Apologia Pro Alexander VI: The Case for Rodrigo Borgia

8/10/2019 Apologia Pro Alexander VI: The Case for Rodrigo Borgia

1/27


2/27

1

pologia Pro lexander VI

by Matthew Olson

2014


3/27

2

Table of Contents

Personality.................................................................................................................. p. 3

Family........................................................................................................................... p. 5

Cardinalate ................................................................................................................ p. 8

Election...................................................................................................................... p. 10

The Italians................................................................................................................ p. 13

The French................................................................................................................. p. 17

The Spanish............................................................................................................... p. 21

Legacy......................................................................................................................... p. 24


4/27

3

Personality

o!ri"o #or"ia was born on 1 $an%ary 1431& in 'ati(a& )pain. Th%s& he was *ost li+ely

bapti,e! at the site of )t. Mary-s #asilia there& li+e his %nle. #oth he an! his %nle are

now honore! by stat%es o%tsi!e of its entrane.1

o!ri"o was of a "enerally happy te*pera*ent an! of hi"h intelli"ene. /e wasertainly talente! an! also r%*ore! to be %ite han!so*e& with a *e!i%* o*pleion

an! pierin" !ar+ eyes. or!in" to Pope iholas & he was also of honest life an!

*orals an! "enerally praiseworthy for his (irt%e.2

Ms"r. Peter !e oo& o!ri"o-s *ost for*i!able hroniler& pointe! o%t that he was

also an apolo"ist& a "ifte! orator& a *aster of anon law& a brilliant theolo"ian& a

lit%r"ial epert& an! a *an *ar+e! by tre*en!o%s piety an! stron" !e(otion to the

#lesse! ir"in Mary.3

6n a!!ition& Orestes errara& another one of o!ri"o-s few !eent bio"raphers& sai!

lean!er was a 9o(ial& far:si"hte!& *o!erate *an& well:balane! in *in! an! bo!y.

/a(in" li(e! nearly half a ent%ry in o*e& an! ha(in" been for al*ost the whole of his

life part of the elesiastial or"ani,ation& he ha! o*e to a profo%n! respet for all the

interests of the Catholi Ch%rh& a respet "reater than for his own life. /e was prepare!

to o*pro*ise %pon all p%rely h%*an %estions& b%t infleible %pon whate(er

onerne! the ri"hts of reli"ion. /e was the type of -politial priest-& a%tio%s an! slow to

at in the fat ;si< of the %nforeseen& b%t bra(e to the point of herois* in !efen;s


5/27


6/27

5

a*ily

anno,,a !ei Cattanei was o!ri"o #or"ia-s *istress an! the *other of his hil!ren.

)he !o%btless was of "reat bea%ty an! ar!ent passions@ for if not& how o%l! she ha(e

infla*e! a o!ri"o #or"iaH /er intellet too& altho%"h %n%lti(ate!& *%st ha(e been

(i"oro%s@ for if not& how o%l! she ha(e *aintaine! her relations with the ar!inalH7

/ewas faithf%l thro%"h his life to ;this< one wo*an. fter the births of their hil!ren an!

before he asen!e! to the Papay& she was p%t away in l%%rio%s ao**o!ations an!

reei(e! pro(ision for the rest of her life. )he a"ree! with the Car!inal abo%t the nee!

for her to li(e a life of retire*ent rather than pres%*e on a position whih wo%l! then

ha(e "i(en far less san!al than at any other perio! of history. )he paints a pit%re of

o!ri"o as anythin" b%t a !eba%he! *an.8

Cesare& o!ri"o-s first:born& was a fiery *an. In!er his father-s patrona"e& he rose to

the ran+ of ar!inal& a position whih he later resi"ne! in or!er to beo*e *ore

in(ol(e! with *ilitary efforts in the Papal )tates. /e is the first person in history to

resi"n the ar!inalate.

Aio(anni& the *ilitant seon!:born& ser(e! as"onfaloniere=*ilitary stan!ar!:

bearer> in the Papal )tates %ntil his !eath li+ely as a res%lt of a se%al eno%nterE in

14E7.

