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pologia Pro lexander VI
by Matthew Olson
2014
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Table of Contents
Personality.................................................................................................................. p. 3
Family........................................................................................................................... p. 5
Cardinalate ................................................................................................................ p. 8
Election...................................................................................................................... p. 10
The Italians................................................................................................................ p. 13
The French................................................................................................................. p. 17
The Spanish............................................................................................................... p. 21
Legacy......................................................................................................................... p. 24
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Personality
o!ri"o #or"ia was born on 1 $an%ary 1431& in 'ati(a& )pain. Th%s& he was *ost li+ely
bapti,e! at the site of )t. Mary-s #asilia there& li+e his %nle. #oth he an! his %nle are
now honore! by stat%es o%tsi!e of its entrane.1
o!ri"o was of a "enerally happy te*pera*ent an! of hi"h intelli"ene. /e wasertainly talente! an! also r%*ore! to be %ite han!so*e& with a *e!i%* o*pleion
an! pierin" !ar+ eyes. or!in" to Pope iholas & he was also of honest life an!
*orals an! "enerally praiseworthy for his (irt%e.2
Ms"r. Peter !e oo& o!ri"o-s *ost for*i!able hroniler& pointe! o%t that he was
also an apolo"ist& a "ifte! orator& a *aster of anon law& a brilliant theolo"ian& a
lit%r"ial epert& an! a *an *ar+e! by tre*en!o%s piety an! stron" !e(otion to the
#lesse! ir"in Mary.3
6n a!!ition& Orestes errara& another one of o!ri"o-s few !eent bio"raphers& sai!
lean!er was a 9o(ial& far:si"hte!& *o!erate *an& well:balane! in *in! an! bo!y.
/a(in" li(e! nearly half a ent%ry in o*e& an! ha(in" been for al*ost the whole of his
life part of the elesiastial or"ani,ation& he ha! o*e to a profo%n! respet for all the
interests of the Catholi Ch%rh& a respet "reater than for his own life. /e was prepare!
to o*pro*ise %pon all p%rely h%*an %estions& b%t infleible %pon whate(er
onerne! the ri"hts of reli"ion. /e was the type of -politial priest-& a%tio%s an! slow to
at in the fat ;si< of the %nforeseen& b%t bra(e to the point of herois* in !efen;s
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a*ily
anno,,a !ei Cattanei was o!ri"o #or"ia-s *istress an! the *other of his hil!ren.
)he !o%btless was of "reat bea%ty an! ar!ent passions@ for if not& how o%l! she ha(e
infla*e! a o!ri"o #or"iaH /er intellet too& altho%"h %n%lti(ate!& *%st ha(e been
(i"oro%s@ for if not& how o%l! she ha(e *aintaine! her relations with the ar!inalH7
/ewas faithf%l thro%"h his life to ;this< one wo*an. fter the births of their hil!ren an!
before he asen!e! to the Papay& she was p%t away in l%%rio%s ao**o!ations an!
reei(e! pro(ision for the rest of her life. )he a"ree! with the Car!inal abo%t the nee!
for her to li(e a life of retire*ent rather than pres%*e on a position whih wo%l! then
ha(e "i(en far less san!al than at any other perio! of history. )he paints a pit%re of
o!ri"o as anythin" b%t a !eba%he! *an.8
Cesare& o!ri"o-s first:born& was a fiery *an. In!er his father-s patrona"e& he rose to
the ran+ of ar!inal& a position whih he later resi"ne! in or!er to beo*e *ore
in(ol(e! with *ilitary efforts in the Papal )tates. /e is the first person in history to
resi"n the ar!inalate.
Aio(anni& the *ilitant seon!:born& ser(e! as"onfaloniere=*ilitary stan!ar!:
bearer> in the Papal )tates %ntil his !eath li+ely as a res%lt of a se%al eno%nterE in
14E7.
