofre Borgia’s death; LB pleads for condemned man on Isabella’s behalf; LB writes to on criminal Alfonso Rampino; death; religious beliefs Francesco Maria della Rovere, Duke of Urbino Francis I, King of France Frassina, Comatre Frederick III, Emperor Fregoso, Ottaviano Furlano, Enea (‘il Cavaliero’) Gabbioneta, Archdeacon of Gacet, Francesco (or Francesc) Gadio, Stazio Gaeta Gandia, dukedom of Gandia, Juan BorgiaDuke of: Alexander VI’s fondness for; character and behaviour; succeeds to titles and estates; and LB’s marriage to Giovanni; marriage to Maria Enriques; supposed non – consummation of marriage; granted lands; relations with Giovanni Sforza; homesickness; portrait; returns to Rome; leads campaign against Orsini; and LB’s divorce from Giovanni; disappearance and death; invested Duke of Benevento; body found and funeral; accused of incest with LB Gandia, Pedro Luis Borgia, Ist Duke of Gardner, Edmund G Gatto, Marcantonio Genoa Gian Cantore see Artigianova, Gian de Gianuzzi, Jacopo de’ Giordano, Vincenzo Giovanna, Madonna Giovio, Paolo Giustinian, Antonio Gonzaga family: rule in Mantua, I; seek favour with Alexander VI; apprehensions of Cesare Borgia Gonzaga, Caterina Gonzaga, Chiara Gonzaga, Eleonora; as Duchess of Urbino Gonzaga, Federico Gonzaga, Ferrante Gonzaga, Francesco see Francesco Gonzaga, Marquis of Mantua Gonzaga, Giovanni Gonzaga, Isabella (née d’Este), Marchioness of Mantua see Isabella Gonzaga Gonzaga, Laura Bentivoglio Gonzaga, Maddalena (Giovanni Sforza’s first wife) Gonzaga, Ottaviano Gonzaga, Sigismondo, Cardinal Gonzaga da Bozzolo, Federico Gouffier, Admiral Guillaume, seigneur de Bonnivet Gramont, Gabriel, Cardinal – Bishop of Tarbes Granada Grasica, Juan Gregorovius Grotto, Bartolommeo Guerrea, Anthoni Guicciardini, Francesco: on Alexander VI’s capabilities; on LB – Alfonso d’Este marriage; on practice of poisoning; on Julius II; on Julius II”s participation in war; on Leo X’s plans for Ferrara; on Francis I of France; on Louis XII’s excesses; History of Italy Guidobaldo da Montefeltro, Duke of Urbino: commands papal army captured and released; and killing of Juan Gandia; deprived of status as papal vicar; greets LB on journey to Ferrara; flees on Cesare’s capture of Urbino; returns to Urbino; retrieves stolen possessions; LB asks to intercede for Cesare Henry VII, King of England Henry VIII, King of England Hispaniola Holy League homosexuality Imola Infessura, Stefano Inghirami, Tommaso (‘Fedra’) Innocent VIII, Pope Isabella, Queen of Castile and of Spain Isabella Gonzaga (née d’Este), Marchioness of Mantua: letters from Brognolo; marriage to Francesco Gonzaga; on Cesare Borgia’s syphilis; told of attack on Alfonso Bisceglie; fear of Cesare Borgia; avoids commission to bring Sister Osanna to Ferrara; interest in LB’s dress and behaviour; character and qualities; LB meets; di Prosperi reports to; resents and disparages LB; and LB’s household; warns husband of Cesare’s plotting with Louis XII; congratulates Cesare for coup against conspirators; El Prete reports on LB to; rivalry with LB; hates Camposampiero; and Francesco’s sexual exploits; political and intellectual acumen; marriage relations; letters from LB on administrative matters; and Francesco’s relations with LB; pregnancy; LB sends gifts to; children; on Cesare’s death; praised in Pio’s eclogue; told of birth of LB’s son and LB’s relations with Francesco Gonzaga; protects Barbara Torelli; rules Mantua in husband’s absence; defends Mantua in papal