B%re,ia& the thir! in line& was eeptionally bea%tif%l& "raef%l& an! preoio%s. )he

ha! reei(e! instr%tion in the lan"%a"es& in *%si& an! in !rawin"& an! later the peopleof errara were a*a,e! at the s+ill an! taste whih she !isplaye! in e*broi!erin" in sil+

an! "ol!. -)he spo+e )panish& Aree+& 6talian& an! renh& an! a little Batin& (ery

orretly& an! she wrote an! o*pose! poe*s in all these ton"%es&- sai! the bio"rapher

7 Ferdi)a)d 'regoro+i$s tra)slated %y oh) eslie 'ar)er/,%ucretia Borgia

Michael de la Bedoyere, The Meddlesome Friar and the Wayward Pope, p. *!

0 Michael de la Bedoyere, The Meddlesome Friar and the Wayward Pope, p. 2


7/27

*

#ayar! in 1512.10)he was& no !o%bt& "oo! fr%it fro* the Ch%rh-s *any in(est*ents in

e!%ation %p to that point. O%t of all of o!ri"o-s hil!ren& she li(e! the lon"est %ntil

151E& at the a"e of 3E. s for Aioffre& little is +nown of hi*. O(ersha!owe! by his brothers& his plae in

history has been a ta! %n!er*ine!. /e was *il!:*annere!.

There are *ore than a few that raise ob9etions to the fat that o!ri"o bro+e his

lerial (ows of hastity& b%t these persons al*ost always ne"let two +ey points. irst&

that he le"iti*i,e! the* an! pro(i!e! for his fa*ily& when he o%l! ha(e 9%st !isar!e!

the*& re(eals an i**ense a*o%nt of lo(e an! harity. )eon!& )t. Peter& the first pope&

is tra!itionally belie(e! to ha(e been the father of at least )t. Petronilla& a first:ent%ry

*artyr.

)o*e& li+e writers for The ?%blin e(iewin 1858& !isp%te o!ri"o-s paternity of his

hil!ren& sayin" thin"s li+e& ..;6


8/27

7

The for*er theory so%n!s *ore li+ely than the latter& at least& b%t to !eny his

fatherhoo! whih has been orroborate! by so *any o*es off as l%!iro%s. 6n fat&

)tefano 6nfess%ra =an 6talian h%*anist historian> reor!s that o!ri"o& wishin" to*a+e his nat%ral son;Cesare< a ar!inal& a%se! it to appear& by false testi*ony& that he

was the le"iti*ate son of a ertain ?o*enio of ri"nano. )o& s%h testi*onies were& in

at%ality& only to f%rther le"iti*i,e his hil!renF14

The seon! "ro%p& alternati(ely& presents a serio%s %an!ary if these were in!ee! his&

why wo%l! o!ri"o not reo"ni,e the*& seein" as he reo"ni,e! the others an! they

wo%l! all ha(e been in si*ilar ir%*stanesH )%h a possibility see*s e(en *ore

l%!iro%s.

nyway& perhaps& on this topi& Christians sho%l! eerise harity li+e o!ri"o !i!.

1! Ferdi)a)d 'regoro+i$s tra)slated %y oh) eslie 'ar)er/,%ucretia Borgia


9/27

Car!inalate

o!ri"o #or"ia was "i(en the re! hat by his %nle& Pope Callit%s 666& when he was 25

years ol!. Dhile so*e ha(e ritii,e! Callit%s for this& it is i*portant to re*e*ber that

the establishe! fa*ilies of 6taly were (ery hostile to the )panish #or"ias& an! so the

forei"n fa*ily too+ a lose:+nit approah whene(er possible. 6n short or!er abo%t 2 years later o!ri"o was appointe! ie:Chanellor to the

/oly )ee& a"ain by his %nle& an! e(ent%ally *a!e the rhbishop of alenia.

