The Borgia family have popped up all over the place in recent years, from novels to video games, and their seedy reputation has been portrayed in every way imaginable.
But how much of their reputation is true? Cal King sorts the fact from fiction in the handy list below.
1. Cesare Borgia’s Syphilis Mask
Unlike today, syphilis was quite an embarrassing ailment in the Renaissance period. After a particularly aggressive bout of the disease, Cesare Borgia had so many scars on his face that he took to wearing a mask in public to hide the unsightly blemishes. Fortunately this publicity-averse technique proved highly efficient as the fact that he had syphilis is only found in a number of history books (all of them) and there was only one film made entitled “The Mask of Cesare Borgia.” I reckon you got away with it, Cesare.
2. Cesare The Teenaged Archbishop
Although not particularly interested in the church, eighteen year old Cesare found himself on the same path as his dad (the Pope) and rose swiftly towards the position of Cardinal *cough* nepotism *cough*. While that would’ve been a career highlight for most, he soon left the church, becoming a brilliant military leader and syphillis mask-wearer.
3. Cesare ‘probably’ murdered some people
When Cesare’s brother Giovanni disappeared, only to be found in the Tiber wearing his fancy clothes and a gaping wound to his throat, the rumours began to spread that Cesare was the culprit. Although never proved, it did sound a little bit like the sort of thing that Cesare might do.
After all, it was Cesare who had his men attack his sister’s husband, Alfonso, stabbing him several times. And, as Alfonso recovered in bed, it is said the Cesare came to him and whispered “"what was not finished at breakfast would be complete by dinner" before having him strangled around brunch.
4. Rodrigo’s last words
In 1503, Rodrigo (better known as Pope Alexander VI) died in, surprise surprise, slightly suspicious circumstances. As he lay on his deathbed, he said to those around him – “wait a minute…” and then died.
But wait for what? Was he going to reveal a dramatic secret? Say something profound and touching? Probably not, given the Pope's naughty reputation, and chances are it was just another attempt to wind up his nearest and dearest.
5. Cesare’s remains were banned from holy ground
Despite being the (illegitimate) son of Pope Alexander VI, when cardinals learned of Cesare’s sins (murder, corruption, syphilis mask) they refused to let him be buried in holy ground. In 1527, the Bishop of Calahorra had his tomb destroyed, and reburied Cesare in unconsecrated ground where his body would be “trampled on by men and beasts”.
He stayed there unmolested (apart from the trampling) until 1945 when he was inadvertently dug up by local workmen, and re-reburied outside a local church’s grounds. Fast forward to 2007, and thanks to over fifty years of petitions, Cesare’s body was moved inside the church on the 500th anniversary of his death.
A happy ending at last, for Mr Murdery McSyphilis-Mask.
6. Brooke Shields is one of the family
That's right, Brooke Shields, star of Friends, The Middle, and saucy film The Blue Lagoon. Brooke's impressive lineage means that her ancestors include Lucrezia Borgia, a King of France, and a Prince of Monaco.
