Who was Lucrezia Borgia? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Italian Celebrities Born In April, Spanish Celebrities Born In April

Also Known As: Lucrecia Borgia

Died At Age: 39

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Alfonso of Aragon, Duke of Ferrara, Giovanni Sforza

father: Pope Alexander VI

mother: Vannozza dei Cattanei

siblings: Cesare Borgia, Gioffre Borgia

children: Duke of Ferrara, Rodrigo of Aragon

Born Country: Italy

Noblewomen Royal Family Members

Died on: June 24, 1519

place of death: Ferrara, Italy

Cause of Death: Childbirth

Ancestry: Spanish Italian

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1

What was Lucrezia Borgia known for?

Lucrezia Borgia was known for being a member of the powerful Borgia family in Renaissance Italy and for her political influence.
2

What role did Lucrezia Borgia play in the political intrigues of her family?

Lucrezia Borgia was used by her family for political alliances through marriages, which contributed to the Borgia family's rise to power.
3

What were some of the scandals associated with Lucrezia Borgia?

Lucrezia Borgia was rumored to have been involved in multiple scandals, including allegations of incest, poisoning, and other immoral behavior.
4

How did Lucrezia Borgia's reputation change over time?

Lucrezia Borgia's reputation has been the subject of historical debate, with some sources portraying her as a pawn of her family's ambitions while others suggest she was more politically astute than previously believed.
5

How did Lucrezia Borgia's life end?

Lucrezia Borgia's life ended tragically when she died at the age of 39, possibly due to complications from childbirth.

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Childhood & Early Life

Lucrezia Borgia was born on 18th April, 1480 in Subiaco, a place near the city of Rome. She was the daughter of Pope Alexander VI and Vannozza Cattanei, who was one her father’s mistresses, She grew up with two elder brothers- Cesare and Giovanni.

Lucrezia was a member of the Borgias family which is one of the most well-known families in the history of world renowned for their desire to control the whole of Italy. However, it was also a family known for its notoriety, violence, evilness and corruption.

She was staying with a lady called Adriana de Mila, who was her father’s third cousin by the year 1489 and received her education at ‘Convent of St. Sixtus’, which was located at close proximity.

Lucrezia was fluent in several languages such as Greek French, Italian, Spanish and Latin. She not only spoke all these languages fluently but also wrote them with equal ease. Along with languages, as part of her early education she was also taught painting, embroidery, and music.

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Italian Royal Family Members

Later Life

Lucrezia was barely eleven years old when her father, Pope Alexander VI and her elder brother, Cesare annulled an existing marriage contract between Lucrezia and her Spanish fiancée.

Her father instead got her married to Giovanni Sforza, the lord of Pesaro who was known for his fierce temper and was twenty seven year old when they exchanged nuptial vows.

When Lucrezia was just seventeen, Giovanni sensed that he was losing favor with his wife’s family and fled to save his life. Alexander annulled his daughter’s marriage to the utter humiliation of Giovanni.

Lucrezia’s second husband was the 17 year old Alfonso of Aragon who was also the son of the late king of Naples. Lucrezia was 6 months pregnant with her first child by the time her first marriage was annulled in the year 1497.

It is said that Lucrezia was madly in love with her second husband but the Alfonso too lost his favor with his wife’s family soon as her brother Cesare wanted to have a political alliance with France and his sister’s marriage was standing in the way. Alfonso was murdered and Duchess of Bisceglie became a widow, at the age of twenty, in 1500.

Politics of her family demanded that Lucrezia got married for the third time to Alfonso d’Este who was a widower and twenty-four year old man, the eldest son of the Duke of Ferrara.

Lucrezia seemed to be eager for her third marriage as she wanted to get away from Rome, so that she could lead a life of her own in Ferrara, far from the clutches of her ambitious and scheming family.

Alfonso got married to Lucrezia on 2nd February, 1502 and became her third husband. He was a man of many talents and was interested in horses, dogs, tournaments, artilleries, pottery and played viol. However, he was also regarded as a cruel man who was known for his queer behavior and stinginess.

Lucrezia had many children by Alfonso though a few of them died quite young. She withdrew completely from her active public life in 1512 when her son Rodrigo by Alfonso of Aragon met with an untimely death.

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She spent more and more time within the confinement of her apartments or in the neighbouring convents and became extremely religious.

Major Works

Though Lucrezia’s individual contribution may not be well known, however her family benefitted immensely in term of achieving their political ambition through her matrimonial alliances to some of the most powerful families during that era.

In the early 16th century, especially after the death of her father, Pope Alexander, Lucrezia was widely acclaimed for being a great patron of arts and she also presided successfully over a flourishing and famed artistic community of her times.

Lucrezia socialized with noted poets, artists, and well-known citizens of the Italian Renaissance court and helped in making Ferrara one of the leading centres for writers and artists under her patronage.

Personal Life & Legacy

Lucrezia’s body thickened as the years passed by as she aged prematurely. She died after giving birth to her last child, who was a stillborn girl, on 14th June, 1519. She suffered from a strange fever that took much of her strength and finally took her last breath at the age of 39, ten days later.

Facts About Lucrezia Borgia

Lucrezia Borgia was known for her intelligence and education, speaking multiple languages and being well-versed in art and literature.

Despite the negative rumors surrounding her, Lucrezia was a devoted mother to her children and took an active role in their upbringing.

Lucrezia had a passion for fashion and was known for her exquisite taste in clothing and jewelry, setting trends in the Renaissance court.

She was also a skilled musician and played several instruments, showcasing her talent and creativity beyond her political connections.

Lucrezia Borgia was a patron of the arts, supporting artists and writers of her time, and contributing to the cultural flourishing of the Renaissance period.

Lucrezia Borgia Biography

You wanted to know

What was Lucrezia Borgia known for?

What role did Lucrezia Borgia play in the political intrigues of her family?

What were some of the scandals associated with Lucrezia Borgia?

How did Lucrezia Borgia's reputation change over time?

How did Lucrezia Borgia's life end?