#y the ti*e he was ie:Chanellor& o!ri"o ha! s%bstantial ino*e. /e reei(e!

benefies fro* *%ltiple athe!rals& inl%!in" the one at alenia& an! loisters& on top

of the a%to*ati salary =8&000 !%ats> assoiate! with his position. s he was a sholar

an! !e(otee of learnin"& *%h of this ino*e was spent on boo+s.15

6nterestin"ly& the Car!inal *ay ha(e been in s%bstantial !ebt& !%e to his f%n!in" of

*any !ioesan an! papal pro9ets& a*on" the* *any parties an! b%il!in" restorations&

as well as Pi%s 66-s Cr%sa!e.

..;D


10/27

0

notable penhant for sol(in" !eliate !iplo*ati iss%es& whih wo%l! ser(e hi* well in

his later years. /e was instr%*ental in the rise of 6sabella =an! er!inan!> in )pain&

whose lai*s to the throne& than+s to hi*& were en!orse! by the Pope an! for whosefirstborn he e(en offere! to ser(e as "o!father.18

i(e popes =Callit%s 666& Pi%s 66& Pa%l 66& )it%s 6& an! 6nnoent 666> %tili,e!

o!ri"o-s ser(ies. J(en Pi%s& who was press%re! to re*o(e )panish fro* positions of

infl%ene& insiste! on +eepin" hi* on& sayin" that o!ri"o was both an etraor!inarily

able *an1Ean! yo%n" in a"e ass%re!ly& b%t..ol! in 9%!"*ent.20

Car!inal #or"ia was an etre*ely loyal *an an! an eellent lie%tenant. /e tol! Pi%s

66& 6 will be at yo%r si!e& Pontiff& on sea an! on lan!& an! e(en& if neessary& will follow

yo% thro%"h fireF21

fter Pa%l 66 re*o(e! less:o*petent C%ria e*ployees& #artolo*eo )ahi !e Pia!ena

=a+a Platina>& one of the fire! wor+ers& *a!e a pa*phlet threatenin" the o(erthrow of

Pa%l. Contin%in" in this onstant (ein of loyalty& o!ri"o was f%rio%s& an! he ens%re!

the rebel-s arrest. )till& this pa*phlet le! to a *%r!ero%s plot a"ainst the /oly ather in

14G8& whih was only foile! at the last *in%te. )%h ini!ents a%se! the Car!inal to be

wary of heretis an! !issi!ents.22

?%e to his hi"h offies =not 9%st the afore*entione!& b%t also that ofa*erlin"o

treas%rer an! !ean of the )are! Colle"e of Car!inals>& tho%"h& the %estion has been

as+e! Do%l! the popes ha(e aepte! his alle"e! notoriety& if in!ee! he was notorio%sH

6 belie(e not. The awf%l thin"s that he has been a%se! of *any of whih will be

a!!resse! in this boo+ wo%l! s%rely bar hi* fro* offie& if in!ee! he partiipate! in

the*.

6nnoent 666 sai! that o!ri"o was !istin"%ishe! by noble "ifts& abo%n!in"

re*ar+able by ;his< (irt%es.23Das the pope 9%st i"norant& or !i! he +now so*ethin"

then that *any !o not +now to!ayH

1 9+a) 6lo$las tra)slated %y 'ilda Ro%erts/, The Borgias, p. !*

10 6hristopher i%%ert, The Borgias and their 'nemies, p. 2

2 Br. .B. arcy, 6F6, What you don(t )now a$out the Borgia Pope* Alexander V +,-./0,12346atholic 9)sight/

21 8r)old . Mathe(, .., The %ife and Times of "odrigo Borgia , p. !

22 9+a) 6lo$las tra)slated %y 'ilda Ro%erts/, The Borgias, p. !!

