"Were the Borgias Really so Bad?" Topic

"Renaissance Italy was dominated by rich and powerful families whose reputations have been shaped by the many dark and dastardly deeds they committed. In quattrocento Florence, the Medici bought, bribed, and blackmailed their way to the top; in Rimini, the Malatesta flitted continually between self-destructive megalomania and near psychopathic brutality; and in Milan, the Sforza were every bit as infamous for their sexual proclivities as they were for their political ruthlessness. But in this devilish roll-call of nefarious names, none sends such a chill up the spine as that of ‘Borgia'.

It is impossible to imagine a family more heavily tainted by the stains of sin and immorality, and – as even those who have not seen the eponymous television series will know – there is scarcely one of their number who does not seem to be cloaked in an aura of iniquity. The founder of the family's fortunes, Alfons de Borja (1378-1458) – who reigned as Pope Callixtus III – was decried even by his closest allies as the "scandal of [his] age" for his monstrously corrupt ways. His nephew, Rodrigo (1431-1503) – who he himself elevated to the cardinalate, and who would be elected Pope Alexander VI in 1492 – was reputed to be even worse. Accused of buying the papacy, he would later be besmirched by rumours so severe that the Venetian diplomat Girolamo Priuli felt able to claim he had "given his soul and body to the great demon in Hell". Indeed, as the papal master of ceremonies, Johann Burchard, was to contend in the middle of Alexander's reign:…"
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Amicalement
Armand

Oh lucky times… the yellow press today would go nuts if they had but Borgias instead of mere Kardashians :-)

The Borgias certainly had many enemys among those who wrote about their life and times. Bad for the later reputation. On the other side they certainly also brought Rome to the top of the CPI. It was worse enough for half or Europe to develope their own religion (if a bit later, but certainly inspired by the image that the Borgias put upon the church).

Surely the Borgia's greatest "crime" was trying to establish a Spanish dynasty of Popes, as opposed to the usual Italian Popes supported by whichever family was currently in the political ascendant?

(smile)

Amicalement
Armand

I suspect we'll never truly know.