war; LB pleads to intercede with Francesco in papal war; di Prosperi seeks favours from; and Most Holy League plans; and evacuation of Ercole from Ferrara; and Julius Il’s vendetta against Ferrara; leaves Mantua for Milan; Francesco rebukes; wishes to entertain Prospero Colonna; fondness for fruits in syrup; improved relations with LB; LB informs of Alfonso’s visit to Paris; exploits indulgences; LB sends condolences on Francesco’s death Italian League Italy: conditions and rule in; French invade Jeanne de France, Queen of Louis XII Jews: converted; expelled from Spain and Portugal; protected by d’Este Julius II, Pope (Giuliano della Rovere); rivalry and relations with Alexander VI; backs Cesare Borgia; Alexander rewards; Alexander claims to protect; attitude to Cesare; character and qualities; elected; confines Cesare; power and ambitions; syphilis; attitude to Ferrara; negotiates over Cento and La Pieve with Ippolito d’Este; and feud between Giulio and Ippolito d’Este; Alfonso d’Este meets; enters Bologna; and Cesare’s escape from Spanish prison; accuses Alfonso d’Este of killing of Ercole Strozzi; hostility towards Ferrara and Alfonso d’Este; appoints Alfonso d’Este Gonfalonier of Church; death; pact with Venice against French; excommunicates Alfonso d’Este; moves to Bologna; ill health; forms league with Ferdinand of Julius II, Pope – cont Spain; forces defeated at Ravenna (1512); Alfonso seeks reconciliation and absolution from; and LB’s position in Ferrara Ladislaus Jagiello, King of Hungary Lampugnano, Pietro Giorgio Lanciano Lang, Matthaus, Cardinal – Bishop of Gurk Lapalisse, Jacques de Chabannes, seigneur de (Gran Maestro) Las Cases, Juan Lazzarino, Domine Niccolo League of St Mark Leo X, Pope (Giovanni de‘Medici): on Borgias; continues war against Ferrara; captured; elected pope; coronation; suspends edict on Alfonso d’Este; retains territories; and Alfonso’s absence in Paris; and Martin Luther; letter from dying LB Leonardo da Vinci Lippomano (Venetian envoy) Llopis, Juan Lombardo, Antonio Lopez, Juan, Cardinal of Capua Lopez de Haro, Don Diego Lorqua, Don Ramiro de Louis XII, King of France: accession; conflict with Ferdinand of Aragon; Alexander VI supports; campaign in Italy; and Charlotte d’Albret’s marriage to Cesare; Borgias support; claim to Naples; secret treaty with Ferdinand of Aragon; and LB’s marriage to Alfonso d’Este; Ferrante d’Este meets; donates county of Cotignola to Alfonso d’Este; Duke Ercole meets; Cesare visits in Milan; obstructs Cesare; and Alexander’s death; refuses Cesare’s request for restitution of duchy; Alfonso d’Este’s alliance with; captures Genoa; and League of Cambrai; Ippolito d’Este visits; sends envoy to Rome to sue for peace; death Louise, Princess of France Louise, Queen Mother of France (‘Madama’) Lucia Brocadelli of Narni, Sister Luther, Martin Luzio, Alessandro Machiavelli, Niccolò: meets Cesare Borgia in Urbino; and League against Cesare; and Cesare’s military intentions; on Julius II’s attitude to Cesare; and capture of Michelotto; tribute to Cesare; condemns Venetians; Discourses; The Prince Maddaleni, Fausto Evangelista Maffei, Federico Magione, La Magnanimo, Hieronymo Malatesta, Dorotea Malatesta, Pandolfo Malatesta, Parisina Malatesta, Roberto Malegonelle, Antonio Mallett, Michael Malvezzi, Polissena Mantegna, Andrea Mantova, Dionisio da (‘Papino’) Mantua: Gonzaga family rule, I; Guidobaldo Urbino flees to; LB visits; Isabella d’Este defends Manutius, Aldus Marches: under