23 Br. .B. arcy, 6F6, What you don(t )now a$out the Borgia Pope* Alexander V +,-./0,12346atholic 9)sight/


11/27


12/27

11

The whole Ch%rh has ;/33

2 Msgr. Peter de Roo,Material for a History of Pope Alexander V! His "elati#es! and His Time, Vol. 2, p. 3-313

20 9+a) 6lo$las tra)slated %y 'ilda Ro%erts/, The Borgias, p. *7-*3 oha)) B$rchard edited %y r. F. . 'laser/,Pope Alexander V and His Court, p. 53

31 Michael de la Bedoyere, The Meddlesome Friar and the Wayward Pope, p. 01 :$ote;


13/27

12

lean!er-s pontifiate was here entr%ste! to the Mother of Ao!& also.34

3! t$art Ro%%, To Begin! Continue and Complete, p. !5 :$ote;Pronoscemus hilari! protegens Virgo! intuitu ut

6ue felix in#estitus per curiam terminet annos! te fa#ente! certos7 Talis enim! Virginum gemma! dignus est

honoris./


14/27

13

The 6talians

One his install*ent was settle!& the pope set abo%t *a+in" *any han"es.

lean!er was a refor*er. /e !espise! the orr%ption pre(alent in so*e ran+s of

ler"y& an! so he prolai*e!& De are well aware that *orals ha(e notably fallen ba+.

o lon"er an we tolerate the way in whih the for*er sal%tary *eas%res instit%te! byo%r pre!eessors to +eep sens%ality an! a(arie within bo%n!s ha(e been (iolate! so

that we fall hea!lon" into orr%ption. KJ(en tho%"h we were only in a lesser position as

ar!inal %n!er o%r pre!eessors& Pi%s 66& Pa%l 66& )it%s 6 an! 6nnoent 666& we always

wante! to see the present lien;s


15/27

1!

re(olts& an! so on.

onetheless& he %i+ly ao*plishe! *%h.

/e was able to %t the ra*pant ri*e in o*e by i*ple*entin" *eas%res li+e theappoint*ent of new prison inspetors an! o**issaries. /e also hel! p%bli a%!ienes

where anyone& no *atter their stat%s& o%l! lo!"e o*plaints an! reei(e 9%stie fro*

the iar hi*self& f%rther in"ratiatin" the Ch%rh to /er people.386n a!!ition& he

planne! a new onstit%tion to o%tline the ri"hts an! liberties of his iti,ens. The prisons

bea*e better:*ana"e! an! the new 9%!iial !istrits& eah r%n by ao%ntable

*a"istrates& bro%"ht abo%t inrease! safety an! effeti(eness.3E

lean!er also i**e!iately set hi*self apart by his er%!ition. This was nothin" new&

b%t he now ha! a wi!er a%!iene. /e was so fa*iliar with /oly Drit& that his speehes

were fairly spar+lin" with well:hosen tets of the )are! #oo+s.40

The 6talians& as a whole& li+e! hi*. #%t see!s of their rep%blian spirit ha! be"%n to

sprea!& notably a*on" the aristorats.

The )for,as were ertainly a thorn in lean!er-s si!e. sanio was "ree!y. B%!o(io

was ra,y& p%ttin" whole territories at ris+ to f%rther his a*bitions. Caterina& the wi!ow

of Co%nt Airola*o& on top of her other ri*es& e(en trie! to poison hi*F41This fa*ily

was %ite !ysf%ntional& !espite its oasional "oo! wor+ in Milan.

The Orsini were treahero%s an! espeially powerf%l. ir"inio an! the rest of his

fa*ily ontin%ally plotte! a"ainst the pope an! Cesare. lean!er wisely +ept Car!inal

Aia*battista Orsini as a hosta"e while the renh were abo%t& to pre(ent f%rther

betrayals at that ritial ti*e an! that wor+e!& for a while. The ar!inal was arreste!

a"ain& in 1503& an! hel! alon" with raniotto =the protonotary apostoli> an! other

*e*bers. Their properties were sei,e! for a ti*e in that year.42The Orsini ha(e also

lon" been s%spete! of assassinatin" lean!er-s brother& ?on Pe!ro B%is& after he fle!

to Ci(ita(ehia for safety& when his %nle was near !eath.43

3 oha)) B$rchard edited %y r. F. . 'laser/,Pope Alexander V and His Court, p. 5!