B%re,ia& the thir! in line& was eeptionally bea%tif%l& "raef%l& an! preoio%s. )he
ha! reei(e! instr%tion in the lan"%a"es& in *%si& an! in !rawin"& an! later the peopleof errara were a*a,e! at the s+ill an! taste whih she !isplaye! in e*broi!erin" in sil+
an! "ol!. -)he spo+e )panish& Aree+& 6talian& an! renh& an! a little Batin& (ery
orretly& an! she wrote an! o*pose! poe*s in all these ton"%es&- sai! the bio"rapher
7 Ferdi)a)d 'regoro+i$s tra)slated %y oh) eslie 'ar)er/,%ucretia Borgia
Michael de la Bedoyere, The Meddlesome Friar and the Wayward Pope, p. *!
0 Michael de la Bedoyere, The Meddlesome Friar and the Wayward Pope, p. 2
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#ayar! in 1512.10)he was& no !o%bt& "oo! fr%it fro* the Ch%rh-s *any in(est*ents in
e!%ation %p to that point. O%t of all of o!ri"o-s hil!ren& she li(e! the lon"est %ntil
151E& at the a"e of 3E. s for Aioffre& little is +nown of hi*. O(ersha!owe! by his brothers& his plae in
history has been a ta! %n!er*ine!. /e was *il!:*annere!.
There are *ore than a few that raise ob9etions to the fat that o!ri"o bro+e his
lerial (ows of hastity& b%t these persons al*ost always ne"let two +ey points. irst&
that he le"iti*i,e! the* an! pro(i!e! for his fa*ily& when he o%l! ha(e 9%st !isar!e!
the*& re(eals an i**ense a*o%nt of lo(e an! harity. )eon!& )t. Peter& the first pope&
is tra!itionally belie(e! to ha(e been the father of at least )t. Petronilla& a first:ent%ry
*artyr.
)o*e& li+e writers for The ?%blin e(iewin 1858& !isp%te o!ri"o-s paternity of his
hil!ren& sayin" thin"s li+e& ..;6
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The for*er theory so%n!s *ore li+ely than the latter& at least& b%t to !eny his
fatherhoo! whih has been orroborate! by so *any o*es off as l%!iro%s. 6n fat&
)tefano 6nfess%ra =an 6talian h%*anist historian> reor!s that o!ri"o& wishin" to*a+e his nat%ral son;Cesare< a ar!inal& a%se! it to appear& by false testi*ony& that he
was the le"iti*ate son of a ertain ?o*enio of ri"nano. )o& s%h testi*onies were& in
at%ality& only to f%rther le"iti*i,e his hil!renF14
The seon! "ro%p& alternati(ely& presents a serio%s %an!ary if these were in!ee! his&
why wo%l! o!ri"o not reo"ni,e the*& seein" as he reo"ni,e! the others an! they
wo%l! all ha(e been in si*ilar ir%*stanesH )%h a possibility see*s e(en *ore
l%!iro%s.
nyway& perhaps& on this topi& Christians sho%l! eerise harity li+e o!ri"o !i!.
1! Ferdi)a)d 'regoro+i$s tra)slated %y oh) eslie 'ar)er/,%ucretia Borgia
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Car!inalate
o!ri"o #or"ia was "i(en the re! hat by his %nle& Pope Callit%s 666& when he was 25
years ol!. Dhile so*e ha(e ritii,e! Callit%s for this& it is i*portant to re*e*ber that
the establishe! fa*ilies of 6taly were (ery hostile to the )panish #or"ias& an! so the
forei"n fa*ily too+ a lose:+nit approah whene(er possible. 6n short or!er abo%t 2 years later o!ri"o was appointe! ie:Chanellor to the
/oly )ee& a"ain by his %nle& an! e(ent%ally *a!e the rhbishop of alenia.
