The most interesting thing I learned after reading this book is that gout, syphilis, and (possibly) malaria contributed to the downfall of the Borgias. ( )

So far, I haven’t been disappointed by any of Paul Strathern’s books yet, and The Borgias was no exception. The Borgia family is a family that is viewed so negatively that people tend to forget that they lived in a time that is viewed so positively by Western Civilization today. It was a fun read, and I enjoyed reading more about the family. ( )

The Borgias: The Power and The Fortune
Author: Paul Strathern
Publisher: Penguin Books
Publishing Date: 2019
Pgs: 383
Dewey: 945.060922 BOR
Disposition: Irving Public Library - South Campus - Irving, TX
_________________________________________________
REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS

Summary:
Saints, Popes, Princes, and Poisoners. Corruption. Incest. Megalomania. Avarice. Cruelty. Divine destiny. Religious charlatanism. Money. Power. Art. The Italian Renaissance.

The Borgias were a paradox. A prideful horror visited upon Italy, but at the same time, a bon to the artistic soul of the Renaissance. As much power as they had, they always wanted more.

This is the story of their hubris and rivalries, their treachery, their fates and downfalls.

Glorious and infamous.
_________________________________________________
Genre:
History
Italy
Biographies
Popes
Renaissance

Why this book:
Fascination with history.
_________________________________________________
Plot Holes/Out of Character:
The mistake Pope Alexander VI made regarding the Americas was very out of character. While attempting to insure Spanish domination of the New World he drew a line on a map, not realizing that his line bisected South America, thus giving the Portugese Brazil.

After Alexander VI death, Cesare spent much of the balance of his life in prison. How could this man have trusted Julius II, a lifelong enemy? Maybe the syphillis was affecting his brain.

Favorite Scene / Quote/Concept:
“...There was much more to the Borgias than mere self-aggrandizement and corrupt hedonism. They would stop at nothing. The main driving power behind the family was ambition. No considerations of morality or loyaltywould be allowed to stand in their way.” The author is talking about the Borgias but could just as easily be America’s current royal family. Though there is a lot more stupidity falling in a pile of shit coming out smelling like roses on the Trump’s part.

Gosh...you mean Louis XII of France didn’t trust the Borgias? I’m shocked.

Hmm Moments:
Machiavelli’s maxim “Virtu’ e Fortuna” can be interpreted in many way.s I talke Virtu as being virility or force or power in teh sense of taking or stealing or dominating and Fortuna equaling opportunity. Hence in my interpretation what Machiavelli is saying about the Borgia’s grab for power is “fuck ‘em all.”

Did Pope Alexander VI of the Borgias ultimately fail to create himself and his progeny as dynastic rulers of Catholicism because he continued to look toward Ancient Greece and the Holy Land as a model instead of turning toward Spain and the New World aborning.

WTF Moments:
Pope Paul II died of an apoplexy, an apoplexy in this situation refers to gorging himselfr on melons and expiring from excessive sodomy by one of his favorites. Wow...just wow.

King Ferrante of Naples had a habit of mummifying his enemies and displaying them in a room in his castle. That is so fucked up.

Cesare Borgia was at least winkingly involved in the murder/poisoning of his brother Juan. And after so many machinations he not only took the fiefdom that formerly belonged to his brother, and was at least, one of his brother’s widow’s lovers. He, also, got his brother’s Defender of the Faith job in Rome, awarded by his father, despite being suspected.

Juxtaposition:
Alexander VI in trying to build power at the expense of everyone lead to balkanization of Italy long before that became a word. Without his interference, a united Italian kingdom could have, probably, come about apace with the unity of Spain. Ultimately, his goals were a united Italy under his and his heirs thumbs, along with the Church.

The Unexpected:
Not nearly enough blame falls on Pope Sixtus IV. He issued a papal bull that legitimized Portugese slave trading in western Africa, thus giving cover to centuries of the triangle trade and cultures of suffering.
_________________________________________________
Questions I’m Left With:
Was Lucretia being poisoned during her pregnancies after she married her third husband?

Author Assessment:
I would read more by this author.
_________________________________________________ ( )

Its generally believed that the reign of Pope Alexander VI (1492-1503) represents the absolute nadir of the papacy. In fact, there have been far worse popes, however Rodrigo Borgia and his family have become infamous for their greed, violence, lust for power and insatiable sexual appetites. This was not always the view however, in the centuries afterwards many expressed admiration for Alexander as a "strong" pope, who brought glory and power to the Church. Rodrigo Borgia came from an obscure Catalan family with alleged royal links in its past. Fiercely ambitious, he chose the Church as the best vessel for improving his family fortunes, but had little time for its moral strictures. By the time he arrived in Rome and became a cardinal he had already fathered illegitimate children, and would end up with at least 8. The most famous and influential of these would be the one he produced with Vanozza de Cattanei. Cesare, Juan, Lucrezia and Joffre would become as notorious as their father. Borgia served as Vice-Chancellor to five popes while he learned the dirty secrets of the Vatican and learnt how to play its power games. Finally after the death of the spectacularly unmemorable Innocent VIII, he made his move, trumping his fierce arch rival and lifetime enemy Guiliamo della Rovere by simply bribing his way into the papacy. Once there, he turned the Holy See into purely a vessel for enriching his family and increasing the temporal power of the church. His mercurial and violent son Cesare was his main tool for achieving this, while his daughter Lucrezia became a marital pawn in his game of thrones. Over a period of just 11 years Alexander and his family became legendary for their greed, violence, lust and political machinations as they stripped the Church bare for their own aggrandizement. In the end it all came to nothing though, as after Alexander's death his bitter enemy della Rovere became Pope as Julius II and he set about vigorously destroying the Borgia legacy. This book is a searing look into the corruption and violence of Renaissance Italy, the never-ending dynastic squabbles and outbreaks of war as rival city-states fought for advantage, with periodic interventions by France and Spain. Some of it sounds completely incredible but there is no doubt it is all true. A fantastic read. ( )