Not Just the Tudors Rise of the Borgias
Jan 9, 2025
Join historian Katharine Fellows, whose work focuses on Rodrigo Borgia, as she unravels the notorious Borgia family saga. They delve into the ruthless mechanisms of power and influence employed by Rodrigo, later Pope Alexander VI. The episode unveils scandalous tales of ambition, nepotism, and political manipulation in Renaissance Italy. Focusing on Lucrezia as a savvy player amidst the chaos, they also discuss how visual propaganda shaped the Borgias' legacy, challenging the myths that surround these infamous figures.
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Crusading Efforts and Lack of Support
- Calixtus III heavily invested in crusades against the Ottoman Turks after Constantinople's fall but found little support.
- Western Christendom was weary of crusading due to internal conflicts and financial strains.
Wealth and Influence through the Vice-Chancellorship
- Rodrigo Borgia's position as vice-chancellor gave him access to significant wealth, not primarily from the office's salary, but from vacant offices' revenue.
- This allowed him to accumulate benefices, bishoprics, and fortresses, strengthening his political influence.
Public Affair and Criticism
- Rodrigo Borgia openly flaunted his relationship with Giulia Farnese, unlike his more discreet affair with Vanozza Cattanei, mother of his four children.
- This public display broke with tradition and was used by his enemies, like the Orsini family, to criticize him.