#y the ti*e he was ie:Chanellor& o!ri"o ha! s%bstantial ino*e. /e reei(e!
benefies fro* *%ltiple athe!rals& inl%!in" the one at alenia& an! loisters& on top
of the a%to*ati salary =8&000 !%ats> assoiate! with his position. s he was a sholar
an! !e(otee of learnin"& *%h of this ino*e was spent on boo+s.15
6nterestin"ly& the Car!inal *ay ha(e been in s%bstantial !ebt& !%e to his f%n!in" of
*any !ioesan an! papal pro9ets& a*on" the* *any parties an! b%il!in" restorations&
as well as Pi%s 66-s Cr%sa!e.
..;D
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notable penhant for sol(in" !eliate !iplo*ati iss%es& whih wo%l! ser(e hi* well in
his later years. /e was instr%*ental in the rise of 6sabella =an! er!inan!> in )pain&
whose lai*s to the throne& than+s to hi*& were en!orse! by the Pope an! for whosefirstborn he e(en offere! to ser(e as "o!father.18
i(e popes =Callit%s 666& Pi%s 66& Pa%l 66& )it%s 6& an! 6nnoent 666> %tili,e!
o!ri"o-s ser(ies. J(en Pi%s& who was press%re! to re*o(e )panish fro* positions of
infl%ene& insiste! on +eepin" hi* on& sayin" that o!ri"o was both an etraor!inarily
able *an1Ean! yo%n" in a"e ass%re!ly& b%t..ol! in 9%!"*ent.20
Car!inal #or"ia was an etre*ely loyal *an an! an eellent lie%tenant. /e tol! Pi%s
66& 6 will be at yo%r si!e& Pontiff& on sea an! on lan!& an! e(en& if neessary& will follow
yo% thro%"h fireF21
fter Pa%l 66 re*o(e! less:o*petent C%ria e*ployees& #artolo*eo )ahi !e Pia!ena
=a+a Platina>& one of the fire! wor+ers& *a!e a pa*phlet threatenin" the o(erthrow of
Pa%l. Contin%in" in this onstant (ein of loyalty& o!ri"o was f%rio%s& an! he ens%re!
the rebel-s arrest. )till& this pa*phlet le! to a *%r!ero%s plot a"ainst the /oly ather in
14G8& whih was only foile! at the last *in%te. )%h ini!ents a%se! the Car!inal to be
wary of heretis an! !issi!ents.22
?%e to his hi"h offies =not 9%st the afore*entione!& b%t also that ofa*erlin"o
treas%rer an! !ean of the )are! Colle"e of Car!inals>& tho%"h& the %estion has been
as+e! Do%l! the popes ha(e aepte! his alle"e! notoriety& if in!ee! he was notorio%sH
6 belie(e not. The awf%l thin"s that he has been a%se! of *any of whih will be
a!!resse! in this boo+ wo%l! s%rely bar hi* fro* offie& if in!ee! he partiipate! in
the*.
6nnoent 666 sai! that o!ri"o was !istin"%ishe! by noble "ifts& abo%n!in"
re*ar+able by ;his< (irt%es.23Das the pope 9%st i"norant& or !i! he +now so*ethin"
then that *any !o not +now to!ayH
1 9+a) 6lo$las tra)slated %y 'ilda Ro%erts/, The Borgias, p. !*
10 6hristopher i%%ert, The Borgias and their 'nemies, p. 2
2 Br. .B. arcy, 6F6, What you don(t )now a$out the Borgia Pope* Alexander V +,-./0,12346atholic 9)sight/
21 8r)old . Mathe(, .., The %ife and Times of "odrigo Borgia , p. !
22 9+a) 6lo$las tra)slated %y 'ilda Ro%erts/, The Borgias, p. !!
