Lucrezia Borgia Part 6

10. Alfonso d'Aragona, First Duke of Bisceglie, natural son of Alfonso II and brother of Sancia. Lucrezia's second husband. The upper ill.u.s.tration 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 ill.u.s.tration he is in the foreground riding into Naples in May 1497.

11. Ercole I d'Este, Third Duke of Ferrara, Lucrezia's father-in-law by her third marriage to Alfonso d'Este, heir to the dukedom. By Dosso Dossi.

12. Ferrara: Castello Estense, also known as the Castel or Castello Vecchio, the moated castle in which Lucrezia spent most of her married life in Ferrara. She occupied rooms in the Torre Marchesana, on the right, connected to Alfonso's celebrated Camerini Camerini in the ravelin on the extreme right of the picture. In Lucrezia's day the s.p.a.ce immediately to the north of the castle, now occupied by relatively modern buildings, was a huge garden and beyond it stretched Ercole's new quarter of Ferrara. in the ravelin on the extreme right of the picture. In Lucrezia's day the s.p.a.ce immediately to the north of the castle, now occupied by relatively modern buildings, was a huge garden and beyond it stretched Ercole's new quarter of Ferrara.

13. Alfonso I d'Este, Fourth Duke of Ferrara, Lucrezia's last husband. He is shown, typically, in armour against a battle scene. His military skills, particularly in the field of artillery, saved Ferrara. By Dosso Dossi.

14. Ippolito d'Este. The cleverest and most ruthless of Alfonso's brothers, a cardinal who liked nothing better than to wear armour and fight his brother's enemies.

15. Courtly pastimes. Ladies embroidering, weaving and gossiping. One of a series of fifteenth-century frescoes of The Months The Months by Franscesco del Cossa and others. by Franscesco del Cossa and others.

16. Ferrara as it looked at the time of Lucrezia's arrival in 1502. The River po is in the foreground. The Palazzo del Corte is on the left of the broad street in the centre of the picture with, beyond it, the four towers of the Castel. Opposite the Corte is the Duomo. Late fifteenth-century woodcut.

17. Left: Left: Isabella d'Este, Marchioness of Mantua. Alfonso's only legitimate sister and the wife of Lucrezia's lover, Francesco Gonzaga. Famous for her culture and patronage of the arts, sycophantic admirers called her 'the first lady of the world'. By Leonardo da Vinci Isabella d'Este, Marchioness of Mantua. Alfonso's only legitimate sister and the wife of Lucrezia's lover, Francesco Gonzaga. Famous for her culture and patronage of the arts, sycophantic admirers called her 'the first lady of the world'. By Leonardo da Vinci 18. Right: Right: Francesco II Gonzaga, Marquis of Mantua. Husband of Isabella d'Este and lover of Lucrezia. Contemporary portrait bust by Gian Cristoforo Romano. Francesco II Gonzaga, Marquis of Mantua. Husband of Isabella d'Este and lover of Lucrezia. Contemporary portrait bust by Gian Cristoforo Romano.

19. Left: Left: Pietro Bembo. The famous poet at the time of his love affair with Lucrezia, painted by Raphael in 15046. Pietro Bembo. The famous poet at the time of his love affair with Lucrezia, painted by Raphael in 15046.

20. Right: Right: Ercole Strozzi. The poet and friend of Lucrezia who not only eulogized her but acted as go-between in her romances, a role which probably cost him his life. Ercole Strozzi. The poet and friend of Lucrezia who not only eulogized her but acted as go-between in her romances, a role which probably cost him his life.

21. Pope Julius II (Giuliano della Rovere). Portrait of the Borgias' old enemy by Raphael.

22. Pope Leo X (Giovanni de'Medici) with cardinals Luigi de'Rossi and Giulio de'Medici. By Raphael, 1518.

23. Engraved silver plaque showing the thirty-two-year-old Lucrezia presenting her son and heir, Ercole (b.1508), to San Maurelio, protector of Ferrara. Note that Lucrezia and one of her ladies carry the latest fashion accessory, a sable or ermine pelt. The plaque was executed by Giannantonio da Foligno to commemorate the victory of the French and Ferrarese forces over the papal and Spanish armies at the battle of Ravenna in 1512.

