Cesare Borgia (c. 1475–1507)

Perhaps the most famous of Rodrigo's children, Cesare was a man of exceptional ambition and cruelty. Initially made a cardinal at a young age, Cesare gave up his religious career after the death of his brother Juan, the Duke of Gandía, under suspicious circumstances. Many believed Cesare was responsible.

Cesare became the model of the Renaissance prince: ruthless, charismatic, and brilliant in both warfare and diplomacy. His military campaigns in central Italy were designed to carve out a personal dominion for himself, with his father’s papal authority behind him. He was aided by the genius of Leonardo da Vinci, who served as his military engineer.

Cesare’s swift rise was matched by a rapid fall after his father’s death in 1503. Without papal support, he lost power and was eventually killed in battle in 1507. Niccolò Machiavelli, who had observed him closely, used Cesare as a model in The Prince, noting both his virtues and his fatal flaws.

Lucrezia Borgia (1480–1519)

Lucrezia Borgia, Rodrigo’s daughter, has long been a figure of legend and scandal. Stories of incest, poisonings, and political assassinations swirl around her name. However, modern historians argue that much of her infamy stems from anti-Borgia propaganda.

Lucrezia was married three times for political reasons: first to Giovanni Sforza (annulled), then to Alfonso of Aragon (murdered), and finally to Alfonso d'Este, Duke of Ferrara. As Duchess of Ferrara, she became a respected patron of the arts and an able administrator, far from the lurid tales of her youth. shutdown123