23 Br. .B. arcy, 6F6, What you don(t )now a$out the Borgia Pope* Alexander V +,-./0,12346atholic 9)sight/
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The whole Ch%rh has ;/33
2 Msgr. Peter de Roo,Material for a History of Pope Alexander V! His "elati#es! and His Time, Vol. 2, p. 3-313
20 9+a) 6lo$las tra)slated %y 'ilda Ro%erts/, The Borgias, p. *7-*3 oha)) B$rchard edited %y r. F. . 'laser/,Pope Alexander V and His Court, p. 53
31 Michael de la Bedoyere, The Meddlesome Friar and the Wayward Pope, p. 01 :$ote;
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lean!er-s pontifiate was here entr%ste! to the Mother of Ao!& also.34
3! t$art Ro%%, To Begin! Continue and Complete, p. !5 :$ote;Pronoscemus hilari! protegens Virgo! intuitu ut
6ue felix in#estitus per curiam terminet annos! te fa#ente! certos7 Talis enim! Virginum gemma! dignus est
honoris./
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The 6talians
One his install*ent was settle!& the pope set abo%t *a+in" *any han"es.
lean!er was a refor*er. /e !espise! the orr%ption pre(alent in so*e ran+s of
ler"y& an! so he prolai*e!& De are well aware that *orals ha(e notably fallen ba+.
o lon"er an we tolerate the way in whih the for*er sal%tary *eas%res instit%te! byo%r pre!eessors to +eep sens%ality an! a(arie within bo%n!s ha(e been (iolate! so
that we fall hea!lon" into orr%ption. KJ(en tho%"h we were only in a lesser position as
ar!inal %n!er o%r pre!eessors& Pi%s 66& Pa%l 66& )it%s 6 an! 6nnoent 666& we always
wante! to see the present lien;s
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re(olts& an! so on.
onetheless& he %i+ly ao*plishe! *%h.
/e was able to %t the ra*pant ri*e in o*e by i*ple*entin" *eas%res li+e theappoint*ent of new prison inspetors an! o**issaries. /e also hel! p%bli a%!ienes
where anyone& no *atter their stat%s& o%l! lo!"e o*plaints an! reei(e 9%stie fro*
the iar hi*self& f%rther in"ratiatin" the Ch%rh to /er people.386n a!!ition& he
planne! a new onstit%tion to o%tline the ri"hts an! liberties of his iti,ens. The prisons
bea*e better:*ana"e! an! the new 9%!iial !istrits& eah r%n by ao%ntable
*a"istrates& bro%"ht abo%t inrease! safety an! effeti(eness.3E
lean!er also i**e!iately set hi*self apart by his er%!ition. This was nothin" new&
b%t he now ha! a wi!er a%!iene. /e was so fa*iliar with /oly Drit& that his speehes
were fairly spar+lin" with well:hosen tets of the )are! #oo+s.40
The 6talians& as a whole& li+e! hi*. #%t see!s of their rep%blian spirit ha! be"%n to
sprea!& notably a*on" the aristorats.
The )for,as were ertainly a thorn in lean!er-s si!e. sanio was "ree!y. B%!o(io
was ra,y& p%ttin" whole territories at ris+ to f%rther his a*bitions. Caterina& the wi!ow
of Co%nt Airola*o& on top of her other ri*es& e(en trie! to poison hi*F41This fa*ily
was %ite !ysf%ntional& !espite its oasional "oo! wor+ in Milan.
The Orsini were treahero%s an! espeially powerf%l. ir"inio an! the rest of his
fa*ily ontin%ally plotte! a"ainst the pope an! Cesare. lean!er wisely +ept Car!inal
Aia*battista Orsini as a hosta"e while the renh were abo%t& to pre(ent f%rther
betrayals at that ritial ti*e an! that wor+e!& for a while. The ar!inal was arreste!
a"ain& in 1503& an! hel! alon" with raniotto =the protonotary apostoli> an! other
*e*bers. Their properties were sei,e! for a ti*e in that year.42The Orsini ha(e also
lon" been s%spete! of assassinatin" lean!er-s brother& ?on Pe!ro B%is& after he fle!
to Ci(ita(ehia for safety& when his %nle was near !eath.43
3 oha)) B$rchard edited %y r. F. . 'laser/,Pope Alexander V and His Court, p. 5!