30 Michael de la Bedoyere, The Meddlesome Friar and the Wayward Pope, p. 0

! Msgr. Peter de Roo,Material for a History of Pope Alexander V! His "elati#es! and His Time, Vol. 2, p. 273-27!

!1 oha)) B$rchard edited %y r. F. . 'laser/,Pope Alexander V and His Court, p. 11!-115

!2 oha)) B$rchard edited %y r. F. . 'laser/,Pope Alexander V and His Court, p. 1*0-173

!3 $d(ig +o) Pastor, The History of the Popes! from the Close of the Middle Ages , Vol. 2, p. !7*-!7


16/27

15

s for the Colonna& wea+er at the *o*ent b%t infl%ential still& Prospero =a *ilitary

*an> ha! to be i*prisone!. t one point& in $%ne 1501& their properties were finally

ta+en& in the na*e of the /oly ather.

44

/a! the Orsini an! Colonna not been fe%!in"inessantly& they *i"ht ha(e !one irre(oable !a*a"e to the Papay.

n! then there was aples& r%le! by errante 6 =a+a er!inan! 6>. errante ha! *any

ene*ies& bea%se of aples- i*portane to others& an! he was r%thless in response to

any perei(e! sli"ht. fter he reali,e! that lean!er o%l! not se%re his position& he

fierely plotte! a"ainst the pontiff.45/e !ie! in 14E4& witho%t the li"ht of "rae& witho%t

the ross& an! witho%t Ao!& still an ene*y of the Ch%rh.4G

The Me!ii& alternati(ely& were not ba!. Aio(anni& a ar!inal an! the f%t%re Pope Beo

'& at 9%st 1G& is r%*ore! to ha(e lo%!ly !eno%ne! lean!er-s eletion. )%h a

state*ent is %nli+ely& howe(er& in li"ht of both his yo%th an! his fa*ily-s or!ial

relations with the #or"ias. Cesare was on parti%larly "oo! ter*s with the Me!ii the

"reatest onfi!ene eiste! between hi* an! Aio(anni-s ol!er brother& Piero.47

Bastly& there was )a(onarola. This fiery preaher on!e*ne! his a"e an! he was fille!

with on(ition a"ainst perei(e! wi+e!ness& tho%"h there was nothin" parti%larly

speial abo%t hi*. J(en his a!*irers reo"ni,e that& while he ha! holy intent& there are

no "ro%n!s whate(er for belie(in" that )a(onarola-s propheies an! re(elations are to be

attrib%te! to any speial !i(ine inspiration.48Dhile he ha! his %ibbles with lean!er&

it *%st be note! that he aepte! a plenary in!%l"ene "rante! to hi* at his !eath by

the pope& s%btly assentin" to his a%thority.4E6*portantly& this friar set the sta"e for

f%t%re !is%ssions on papal infallibility.50

lean!er-s ene*ies were !efinitely better at one thin" h%rnin" o%t propa"an!a.

Biterat%re happene! then to be a risin" power@ it was *ostly %n!er the infl%ene of the

!! oha)) B$rchard edited %y r. F. . 'laser/,Pope Alexander V and His Court, p. 1!7-1!!5 Br. .B. arcy, 6F6, What you don(t )now a$out the Borgia Pope* Alexander V +,-./0,12346atholic 9)sight/

!* 6hristopher i%%ert, The Borgias and their 'nemies, p. 55!7 Ferdi)a)d 'regoro+i$s tra)slated %y oh) eslie 'ar)er/,%ucretia Borgia

! Michael de la Bedoyere, The Meddlesome Friar and the Wayward Pope, p. 1

!0 Michael a+ies, 5a#onarolaMP3/

5 Ferdi)a)d 'regoro+i$s tra)slated %y oh) eslie 'ar)er/,%ucretia Borgia:$ote; heresy co)cer)i)g the po(er of the Pope.> ?he ker)el of

the (hole thi)g (as the f$)da4e)tal doctri)e of the i)falli%ilists@ )a4ely, that o)ly those (ho %li)dly o%ey the

Pope are good 6hristia)s.