Postscript

Lucrezia was buried in the convent of Corpus Domini. Today she lies under a simple marble slab with Alfonso and two of their children, Alessandro and Isabella, her last born, who survived her by only two years, and Alfonso's mother, Eleonora d'Aragona. Beside them is the tomb of Lucrezia and Alfonso's eldest son, Duke Ercole II; in another lie his daughter, Lucrezia's grand-daughter, also named Lucrezia, who died as a nun in the convent, and Eleonora d'Este, Lucrezia's only surviving daughter, who also became a nun in Corpus Domini.

In 1570 a devastating earthquake struck Ferrara, shattering much of the beauty of the city Lucrezia had known. Her grandson, Alfonso II, rebuilt the Castello but many churches and palaces still lay in ruins when he died, the last ruler of Lucrezia and Alfonso's legitimate line, in 1597. The following year, Cesare d'Este, Alfonso's illegitimate grandson by Laura Dianti, whom he took as mistress after Lucrezia's death, was expelled from the city by Pope Clement VIII who finally succeeded where Popes Julius and Leo had failed. Cesare d'Este retreated to Modena with what remained of the Este inheritance. The papal legate, Cardinal Aldobrandini, stripped Alfonso I's treasures, his t.i.tians, from the camerini, camerini, and took them to Rome. and took them to Rome.

Ferrara, once one of the most glittering courts of Europe in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, sank into apathy under papal governance, becoming a shadow of its former self. There is still a romance about Ferrara. Boswell viewed it as 'the beautiful remains of a great city', while in 1846 d.i.c.kens wrote of the appeal of 'the long silent streets and the dismantled palaces where ivy waves in lieu of banners'. Gabriele d'Annunzio called it 'a city of silence'. The glory of the Este, however, has gone.