Borgia control Marguerite d’Angoulême Maria Enriques, Princess of Aragon Mariano, Fra Marignano, battle of (1515) Marinello, Giovanni Marrades, Juan Marti, Bartolomeu (Cardinal Segorbe) Martino de Amelia (jester) Martino, Don Mary, Queen of Louis XII Matarazzo, F (chronicler) Matta, Andrea della Matuzzi, Elisabetta Matuzzi, Pietro Maximilian I, Emperor; death Medelana, Este villa at Medici family Medici, Giuliano de’ Medici, Lorenzo de’ (’the Magnificent’) Medici, Lorenzo de’, the Younger Medici, Piero de’ Medina del Campo, Castile Meli da Crema, Fra Antonio Melina, Count Messisbugo, Cristoforo da Michelangelo Buonarroti Michelis, Fiammetta de’ Michelotto see Corella, Don Miguel de Michiel, Cardinal Giovanni, Bishop of Porto Mila, Adriana de: cares for LB; and supplicants for Alexander VI’s favours; Juan Gandia sends compliments to; and Giovanni Sforza; and Orsini; accompanies LB to Ferrara LB’s fondness for Mila, Lorenzo da Mila, Maria de Milan: ruled by Sforzas; alliance with Naples; alliance with Alexander VI; as hereditary fief of French king Mirafuentes, Gonsalvo de Mirandola Mirandola, Eleonora della Mirandola, Julia della Modena: plague in; in papal wars; Alfonso d’Este hopes to reclaim Modena,Vincenzo da Mole, Margarita Mona Moncada, Ugo de Montefeltro, Elisabetta da see Elisabetta da Montefeltro, Duchess of Urbino Montefeltro, Guidobaldo da see Guidobaldo da Montefeltro, Duke of Urbino Monterotondo Montesina, Madona Montevegio, Count Ottaviano da Montevegio, Roberto da Morello da Napoli, Vincenzo Most Holy League Naples: Aragon rule in; French claims to; alliance with Milan; Alexander VI supports; retreat before French; Charles VIII in; Federigo’s coronation in; Cesare’s ambitions for; Rodrigo Bisceglie’s estates in Nasello, il (envoy) Nepi Niccolò III d’Este, Marquis of Ferrara Oliva, Count of Oliverotto of Fermo Organo, Antonio dall’ Orsini family: hostility to Pope; suspected of killing Juan Gandia; and attack on Alfonso Bisceglie; and Cesare’s plotting; oppose Cesare Orsini, Cardinal Orsini, Carlo Orsini, Fabio Orsini, Francesco, Duke of Gravina Orsini, Giangiordano Orsini, Laura (Giulia Farnese’s daughter) Orsini, Orsino Orsini, Paolo Orsini, Rinaldo, Archbishop of Florence Orsini, Roberto Orsini, Virginio Orsini di Stabia, Giuliano Orta, Bishop of (LB’s chaplain) Osanna Andreassi, Sister Ostia Pagnano, Giovanni Paolo Pantasilea Papal States: status; under Pope’s control Paris: Alfonso d’Este visits Paul II, Pope Paul III, Pope (Alessandro Farnese) Pedro de Atares, Don Pellegrino da San Daniele Pepi, Francesco Perotto see Calderon, Pedro Perusa, Cardinal of Pesaro Petrato, Alberto di Petrucci, Pandolfo Piccimini, Christoforo (LB’s secretary) Pico della Mirandola family Pico della Mirandola, Francesca Pico della Mirandola, Count Lodovico: carries Alexander VI’s standard; on murder of Troche; accompanies Ippolito d’Este to see brother Alfonso; feud with Alberto Pio; killed in war against Venice Pieve, La Pigna, Giovanni Alberto della Pigna, Stefano della Pinctoris, Jacopo Pinturicchio, Bernardino Pio da Carpi, Alberto Pio da Sassuolo, Alessandro Pia, Emilia Pio, Ercole Pistofilo, Bonaventura Pitigliano, Count of Pius II, Pope Pius III, Pope (Francesco Piccolomini) plague: in Ferrara; in Modena Poccino, Paolo Poggio, Cristoforo poison and poisoning Portius, Hieronymus Portugal Poto, Gaspar Pozzi, Gian Luca Prete, El Procida, Don Gaspar de Prosperi, Bernardino di: reports to Isabella on LB’s activities; on Guidobaldo of