17/27


18/27


19/27


20/27

10

e(ertheless& lean!er ha! to respon!. Bater that year& he as+e! the newly:for*e!

/oly Bea"%e to relai* papal territories ta+en by Charles& after efforts for !iplo*ay

ha! faile!. They !i! so. Charles !ie! a so*ewhat bro+en *an& an! in an e*barrassin" way he str%+ his

hea! on the top of a !oor an! !ie! soon after. /e was interestin"& e(en in !eath. Most

%nfort%nately& he ne(er f%lfille! his =an! lean!er-s> !rea* of relai*in" $er%sale*

for Christen!o*.

Then& there was Lin" Bo%is '66. Of stron" will& an! of e%ally stron" physiality& his

rei"n was a *ie! ba". /is relationship with $oan of alois was ann%lle! she went on

to fo%n! a *onasti or!er =onfir*e! by lean!er> an! was e(ent%ally anoni,e!. /e

war*ly welo*e! Cesare& the papal representati(e& a"reein" to help the yo%n" *an fin!

a wife& "i(e hi* a position in the renh ar*y& an! bestow on hi* entry into the Or!er

of )t. Mihael. GGlso& Charles be"an an! Bo%is onstr%te! a bea%tif%l o*an h%rh&

the Trinit !ei Monti& to the pope-s !eli"hte! appro(al& an!& to this !ay& it re*ains %n!er

the patrona"e of the renh "o(ern*ent. inally& by helpin" lean!er o%py +ey

territories& he *aybe ina!(ertently "reatly inrease! the te*poral power of the

Ch%rh& e(en o(er an! abo(e his own. =Mahia(elli "reatly ritii,e! hi* for thatF>G76t is

tr%ly a sha*e that this *onarh was a Aallian@ that& re"rettably& *%st prel%!e any

fer(ent s%pport.

sanio& tellin"ly& p%blily proteste! the new +in"-s loseness to the #or"ias& no !o%bt

o%t of fear that Bo%is& with a better lai* to Milan& wo%l! o%st the )for,as =whih he

!i!>. lean!er sho%te! in reply that it ha! been sanio-s brother who ha! first

bro%"ht the renh into 6taly an!& in the heat of the ar"%*ent& threatene! to throw hi*

into the Tiber i(er. That sh%t the belli"erent ar!inal %p.G8

s for lean!er ..;)


21/27

2

fortifyin" !efenses& inl%!in" those of his Castel& early on.70

7 9+a) 6lo$las tra)slated %y 'ilda Ro%erts/, The Borgias, p. 11


22/27

21

The )panish

#r. $.#. ?ary points o%t so*e neessary ba+"ro%n! infor*ation or ent%ries&

)pain ha! been al*ost o*pletely o(erri!!en by the Moors. The )paniar!s ha! been

tryin" to ta+e ba+ their o%ntry fro* the Moors for al*ost 800 years. #y the *i!!le of

the 15th ent%ry& this reon%est was al*ost o*plete& b%t )pain was still a ho!"epo!"eof o*petin" prinipalities an!& bea%se of its onstant state of warfare& still a (ery

ba+war! o%ntry.71

s *entione! earlier& lean!er en9oye! "oo! relations with the rei"nin" )panish

*onarhs& e(en as a ar!inal. Lin" er!inan!& while wily an! of the arro"ant& anti:

o*an ra"onese& wo%l! often ha(e no hoie b%t to assent to the !e(o%t N%een

6sabella-s wishes& for lo(e hel! their wills in %nison.72lean!er %n!erstoo! this an!

wor+e! aro%n! it.