Archives

Cambridge University Library Archives, Acton Papers (CUL) Acton MSS, Add. MSS 4757: correspondence of Gian Luca Pozzi in Rome with Ercole I d'Este concerning Lucrezia's marriage; correspondence of Gherardus Saraceni and Hector Berlinguer re the same and minutes by Ercole to the above Add. MSS 4758: correspondence of Beltrando de'Costabili in Rome with Ercole Add. MSS 4759: correspondence of Beltrando de'Costabili in Rome concerning illness and death of Alexander VI and fate of Cesare, and Julius II's reaction to attack on Giulio d'Este Biblioteca Comunale Ariostea di Ferrara (BCAFe) Lucrezia's accounts for 1507, Albo Estense Autografi, BCA, Cla.s.se I, 656 Papal brief to Lucrezia of 1516 concerning San Bernardino, MS coll. Antonelli, 272 Archivio di Stato di Mantova, Archivio Gonzaga (AG) Correspondence Lucrezia Borgia to Francesco Gonzaga: Autografi 84, Busta 1, Busta 2, Busta 3, Busta 4, Serie E x.x.xi.2, Busta 1189 Correspondence Lucrezia Borgia to Isabella d'Este: Autografi 84, Busta 1, Busta 2, Busta 3, Busta 4, Serie E x.x.xi.2 Busta 1189 Isabella d'Este to Lucrezia Borgia, Copielettere, Busta 2993, 2994, liber 12, liber 15, liber 18 Isabella d'Este Family Correspondence: Copielettere to Francesco Gonzaga, Ercole d'Este, Ferrante and Servitors with correspondence from the Este family, Busta 2993, liber 12, 13, 14 Isabella d'Este to Cesare Borgia, Busta 2993, liber 14 Ippolito d'Este to Isabella, Busta 1189; Alfonso d'Este to Isabella d'Este, E x.x.xI.2., Busta 1189, Alfonso d'Este to Francesco Gonzaga, E x.x.xi.2., Busta 1189, Isabella d'Este to Alfonso d'Este, Busta 2994, liber 18; Ferrante d'Este to Francesco Gonzaga, Busta 1189; Giulio d'Este to Francesco Gonzaga, and to Isabella d'Este, Busta 1189 Bernardino di Prosperi to Isabella d'Este, 150219. More than seven hundred letters written from Ferrara covering the period of Lucrezia's life there: this is probably the most important and largely unexplored source providing not only an almost daily record of her life but a full chronicle of social and political events and people at court and in the city. Serie E x.x.x 1.3. Buste 123847 Archivio di Stato di Milano, Archivio Sforzesco (ASF) Potenze Estere, Roma. Reg. Cartella 107; 109; 116; 123; 124; 126; 127; 128 Potenze Estere, Marca. Reg. Cartella 153 Potenze Estere, Mantova. Reg. Cartella 400 Archivio di Stato di Modena, Archivio Segreto Estense (ASE) Correspondence Francesco Gonzaga to Lucrezia Borgia: Carteggio dei Principi Esteri, Busta 1181 Lucrezia Borgia correspondence with members of the Este family: Casa e Stato: Lucrezia to Ercole I. Busta 141, Ercole I to Lucrezia, Camera Ducale, Minutario, Busta 5, Minute Ducali, Busta 69 Lucrezia to Alfonso I d'Este. Casa e Stato, Busta 141, Alfonso I d'Este to Lucrezia. Casa e Stato, Carteggio dei Principi Estensi, Busta 75 Lucrezia to Cardinal Ippolito d'Este. Casa e Stato, Busta 141 Lucrezia to Sigismondo d'Este, Casa e Stato, Busta 141 Lucrezia to Ferrante d'Este, Casa e Stato, Busta 141 Lucrezia to Giulio d'Este, Casa e Stato, Busta 141 Lucrezia Borgia General Correspondence, Casa e Stato, Busta 141, Carteggio tra Principi Estensi Letters by members of the Borgia family and others: Cancelleria Ducale, Particolari, Busta 209, Fasc. 4 Borgia Doc.u.ments concerning Lucrezia Borgia anterior to her marriage to Alfonso I, Casa e Stato, Busta 400 Doc.u.ments concerning Lucrezia Borgia posterior to her marriage to Alfonso I, Casa e Stato, Busta 400 Doc.u.ments concerning the Borgia family: Casa e Stato, Busta 401, other doc.u.ments relating to Rodrigo d'Aragona, Duke of Bisceglie. Casa e Stato, Busta 401, doc.u.ments relating to the estate of Rodrigo d'Aragona, Duke of Bisceglie, Busta 400 'Computo delle nozze della Ill. Madama Lucrezia 15011502' [Lists of Jewels given by Ercole I to Lucrezia in 1502, and of her company on her wedding journey to Ferrara] Camera Ducale, Amministrazione dei Principi, n. 1128 Inventario di Guardaroba: 'Inventario 15023', Camera Ducale, Amministrazione dei Principi Lucrezia Borgia B1137 Lucrezia Borgia Household Accounts, ibid.: B1138 15068; B1131 15079; B1133 1506; B1132 151720, B1134 151419; B1136 151819 Bulls and papal briefs concerning Camerino: the creation of the duchy and its Duke, Giovanni Borgia. Camera Ducale, Amministrazione dei Principi, Busta 1127 Isabella d'Este to Alfonso I d'Este, Casa e Stato, Carteggio dei Principi Estensi, Busta 133 Ercole I d'Este correspondence with his amba.s.sador in France, Bartolommeo de'Cavalleri: Ambasciatori Esteri Francia, 15001501, Busta 3 Ercole I d'Este correspondence with his amba.s.sadors in Rome, Gian Luca Pozzi and Gherardo Saraceni, Ambasciatori Esteri Roma, 15012, Busta 12 Ferrarese Amba.s.sadors Manfredi and Cavalleri to Ercole I and Alfonso I concerning the marriage negotiations and posterior events including the death of Alexander VI and the fortunes of Cesare Borgia, 15034,15067, Ambasciatori Esteri Francia, Buste 3 and 4 Ercole I d'Este, Letterbook [Minutario] [Minutario] drafts of letters to various correspondents including the various amba.s.sadors, Lucrezia, Cesare Borgia, Isabella d'Este and others, 15012, Cancelleria Ducale, Busta 5 drafts of letters to various correspondents including the various amba.s.sadors, Lucrezia, Cesare Borgia, Isabella d'Este and others, 15012, Cancelleria Ducale, Busta 5 Archivio Segreto Vaticano (ASV) Borgia Family Letters: A.A. ARM IXVIII, 5027; A.A. ARM IXVIII, 5024