Urbino’s flight; on LB’s pregnancies; on LB’s allowance; on LB’s life in Ferrara; on LB at death of Alexander VI; on plague in Ferrara; on Ercole’s death; on LB’s accession as Duchess of Ferrara; on corruption under Ercole; on building of passageways in Ferrara; on Ferrara affairs under Alfonso and LB; on d’Este feud in Ferrara; on attack on Giulio d’Este; and Alfonso d’Este’s absence on pilgrimage; on Alfonso actions after Congiura conspiracy; on LB’s treatment of Lucrezia Bentivoglio; on Angela Borgia; on LB’s grief at death of Cesare; on new year celebrations in Ferrara; praises Ariosto’s La Cassaria; on LB’s children; on disputes between Alfonso d’Este and Francesco Gonzaga; on murder of Ercole Strozzi; on Ercole Strozzi’s marriage to Barbara Torelli; on Ercole d’Este’s childhood; LB sends to Francesco Gonzaga; on French troops in Ferrara; on Alfonso’s victory at La Bastia; disapproves of LB’s entertaining French troops; on LB’s health stay at San Bernardino; seeks favours from Isabella d’Este; on Ippolito d’Este’s comforting LB on death of son Rodrigo; on Alfonso d’Este’s return to Ferrara; on Julius II; on Costabili’s entertaining Prospero Colonna in Ferrara; on LB’s women taking veil; correspondence with Isabella d’Este; on tilting in Ferrara; on Alfonso’s building improvements; on clerical behaviour; on LB’s worsening health; and LB’s anger at Giovanni Borgia; on Alfonso’s administrative failings; on LB/Alfonso’s mutual love; on LB’s final illness Publica, Bernardino della Pucci, Lorenzo Pucci, Puccio Putti, Dalida de’ Rainaldo, Don Ramires, Diego Ramires, Pedro Ramón, Guillen Rampino, Alfonso Rangoni, Count Guido Ranuccio degli Ottoni Ranuzzi, Battista Raphael Sanzio Raphaele ofVarese, Fra Ravenna, battle of (1512) Regazzi da San Secondo, Antonio (‘il Milanese’) Reggio Regino, Cardinal Remi, Opizo (or Obizzo) da Remolins, Francesc Riario, Cardinal Rimini, Bishop of Rinaldo d’Este, Niccolò di Roberti, Ercole de’ Roberti, Gherardo de’ Rodrigo, Duke of Bisceglie (LB’s son): birth and christening; childhood; future discussed on mother’s marriage to d’Este; created Duke of Sermoneta; LB leaves on departure for Ferrara Rohan, Cardinal de Romagna: Borgias seek to control; LB travels through Romana, Samaritana Romano, Gian Cristoforo Rome: as centre of Christendom; rebuilding and improvement; plague in; Charles VIII enters; Cesare Borgia’s triumphal procession in Rossetti, Biagio Rovere, Galeotto Franciotti della, Cardinal of San Pietro in Vincula Rovere, Giovanna della Rovere, Giovanni Maria della Rovere, Giuliano della see Julius II, Pope Rubiera, Franceschino Boccacci da Rucellai, Nannina Ruini, Carlo Sacerdote, Gustavo Saluzzo, Ricciarda da San Leo (fortress) Sancho (LB’s major – domo) Sancia of Aragon: marriage to Jofre Borgia; in Naples; returns to Rome; appearance; behaviour; relations with Cesare Borgia; witnesses conversion of Jews; and LB’s marriage to Alfonso; Alexander sends to Naples; affair with Cesare Borgia ends; favours Burgundian in duel; and killing of brother Alfonso; affair with Ippolito d’Este; accompanies Prospero Colonna to Naples; and Rodrigo Bisceglie’s upbringing Sanseverino, Cardinal Sanseverino, Galeazzo da (Gran Scudero) Santa Croce, Jacopo di Santa Praxede, Cardinal of Sanudo, Marin: on LB’s divorce; on death of Perotto; on forced conversion of Jews; on Ascanio Sforza in Rome; on Alexander VI’s violent threats; on Alexander’s accident and recovery; on Borgia contingent for journey to Ferrara; and