Dhile papal le"ate to the o%ntry =1472:1473>& he ehorte! to the ler"y& ..6 be" of yo%

not only to be of one *in! in "%ar!in" an! !efen!in" ;the Ch%rh< as the *ost preio%s

thin"& b%t also to spare yo%rsel(es neither pain nor peril for its preser(ation.73/e was

also able to on(ine the people to rise %p a"ainst the M%sli*s =whih they !efinitely

!i!& in Arana!a> an! s%pport a Cr%sa!e.74

lean!er was& (ery ob(io%sly& a lo(er of )panish %lt%re. Dhile le"ate& he see*s to

ha(e ha! a pleas%rable ti*e in his nati(e lan!& for he staye! there *ore than a year an!

*any letters fro* the Car!inal of Pa(ia were nee!e! to entie hi* ba+ to o*e.

75

Cesare ha! a "reat fon!ness for the %lt%re& as well& inl%!in" b%llfi"htin".7G

71 Br. .B. arcy, 6F6, What you don8t )now a$out the Borgia Pope* Alexander V +,-./0,1234 6atholic 9)sight/

72 Darre) . 6arroll,sa$el of 5pain! The Catholic 9ueen

73 Michael de la Bedoyere, The Meddlesome Friar and the Wayward Pope, p. **

7! 9+a) 6lo$las tra)slated %y 'ilda Ro%erts/, The Borgias, p. !5

75 8r)old . Mathe(, .., The %ife and Times of "odrigo Borgia, p. 5

7* oha)) B$rchard edited %y r. F. . 'laser/,Pope Alexander V and His Court, p. 131


23/27

22

One thin" that the "o(ern*ent wo%l! not tolerate fro* lean!er was his shiel!in" of

o%r rabbinial brethren& the /ebrews& at this ti*e. To their "reat onsternation& the

pope *a!e li(in" arran"e*ents for the* in o*e& after their ep%lsion. This& it see*e!to the*& only %n!er*ine! the )panish position. lean!er allowe! )pain to ta

h%rhes in its territory in response to )pain-s o*plaints abo%t epenses in%rre! fro*

its inenti(i,e! on(ersions of infi!els. /owe(er& he ref%se! to ba+ !own when it a*e

to treatin" people of other faiths with Christian harity.77/e tolerate! the )panish

6n%isition& b%t& li+e )it%s 6& he trie! to rein it in he personally %rbe! Tor%e*a!a-s

power an! hire! fo%r assistants to s%per(ise hi*.78

The )panish also were not happy abo%t lean!er-s lose relations with the renh.

#%t in 1503& a han"e ;o%rre!< in the #or"ia politis& an inlination to !raw nearer to

)pain an! retire fro* rane onse%ent on the latter s h%*iliation.7E6t is too ba! that

!eath pre(ente! hi* fro* apitali,in" on this.

There were plenty of healthy !e(elop*ents.

6n May 14E3& two *onths after eplorers ret%rne! fro* the ew Dorl! they ha! 9%st

!iso(ere!& lean!er p%blishe! a papal b%ll *ar+in" the bo%n!aries of the territories

of )pain an! Port%"al& entr%stin" the *erias =*in%s #ra,il> to the for*er. /e wrote&

6n these %n+nown lan!s where Christopher Col%*b%s has steppe!& li(es a people&

na+e!& (e"etarian& who belie(e in one Ao! an! as+ b%t to be ta%"ht to belie(e in $es%s

Christ.80

The i*pat of all of this is profo%n! nearly 50 of Catholis to!ay li(e in the

*erias. 6n reo"nition of this& ren!itions of ati(e *erians were painte! in the

#or"ia part*ents. 6n a!!ition& he installe! the "ol!en eilin" of )anta Maria

Ma""iore& %sin" the preio%s *etal bro%"ht ba+ by Col%*b%s an! !onate! to the

;P


24/27

23

o**an!e! the )panish bishops to ra+ !own on the ab%se an! for"ery of

in!%l"enes&82assiste! with e(an"eli,in" Arana!a& an! eten!e! the in!%l"ene for

those still fi"htin" the Moors.

83

n! the *onarhs helpe! hi* in the /oly Bea"%e&"rantin" hi* %se of their Aran Capitan& Aon,alo ernn!e, !e CQr!oba& an! *ore.