30 Michael de la Bedoyere, The Meddlesome Friar and the Wayward Pope, p. 0
! Msgr. Peter de Roo,Material for a History of Pope Alexander V! His "elati#es! and His Time, Vol. 2, p. 273-27!
!1 oha)) B$rchard edited %y r. F. . 'laser/,Pope Alexander V and His Court, p. 11!-115
!2 oha)) B$rchard edited %y r. F. . 'laser/,Pope Alexander V and His Court, p. 1*0-173
!3 $d(ig +o) Pastor, The History of the Popes! from the Close of the Middle Ages , Vol. 2, p. !7*-!7
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s for the Colonna& wea+er at the *o*ent b%t infl%ential still& Prospero =a *ilitary
*an> ha! to be i*prisone!. t one point& in $%ne 1501& their properties were finally
ta+en& in the na*e of the /oly ather.
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/a! the Orsini an! Colonna not been fe%!in"inessantly& they *i"ht ha(e !one irre(oable !a*a"e to the Papay.
n! then there was aples& r%le! by errante 6 =a+a er!inan! 6>. errante ha! *any
ene*ies& bea%se of aples- i*portane to others& an! he was r%thless in response to
any perei(e! sli"ht. fter he reali,e! that lean!er o%l! not se%re his position& he
fierely plotte! a"ainst the pontiff.45/e !ie! in 14E4& witho%t the li"ht of "rae& witho%t
the ross& an! witho%t Ao!& still an ene*y of the Ch%rh.4G
The Me!ii& alternati(ely& were not ba!. Aio(anni& a ar!inal an! the f%t%re Pope Beo
'& at 9%st 1G& is r%*ore! to ha(e lo%!ly !eno%ne! lean!er-s eletion. )%h a
state*ent is %nli+ely& howe(er& in li"ht of both his yo%th an! his fa*ily-s or!ial
relations with the #or"ias. Cesare was on parti%larly "oo! ter*s with the Me!ii the
"reatest onfi!ene eiste! between hi* an! Aio(anni-s ol!er brother& Piero.47
Bastly& there was )a(onarola. This fiery preaher on!e*ne! his a"e an! he was fille!
with on(ition a"ainst perei(e! wi+e!ness& tho%"h there was nothin" parti%larly
speial abo%t hi*. J(en his a!*irers reo"ni,e that& while he ha! holy intent& there are
no "ro%n!s whate(er for belie(in" that )a(onarola-s propheies an! re(elations are to be
attrib%te! to any speial !i(ine inspiration.48Dhile he ha! his %ibbles with lean!er&
it *%st be note! that he aepte! a plenary in!%l"ene "rante! to hi* at his !eath by
the pope& s%btly assentin" to his a%thority.4E6*portantly& this friar set the sta"e for
f%t%re !is%ssions on papal infallibility.50
lean!er-s ene*ies were !efinitely better at one thin" h%rnin" o%t propa"an!a.
Biterat%re happene! then to be a risin" power@ it was *ostly %n!er the infl%ene of the
!! oha)) B$rchard edited %y r. F. . 'laser/,Pope Alexander V and His Court, p. 1!7-1!!5 Br. .B. arcy, 6F6, What you don(t )now a$out the Borgia Pope* Alexander V +,-./0,12346atholic 9)sight/
!* 6hristopher i%%ert, The Borgias and their 'nemies, p. 55!7 Ferdi)a)d 'regoro+i$s tra)slated %y oh) eslie 'ar)er/,%ucretia Borgia
! Michael de la Bedoyere, The Meddlesome Friar and the Wayward Pope, p. 1
!0 Michael a+ies, 5a#onarolaMP3/
5 Ferdi)a)d 'regoro+i$s tra)slated %y oh) eslie 'ar)er/,%ucretia Borgia:$ote; heresy co)cer)i)g the po(er of the Pope.> ?he ker)el of
the (hole thi)g (as the f$)da4e)tal doctri)e of the i)falli%ilists@ )a4ely, that o)ly those (ho %li)dly o%ey the
Pope are good 6hristia)s.
