Borgia

From Freepedia

Borjia was an influential Spanish-Italian family during the Renaissance. Callixtus III was a pope. His nephew Alexander VI was also a pope, known for his corruption and secularity. Alexander's illegitimate children included Cesare Borgia, a political leader described by Machiavelli in The Prince. Lucrezia Borgia married the duke of Ferrara and was a patron of learning and art. Borgias reportely poisoned many people to gain political advantage and wealth. They were referred to as the first criminal family. However, a later member of this family, Francis Borgia was canonized as a saint.

Although the Borgia family is closely associated with the Italian Renaissance, the family name is of Spanish origin; the family used the Valencian language among themselves, for privacy, even in Italy. There is a town in Spain called Borja which is the seat of the Campo de Borja comarca, in the province of Zaragoza in Aragon.

Alexander VI created for Cesare Borgia the title duke of Gandía.

The following members of the Borgia or Borja family have individual entries:

• Pope Callixtus III (b. "Alphonso de Borgia")
• Pope Alexander VI (b. "Rodrigo Borgia")
• Giovanni Borgia, the Infans Romanus
• Cesare Borgia, made archbishop of Valencia and duke of Borgia, in Aragon
• Lucrezia Borgia
• Saint Francis Borgia