Cesare’s abduction of Dorotea Malatesta; on LB’s efforts to help Cesare; and Alfonso’s view of Cesare; on Duke Ercole’s extortions; on LB’s reaction to Cesare’s death; and Alfonso’s actions in papal war; on excommunication of Alfonso; on LB’s preparations to evacuate Ferrara; on Ercole d’Este’s childhood illness; on Julius II’s hostility to Michelotto; on Julius’s threatening Ferrara; on death of Julius; on Pigna’s mission in Venice Saraceni, Gherardo Sassuolo Savelli family Savelli, Silvio Savonarola, Girolamo Scalona, Gian Carlo Schiavi, Giorgio Senese, Elisabetta Serafino, Count Alexandro Seregni, Giangiorgio Sermide Sermoneta: LB appointed ruler Sestola, Girolamo da (‘Coglia’) Sforza family Sforza, Alessandro Sforza, Anna (Alfonso d’Este’s first wife) Sforza, Cardinal Ascanio: and brother Ludovico’s ambitions; on Alexander VI’s palace; and Alexander VI’s election to papacy; and LB’s marriage to Giovanni Sforza; and Giovanni’s relations with Alexander VI; leaves Rome; joins Colonna; intercedes for captured Giulia and Adriana; Ludovico Sforza reproves; and Giovanni’s marriage relations; and LB’s divorce from Giovanni; suspected of killing Juan Gandia; and proposed Neapolitan marriage for LB; and Alexander’s negotiation with Naples; and LB’s marriage to Alfonso; courts LB; leaves Rome for Nettuno; Alexander takes Nepi castle from; and Louis XII’s campaign in Italy; captured and imprisoned Sforza, Beatrice (née d’Este) Sforza, Bianca Maria Sforza, Camilla d’Aragona (wife of Costanzo) Sforza, Caterina (Riario) Sforza, Costanzo, Count of Cotignola Sforza, Galeazzo Sforza, Gian Galeazzo Sforza, Giovanni: marriage to LB; leaves Rome in plague; and access to Alexander VI,; in Pesaro; divorce from LB; deteriorating marriage relations; flees from Rome to Pesaro; suspected of impotency; suspected of killing Juan Gandia; deprived of status as papal vicar; Cesare Borgia plans destruction of; Cesare Borgia drives from Pesaro; excluded from Ferrara; exile in Venice; returns to Pesaro after Alexander VI’s death Sforza, Ludovico (‘il Moro’), Duke of Milan: conflict with Gian Sforza, Ludovico – cont Galeazzo; and LB’s marriage to Giovanni Sforza; ridicules Alexander VI; letter from Giovanni Sforza; fears breach with Alexander VI; and Giovanni’s divorce from LB; captures Cesare Borgia’s messenger; in war against French; death; marriage to Beatrice; Ippolito d’Este stays with; defeat (1500); grants Bari to Isabella d’Aragona Sforza, Massimiliano Sinigallia Sixtus IV, Pope Soderini, Bishop of Florence sodomy Soriano, battle of (1496) Spagnoli, Tolomeo Spain: and division of New Worlds; military support for Alexander VI, 55; expels Jews; supports Julius II in papal war; alliance with Leo X Spoleto: LB appointed Governor; Alfonso reunited with LB in Strozzi, Costanza Strozzi, Ercole: celebrates LB’s arrival in Ferrara; character; as LB’s confidant and go – between; Alfonso disfavours and dismisses; LB asks Gonzaga to favour; poem on Cesare’s death; marriage to Barbara Torelli; murdered; poems printed Strozzi, Guido Strozzi, Lorenzo: reports on Francesco Gonzaga to LB; dismissed as seneschal; and death of LB’s baby son; marriage to Costanza; and Duke Ercole’s death; and Barbara Torelli; as LB’s go – between; supports LB against Isabella; and Gonzaga’s wish for LB to come to Mantua Strozzi, Tito syphilis Taberna, Stefano Taglia, Battista da Tamburino, Ricciardetto Tartufo, Rizo del Tebaldeo, Antonio Tebaldi, Jacopo de Theodora, Madonna (of Ferrara