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e(ertheless& lean!er ha! to respon!. Bater that year& he as+e! the newly:for*e!
/oly Bea"%e to relai* papal territories ta+en by Charles& after efforts for !iplo*ay
ha! faile!. They !i! so. Charles !ie! a so*ewhat bro+en *an& an! in an e*barrassin" way he str%+ his
hea! on the top of a !oor an! !ie! soon after. /e was interestin"& e(en in !eath. Most
%nfort%nately& he ne(er f%lfille! his =an! lean!er-s> !rea* of relai*in" $er%sale*
for Christen!o*.
Then& there was Lin" Bo%is '66. Of stron" will& an! of e%ally stron" physiality& his
rei"n was a *ie! ba". /is relationship with $oan of alois was ann%lle! she went on
to fo%n! a *onasti or!er =onfir*e! by lean!er> an! was e(ent%ally anoni,e!. /e
war*ly welo*e! Cesare& the papal representati(e& a"reein" to help the yo%n" *an fin!
a wife& "i(e hi* a position in the renh ar*y& an! bestow on hi* entry into the Or!er
of )t. Mihael. GGlso& Charles be"an an! Bo%is onstr%te! a bea%tif%l o*an h%rh&
the Trinit !ei Monti& to the pope-s !eli"hte! appro(al& an!& to this !ay& it re*ains %n!er
the patrona"e of the renh "o(ern*ent. inally& by helpin" lean!er o%py +ey
territories& he *aybe ina!(ertently "reatly inrease! the te*poral power of the
Ch%rh& e(en o(er an! abo(e his own. =Mahia(elli "reatly ritii,e! hi* for thatF>G76t is
tr%ly a sha*e that this *onarh was a Aallian@ that& re"rettably& *%st prel%!e any
fer(ent s%pport.
sanio& tellin"ly& p%blily proteste! the new +in"-s loseness to the #or"ias& no !o%bt
o%t of fear that Bo%is& with a better lai* to Milan& wo%l! o%st the )for,as =whih he
!i!>. lean!er sho%te! in reply that it ha! been sanio-s brother who ha! first
bro%"ht the renh into 6taly an!& in the heat of the ar"%*ent& threatene! to throw hi*
into the Tiber i(er. That sh%t the belli"erent ar!inal %p.G8
s for lean!er ..;)
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fortifyin" !efenses& inl%!in" those of his Castel& early on.70
7 9+a) 6lo$las tra)slated %y 'ilda Ro%erts/, The Borgias, p. 11
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The )panish
#r. $.#. ?ary points o%t so*e neessary ba+"ro%n! infor*ation or ent%ries&
)pain ha! been al*ost o*pletely o(erri!!en by the Moors. The )paniar!s ha! been
tryin" to ta+e ba+ their o%ntry fro* the Moors for al*ost 800 years. #y the *i!!le of
the 15th ent%ry& this reon%est was al*ost o*plete& b%t )pain was still a ho!"epo!"eof o*petin" prinipalities an!& bea%se of its onstant state of warfare& still a (ery
ba+war! o%ntry.71
s *entione! earlier& lean!er en9oye! "oo! relations with the rei"nin" )panish
*onarhs& e(en as a ar!inal. Lin" er!inan!& while wily an! of the arro"ant& anti:
o*an ra"onese& wo%l! often ha(e no hoie b%t to assent to the !e(o%t N%een
6sabella-s wishes& for lo(e hel! their wills in %nison.72lean!er %n!erstoo! this an!
wor+e! aro%n! it.
Dhile papal le"ate to the o%ntry =1472:1473>& he ehorte! to the ler"y& ..6 be" of yo%
not only to be of one *in! in "%ar!in" an! !efen!in" ;the Ch%rh< as the *ost preio%s
thin"& b%t also to spare yo%rsel(es neither pain nor peril for its preser(ation.73/e was
also able to on(ine the people to rise %p a"ainst the M%sli*s =whih they !efinitely
!i!& in Arana!a> an! s%pport a Cr%sa!e.74
lean!er was& (ery ob(io%sly& a lo(er of )panish %lt%re. Dhile le"ate& he see*s to
ha(e ha! a pleas%rable ti*e in his nati(e lan!& for he staye! there *ore than a year an!
