Lucrezia Borgia

**Lucrezia Borgia** (April 18, 1480 - June 24, 1519) was the illegitimate daughter of Pope Alexander VI and his mistress Vannozza dei Cattanei. Lucrezia as daughter of the Pope she had a lot of power. She was a member of the infamous house of Borgia, Lucrezia was no different from her evil family and followed there path of murdering many people. Lucrezia was very Beautiful though, actress Holiday Grainger pulled of Lucrezia Borgia perfectly in the film "The Borgias"

Lucrezia was hated by her people though, she was the daughter of a pope. Pope's are not suppose to have children. Lucrezia was rumored to have had an affair with her own brother Cesare Borgia. Lucrezia married Giovanni Sforza, whom Lucrezia despised. There marriage was annulled and Lucrezia was married to Alfonso of Aragon, Alfonso was murdered by Lucrezia's brother Cesare. The rumor was Cesare wanted Lucrezia to himself. Lucrezia had one child with Alfonso named Rodrigio.

Lucrezia then married Alfonso I d'Este, Duke of Ferrara. Lucrezia gave Alfonso Este many children, but the one that succeeded Alfonso Este was Lucrezia's son Ercole II d'Este, Duke of Ferrara. Lucrezia died in 1519.

through Lucrezia's son's wife Renée she had a connection to Anne Boleyn and her sister Mary Boleyn.

## Early Life

Lucrezia was born on April 18, 1480 in Subiaco, Lazio Italy. She was the illegitimate child of Pope Alexander VI and his mistress Vannozza dei Cattanei. Lucrezia had 3 older brothers whom were, Pier Luigi de Borgia, Giovanni Borgia, and Cesare Borgia. Lucrezia was raised by her mother in vatican city. Her family "the Borgias" were widely hated for there immorality. Lucrezia was no different from her crazy family. She was also wicked in a way. She was rumored to have killed several of her lovers and churchmen.

Lucrezia was loved by her father whom wanted to give her a good marriage to a powerful family. Not many prince's wanted to marry Lucrezia because of her father, but Giovanni Sforza was offered to Lucrezia. The marriage was arranged and the wedding was made.

Lucrezia unpopularity grew, people started to find reason's that Lucrezia and her brother Cesare were having a girlfriend-boyfriend relationship.

## Rumors

Lucrezia denied all rumors about the Cesare affair, Cesare did too, but everyone thought they were in-love even though they were siblings. In the movie The Borgia's it shows Cesare having sex with Lucrezia his sister. But the rumor was most likely a way to humiliate the infamous wicked family.

## Annulment of her marriage

Lucrezia's father grew tired of Lucrezia's husband, so did Lucrezia herself. But Lucrezia did not want to annul her marriage because her husband was rich. But her father annulled it anyway. Lucrezia was widowed and still had no children. This was a problem, who would inherit Lucrezia's money if she had no children. But her father had just the plan.

Her father would marry her to Infante Alfonso of Aragon, Alfonso was Lucrezia's best match so they were married, but Cesare thought Lucrezia should have married someone better, rumor's spread Cesare wanted Lucrezia to himself so he was plotting to stab Alfonso.

## Murder of Brother

Lucrezia and Cesare despised there older brother Giovanni Borgia, Giovanni was one of the oldest and he ran the army. But Cesare wanted to do so, he begged his father to let him run the army, Lucrezia also helped her brother with his hardships of getting head of the Army. But Giovanni Borgia crossed Cesare which was a dangerous move.

Cesare and Lucrezia set out a plot to murder Giovanni, after a feast with Giovanni Lucrezia either stabbed him or poisened him. Lucrezia's father was devastated and blamed the wrong person for Giovanni's muder.

Giovanni's son Juan Borgia succeeded him as 3rd Duke of Gandia. And Cesare became the new head of the Army.

## First Child

Lucrezia gave birth to her first child on 1 November 1499, his name was Rodrigio of Aragon. Rodrigo was heir apparent to Alfonso's lands. Lucrezia had her first child now she had to have more. But Lucrezia's brother still hated Alfonso of Aragon, Cesare murdered Alfonso in 18 August 1500. Lucrezia's son became the newDuke of Bisceglie and Prince of Salerno.

## Second Marriage

After her husband's murder she married Alfonso I d'Este, Duke of Ferrara, he was the Duke of both Ferrara and Modena. Lucrezia had 6 noted children with Alfonso de'Este

* Ercole II, Duke of Ferrara
* Cardinal Ippolito
* Alessandro
* Leonora de'Este
* Francesco, Marquis of Massalombarda
* Isabella Maria of Modena

Lucrezia had a happy but hard marriage wit the Duke.

## Death

Lucrezia Borgia was now 39, her family the Borgia's had had its downfall, everyone hated Lucrezia because of her madness and wickedness. Her brother tried to save her reputation but there was no chance. Her health was not good either, she was often sick, it was clear she had child-bed fever after giving birth to Isabella Maria of Modena.

Lucrezia never recovered from her sickness and she died 10 days later. Her daughter Isabella Maria also died. Her husband remarried not long after her death.