Source Notes The Scene (pp. 13) 1. Guicciardini, The History of Italy, The History of Italy, Book I, p. 4. Book I, p. 4.

Chapter 1: The Pope's Daughter (pp. 1124).

1. Gaspare da Verona, cited Gregorovius, Lucretia Borgia, Lucretia Borgia, p. 9. p. 9.

2. Bonatto to Barbara of Brandenburg, 8 June 1460, in Luzio, Isabella d'Este e i Borgia, Isabella d'Este e i Borgia, p. 471. p. 471.

3. Pastor, The History of the Popes from the Close of the Middle Ages, The History of the Popes from the Close of the Middle Ages, vol.V, p. 388. vol.V, p. 388.

4. Ibid., p. 400.

5. Ross, Lives of the Early Medici as told in their correspondence. Lives of the Early Medici as told in their correspondence.

6. Cesare's birth year is variously given as 1475 or 1476: I have adopted the date given by the most authoritative recent historian of the Borgias, Miquel Batllori, in La Familia Borja. La Familia Borja.

7. 18 March 1493, cited Luzio, Isabella d'Este e i Borgia, Isabella d'Este e i Borgia, p. 477. p. 477.

8. Batllori, La Familia Borja. La Familia Borja.

9. Cited in Bradford, Cesare Borgia, Cesare Borgia, p. 23. p. 23.

10. ASV, A.A. ARM IXVIII, 5023, ff 61v64r.

Chapter 2: Countess of Pesaro (pp. 2549).

1. Guicciardini, The History of Italy, The History of Italy, Book I, p. 10. Book I, p. 10.

2. Ascanio to Ludovico, 3 February 1493, ASF, Potenze Estere, Roma, Reg. Cartella 107, ff 957.

3. Ibid.

4. Gianandrea Boccaccio, Bishop of Modena, 5 November 1492, in Gregorovius, Lucretia Borgia, Lucretia Borgia, p. 51. p. 51.

5. Ercole to Alexander VI, 3 January 1493, in Gregorovius, p.55.

6. Ascanio Sforza to Ludovico Sforza, 3 February 1493, in ASF, Potenze Estere, Roma, Reg. Cartella 107, ff 957.

7. Sanchis y Sivera, Jose, Algunos Doc.u.mentos, Algunos Doc.u.mentos, p. 52. Procida, or Proixita in Catalan spelling, married a Borgia connection, Caterina de Mila, in 1494. p. 52. Procida, or Proixita in Catalan spelling, married a Borgia connection, Caterina de Mila, in 1494.

8. Floramonte Brognolo, 10 June 1493, in Luzio, Isabella d'Este e i Borgia, Isabella d'Este e i Borgia, p. 478. p. 478.

9. Luzio, p. 120n.

10. Piergentile da Varano of Camerino, 18 June 1493, Luzio, p. 120.

11. Giovanni Lucido Cattanei, 6 August 1493, Luzio, p. 415.

12. Sanchis y Sivera, pp. 13247.

13. 31 July 1493, see Batllori, La Familia Borja, La Familia Borja, p. 184. p. 184.