*any letters fro* the Car!inal of Pa(ia were nee!e! to entie hi* ba+ to o*e.
75
Cesare ha! a "reat fon!ness for the %lt%re& as well& inl%!in" b%llfi"htin".7G
71 Br. .B. arcy, 6F6, What you don8t )now a$out the Borgia Pope* Alexander V +,-./0,1234 6atholic 9)sight/
72 Darre) . 6arroll,sa$el of 5pain! The Catholic 9ueen
73 Michael de la Bedoyere, The Meddlesome Friar and the Wayward Pope, p. **
7! 9+a) 6lo$las tra)slated %y 'ilda Ro%erts/, The Borgias, p. !5
75 8r)old . Mathe(, .., The %ife and Times of "odrigo Borgia, p. 5
7* oha)) B$rchard edited %y r. F. . 'laser/,Pope Alexander V and His Court, p. 131
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One thin" that the "o(ern*ent wo%l! not tolerate fro* lean!er was his shiel!in" of
o%r rabbinial brethren& the /ebrews& at this ti*e. To their "reat onsternation& the
pope *a!e li(in" arran"e*ents for the* in o*e& after their ep%lsion. This& it see*e!to the*& only %n!er*ine! the )panish position. lean!er allowe! )pain to ta
h%rhes in its territory in response to )pain-s o*plaints abo%t epenses in%rre! fro*
its inenti(i,e! on(ersions of infi!els. /owe(er& he ref%se! to ba+ !own when it a*e
to treatin" people of other faiths with Christian harity.77/e tolerate! the )panish
6n%isition& b%t& li+e )it%s 6& he trie! to rein it in he personally %rbe! Tor%e*a!a-s
power an! hire! fo%r assistants to s%per(ise hi*.78
The )panish also were not happy abo%t lean!er-s lose relations with the renh.
#%t in 1503& a han"e ;o%rre!< in the #or"ia politis& an inlination to !raw nearer to
)pain an! retire fro* rane onse%ent on the latter s h%*iliation.7E6t is too ba! that
!eath pre(ente! hi* fro* apitali,in" on this.
There were plenty of healthy !e(elop*ents.
6n May 14E3& two *onths after eplorers ret%rne! fro* the ew Dorl! they ha! 9%st
!iso(ere!& lean!er p%blishe! a papal b%ll *ar+in" the bo%n!aries of the territories
of )pain an! Port%"al& entr%stin" the *erias =*in%s #ra,il> to the for*er. /e wrote&
6n these %n+nown lan!s where Christopher Col%*b%s has steppe!& li(es a people&
na+e!& (e"etarian& who belie(e in one Ao! an! as+ b%t to be ta%"ht to belie(e in $es%s
Christ.80
The i*pat of all of this is profo%n! nearly 50 of Catholis to!ay li(e in the
*erias. 6n reo"nition of this& ren!itions of ati(e *erians were painte! in the
#or"ia part*ents. 6n a!!ition& he installe! the "ol!en eilin" of )anta Maria
Ma""iore& %sin" the preio%s *etal bro%"ht ba+ by Col%*b%s an! !onate! to the
;P
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o**an!e! the )panish bishops to ra+ !own on the ab%se an! for"ery of
in!%l"enes&82assiste! with e(an"eli,in" Arana!a& an! eten!e! the in!%l"ene for
those still fi"htin" the Moors.
83
n! the *onarhs helpe! hi* in the /oly Bea"%e&"rantin" hi* %se of their Aran Capitan& Aon,alo ernn!e, !e CQr!oba& an! *ore.