court) Theseo, Fra Thomaso, Fra Thus, Abraham Titian Torelli, Barbara Tormelli, Thomasino Trémouïlle, Louis de Trevisan, Domenico Trissino, Giangiorgio Trivulzio, Gian – Giacopo Troche, Francesco; murdered Tromboncino, Bartolommeo Trotti, Giacomo Trotti, Nicola dei (earlier senese) Trotto, Bigio dei Tura, Cosimo Tuttobono Urbino; see also Guidobaldo da Montefeltro, Duke of Urbino Valencia Valengo, Giovanni Valla, Giovanni Varano family Varano, Giulio Cesare Venice: rule, I; alliance with Alexander VI; and Ercole d’Este; rebuffs Alfonso d’Este; League of Cambrai directed against; war against Ferrara; Julius makes pact with against French; supports Julius against Ferrara; supports Francis I against Emperor Venosa, Bishop of Verona, Gaspare de Vettori, Francesco Villeneuve, Louis de, Baron de Trans Violante, La (LB’s attendant) Vitelli family Vitelli,Vitellozzo Wirtz, Maria Wolsey, Cardinal Thomas Zambotti, Bernardino Ziliolo, Giovanni Ziliolo, Hieronymo Zurita, (historian of Ferdinand of Aragon) FOR THE BEST IN PAPERBACKS, LOOK FOR THE In every corner of the world, on every subject under the sun, Penguin represents quality and variety— the very best in publishing today For complete information about books available from Penguin—including Penguin Classics, Penguin Compass, and Puffins—and how to order them, write to us at the appropriate address below Please note that for copyright reasons the selection of books varies from country to country In the United States: Please write to Penguin Group (USA), PO Box 12289 Dept B, Newark, New jersey 07101 – 5289 or call – 800 – 788 – 6262 In the United Kingdom: Please write to Dept EP, Penguin Books Ltd, Bath Road, Harmondsworth, West Drayton, Middlesex UB7 ODA In Canada: Please write to Penguin Books Canada Ltd, 90 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 700, Toronto, Ontario M4P 2Y3 In Australia: Please write to Penguin Books Australia Ltd, PO Box 257, Ringwood, Victoria 3134 In New Zealand: Please write to Penguin Books (NZ) Ltd, Private Bag 102902, North Shore Mail Centre, Auckland 10 In India: Please write to Penguin Books India Pvt Ltd, 11 Panchsheel Shopping Centre, Panchsheel Park, New Delhi 110 017 In the Netherlands: Please write to Penguin Books Netherlands bv, Postbus 3507, NL – 1001 AH Amsterdam In Germany: Please write to Penguin Books Deutschland GmbH, Metzlerstrasse 26, 60594 Frankfurt am Main In Spain: Please write to Penguin Books S A., Bravo Murillo 19, 1° B, 28015 Madrid In Italy: Please write to Penguin Italia s.r.l., Via Benedetto Croce 2, 20094 Corsico, Milano In France: Please write to Penguin France, Le Carré Wilson, 62 rue Benjamin Baillaud, 31500 Toulouse In Japan: Please write to Penguin Books Japan Ltd, Kaneko Building, – – 25 Koraku, Bunkyo – Ku, Tokyo 112 In South Africa: Please write to Penguin Books South Africa (Pty) Ltd, Private Bag X14, Parkview, 2122 Johannesburg ... Copyright © Sarah Bradford, 2004 All rights reserved Bradford, Sarah Lucrezia Borgia: life, love and death in Renaissance Italy / Sarah Bradford p cm Includes bibliographical references and index... princely courts If you want a brilliant and erudite study of the continually changing balances of power in the Italian princely and ducal states, and the power of the Vatican, this book could not... Leonardo da Vinci 18 Right: Francesco II Gonzaga, Marquis of Mantua Husband of Isabella d’Este and lover of Lucrezia Contemporary portrait bust by Gian Cristoforo Romano 19 Left: Pietro Bembo The