14. Ibid.

15. ASV, A.A. ARM 5021, f 3rv, Viterbo, 31 [October 1493], this translation kindly provided by Milo Parmoor.

16. Sanchis y Sivera, pp. 545, this translation kindly provided by Milo Parmoor and Prof. Jaume Danti.

17. Cattaneo, 3 August 1493, Luzio, p. 415.

18. Ibid., 31 August 1493, Luzio, p. 416.

19. Ibid., 7 November 1493, Luzio, p. 418.

20. Gregorovius, p. 65.

21. Brognolo, 1 March 1494, Luzio, p. 482.

22. Ibid., 27 March 1494, Luzio, p. 483n.

23. G. Benedetto, 5 May 1494, Luzio, pp. 4834.

24. Gregorovius, p. 72.

25. 4 April 1494, ASF, Potenze Estere, Roma, Cartella 109.

26. Sanchis y Sivera, pp. 789.

27. 18 May 1494, Sanchis y Sivera, p. 88.

28. Alexander VI to Gandia, 18 May 1494, Sanchis y Sivera, pp. 926.

29. Sanchis y Sivera, pp. 11112.

30. Lucrezia to Alexander VI, Pesaro, 10 June 1494. ASV, A.A. ARM IXVIII, 5027.

31. Giulia d'Aragona to Alexander VI, 10 June 1494. ASV, A.A. ARM IXVIII, 5027.

32. Jacopo Dragoni to Cesare Borgia, 16 April 1494, ASV, A.A. ARM IXVIII, 5027.

33. Lucrezia to Alexander VI, Pesaro, [?xxv] June 1494, ASV, A.A. ARM IXVIII, 5027.

34. Caterina Gonzaga to Alexander VI, San Lorenzo, 8 July and 1 August 1494, ASV, AA. ARM IXVIII, 5027, ff rv and 14r.

35. Alexander VI to Giulia Farnese, n.d. [Rome, late June/early July 1494] ASV, A.A. ARM IXVIII, 5027, f 32.

36. Alexander VI to Lucrezia, ASV, A.A. ARM IXVIII, 5027, f 29.

37. Alexander VI to Lucrezia, 24 July 1494, from Florentine state archives, printed in Gregorovius, p. 74.

38. Lucrezia to Alexander VI, Pesaro, 27 July, 1494, ASV, A.A. ARM IXVIII, 5027.

39. Virginio Orsini (drafted by Alexander VI) to Orsino Orsini, Monterotondo, 21 September 1494, ASV, A.A. ARM IXVIII, 5027 f 42r.

40. Fra Theseo to Giulia Farnese, Ba.s.sanello, ASV, A.A. ARM IXVIII, 5027, 28 October 1494.

41. Alexander VI draft minute to Giulia Farnese, 21 October 1494, ASV, A.A. ARM IXVIII, 5027, f 28r.

42. Alexander VI draft minute to Adriana de Mila, ASV, A.A. ARM IXVIII, 5027, 22 October 1494, f 28r.

43. Alexander VI draft minute to Cardinal Farnese, ASV, A.A. ARM IXVIII, 5027, f 28r.

44. Giacomo Trotti to Ercole d'Este, 21 December 1494, in Gregorovius, p. 89.

Chapter 3: The Borgias Renascent (pp. 5066).

1. Hollingsworth, Patronage in Renaissance Italy: From 1400 to the Early Sixteenth Century, Patronage in Renaissance Italy: From 1400 to the Early Sixteenth Century, pp. 2734. 2. pp. 2734. 2.

2. Giovanni Sforza to Francesco Gonzaga, Pesaro, 24 March 1495, in Luzio, Isabella d'Este e i Borgia, Isabella d'Este e i Borgia, p. 487n. p. 487n.

3. Giovanni Sforza to Ludovico Sforza, ASF, Potenze Estere, Marca, Reg. Cartella 153.

4. Francesco Gonzaga to Ludovico Sforza, 4 March 1496, ASF, Potenze Estere, Mantova, Reg. Cartella 400.