2 Rafael a%ati)i, The %ife of Cesare Borgia, Book 2, 6hapter 5
3 Rafael a%ati)i, The %ife of Cesare Borgia, Book 2, 6hapter 2
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Be"ay
..the history of lean!er 6 as it has reahe! %s is a tiss%e of ina%raies&
etraor!inarily easy to !ispro(e the *o*ent reo%rse is ha! to onte*porary
!o%*ents in a spirit of sane ritiis*.84
)%rely the (ery state*ent of the si*ple fats an! !ates *i"ht s%ffie to !ispose of the
fo%l al%*ny& 9%st as per9%re! testi*ony is !estroye! in the o%rts by a few searhin"
%estions an! li+e *ost per9%re! witnesses& the al%*niators of lean!er went too far&
pro(e! too *%h& o(ershot their *ar+& an! ha(e !estroye! their own re!ibility.85
6n this series& 6 ha(e realle! *any won!ro%s wor+s of lean!er. /ere are& in no
parti%lar or!er& fi(e other notable thin"s
1./e !efen!e! the 6**a%late Coneption of the ir"in Mary& well before Pope Pi%s 6'
prolai*e! it as !o"*a. /e also pro*ote! !e(otion to )t. nne& the ir"in-s own
*other& an! "rante! the ?o*inians the ri"ht to establish onfraternities of the
osary.8GThis is not s%rprisin"& bea%se of his intense !e(otion to the Theoto+os@ he
wo%l! often ehort his hil!ren to pray !ili"ently to the Ma!onna.87
2./e or!ere! an! s%per(ise! the reation of his *aster of ere*onies-& $ohann#%rhar!-s& i*pro(e! r%bris an! Or!o& settin" in plae so*e lit%r"ial refor* an!
! "restes Ferrara, #$oted %y &. M. '(y))e i) The Truth a$out "odrigo Borgia! Pope Alexander V, p. 17
5 The &u$lin "e#iew, Vol. V, epte4%er-ece4%er 15, p. 3!1
* $d(ig +o) Pastor, The History of the Popes! from the Close of the Middle Ages , Vol. *, p. 1!3-1!*
7 8r)old . Mathe(, .., The %ife and Times of "odrigo Borgia, p. 0
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str%+ hi* in the #asiliaEE:: then& the net !ay =2E $%ne& the east of )ts. Peter an!
Pa%l>& a roof a(e! in on hi*& at his throne.100/e 9%st +ept wor+in"& b%t he was
ne(ertheless ta+en fro* earth in 1503. fter his !eath& an oration "i(en by #ishop lei%s Cela!oni%s !elare! that& /e ha!
s%h a sharp an! shrew! wit as to ai! not only those before his pontifiate b%t also those
after his ti*e.101n!& lean!er was a (ery s%essf%l *an an! "enerally healthy ::
not wea+& not feeble& b%t f%ll of hope an! %n!erstan!in" of the *any thin"s whih o%l!
be ao*plishe!.102
Perhaps& tho%"h& lean!er-s "reatest le"ay resi!es in the anoni,ation of his "reat:
"ran!son& )t. ranis #or"ia.
lean!er :: sa(ior of o*e& %nifier of 6taly& father of J%rope& e(an"elist of the
*erias& !efen!er of the Ch%rh& blasphe*abit%r refor*ator:: pray for %s.
00 8r)old . Mathe(, .., The %ife and Times of "odrigo Borgia, p. 270
1 6hristopher i%%ert, The Borgias and their 'nemies, p. 1*-1*1
11The 'nglish Historical "e#iew, Vol. V99, 102, p. 311-31! :$ote;ngenio 6uidem tam acri et callido fuit ut et
alios ante se ad pontificatum iu#erit et post modum se 6uo6ue ipse/
12 The 'nglish Historical "e#iew, Vol. V99, 102, p. 311-31! :$ote;'cce Alexandrum tam prospera #aletudine in
toto corpore hominem non im$ecillem non decrepitum sed longioris #itae spe plenum ea6ue animo concipientem
#el gerentem 6uae #ix annis pluri$us compleri potuissent/