2 Rafael a%ati)i, The %ife of Cesare Borgia, Book 2, 6hapter 5

3 Rafael a%ati)i, The %ife of Cesare Borgia, Book 2, 6hapter 2


25/27

2!

Be"ay

..the history of lean!er 6 as it has reahe! %s is a tiss%e of ina%raies&

etraor!inarily easy to !ispro(e the *o*ent reo%rse is ha! to onte*porary

!o%*ents in a spirit of sane ritiis*.84

)%rely the (ery state*ent of the si*ple fats an! !ates *i"ht s%ffie to !ispose of the

fo%l al%*ny& 9%st as per9%re! testi*ony is !estroye! in the o%rts by a few searhin"

%estions an! li+e *ost per9%re! witnesses& the al%*niators of lean!er went too far&

pro(e! too *%h& o(ershot their *ar+& an! ha(e !estroye! their own re!ibility.85

6n this series& 6 ha(e realle! *any won!ro%s wor+s of lean!er. /ere are& in no

parti%lar or!er& fi(e other notable thin"s

1./e !efen!e! the 6**a%late Coneption of the ir"in Mary& well before Pope Pi%s 6'

prolai*e! it as !o"*a. /e also pro*ote! !e(otion to )t. nne& the ir"in-s own

*other& an! "rante! the ?o*inians the ri"ht to establish onfraternities of the

osary.8GThis is not s%rprisin"& bea%se of his intense !e(otion to the Theoto+os@ he

wo%l! often ehort his hil!ren to pray !ili"ently to the Ma!onna.87

2./e or!ere! an! s%per(ise! the reation of his *aster of ere*onies-& $ohann#%rhar!-s& i*pro(e! r%bris an! Or!o& settin" in plae so*e lit%r"ial refor* an!

! "restes Ferrara, #$oted %y &. M. '(y))e i) The Truth a$out "odrigo Borgia! Pope Alexander V, p. 17

5 The &u$lin "e#iew, Vol. V, epte4%er-ece4%er 15, p. 3!1

* $d(ig +o) Pastor, The History of the Popes! from the Close of the Middle Ages , Vol. *, p. 1!3-1!*



26/27


27/27

2*

str%+ hi* in the #asiliaEE:: then& the net !ay =2E $%ne& the east of )ts. Peter an!

Pa%l>& a roof a(e! in on hi*& at his throne.100/e 9%st +ept wor+in"& b%t he was

ne(ertheless ta+en fro* earth in 1503. fter his !eath& an oration "i(en by #ishop lei%s Cela!oni%s !elare! that& /e ha!

s%h a sharp an! shrew! wit as to ai! not only those before his pontifiate b%t also those

after his ti*e.101n!& lean!er was a (ery s%essf%l *an an! "enerally healthy ::

not wea+& not feeble& b%t f%ll of hope an! %n!erstan!in" of the *any thin"s whih o%l!

be ao*plishe!.102

Perhaps& tho%"h& lean!er-s "reatest le"ay resi!es in the anoni,ation of his "reat:

"ran!son& )t. ranis #or"ia.

lean!er :: sa(ior of o*e& %nifier of 6taly& father of J%rope& e(an"elist of the

*erias& !efen!er of the Ch%rh& blasphe*abit%r refor*ator:: pray for %s.


1 6hristopher i%%ert, The Borgias and their 'nemies, p. 1*-1*1

11The 'nglish Historical "e#iew, Vol. V99, 102, p. 311-31! :$ote;ngenio 6uidem tam acri et callido fuit ut et

alios ante se ad pontificatum iu#erit et post modum se 6uo6ue ipse/

12 The 'nglish Historical "e#iew, Vol. V99, 102, p. 311-31! :$ote;'cce Alexandrum tam prospera #aletudine in

toto corpore hominem non im$ecillem non decrepitum sed longioris #itae spe plenum ea6ue animo concipientem

#el gerentem 6uae #ix annis pluri$us compleri potuissent/

Documents

Apologia Pro Alexander VI: The Case for Rodrigo Borgia